66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock

[DeuceCoupe]

The Nostalgia section is pretty quiet but I thought this might be relevant here anyway.

The 66 L72 Biscayne was pretty successful in STOCK circa 1965-71.

But none appear in SuperStock 1967-71.
The L72 seems plenty capable, easy build to ~L88 specs.
Looks competitive.
Any idea why not?
Coils didnt hook up as well?
Axles not strong enough?
What was the biggest tire that would fit? IIRC my buddy ran L60s on the street back then so thats about an 11" section.

Seems this should have been a competitive combo, running (strangely) heads up against the 68 428CJ Mustangs.

[GTX JOHN]

Coils/Axle/Tire Size would not be a Superstock problem.

[Adger Smith]

I always thought that body was a good platform in SS trim.
By SS Trim I mean getting the back half issues handled.
The front tire location is forward and that helps finish line racing.
There is also plenty of overhang out back.
Frontal area & weight doesn't compare to the late model cars and that is somewhat of a negative.
In early 1990's Scott Carroll in Monroe La. back halfed a 1966 Super Sport Impala for one of my customers. I built a 516 Cu in Brodix headed BB for it. Set up for bracket racing with a turbo 400 and ATI bracket converter it was a great race car. I drove it for a few weeks and it left hard and was deadly consistent. I liked the way it drove the finish line, too.
I've always wanted to get that car back and put some form of SS/GT package in it. Can anyone see a modernized '68 with a COPO ?
Jeff Hefler show us the way!

[Terry Cain]

Trying to remember how many Super Stock classes they had 67-71. Best I can remember it only went to D or maybe E. Remember the Camaro's running D. Maybe the Biscayne didn't fall in the upper classes in Super Stock. Also remember in Stock they ran B stick.

[tommy d]

In 71 they at least had SS/I and J I think. By

[DeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by Terry Cain

Trying to remember how many Super Stock classes they had 67-71. Best I can remember it only went to D or maybe E. Remember the Camaro's running D. Maybe the Biscayne didn't fall in the upper classes in Super Stock. Also remember in Stock they ran B stick.

Oh, the L72 Biscayne / Impala fit just fine, here are some examples:

66 Biscayne 2dr sedan W/P 3725/425=8.76
1966 B/S=8.70
1967 A/S=8.70

1968 factored to 435hp so 3725/435=8.56
1968 B/S=8.50
1969 C/S=8.50
1970-71 D/S=8.50
The combo ran & won or set records every year in all those classes.


And in SuperStock:
1967 SS/D=8.70
1968 SS/E=8.70 no fit
1968 SS/D=7.70 bad fit
1969 SS/G=8.50
1970-71 SS/F=8.50
Other than the results I’m still hunting for (see below if you have any), the combo is NOWHERE in these classes even though it’s a near perfect fit in 1967-69-70-71.

Maybe it was just money- cost was the same to prep an engine/driveline for a hotter class, so the cost to get these “heavy” cars to run didn’t bring enough winnings. And I did get a PM saying the factory 12-bolt would be iffy if these big cars DID hook up, whereas the tires in Stock back then really couldn’t hurt the axles.

I once had an ex-SS 429SCJ Torino, 3834 lb (heavier than the 66 Biscayne!), and with a 5.14 locker and IIRC 12” slicks it had twisted the 31 spline axles. So even the Ford 9” was living on the edge with the OEM parts back then. Maybe SuperStock would just be too much for the factory 12-bolt stuff back then especially with a 4-speed hitting it.


As noted in this thread:

https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...ad.php?t=84674

I’m still looking for Stock and Superstock results sheets from these NHRA Nationals events:

1970 TX Spring
1970 PA Summer
1971 CA Winter
1971 TX Spring
1971 NJ Summer
(anybody have these?)
But, I don’t see any big Chev’s or Fords up in the SS/ classes.

[Rory McNeil]

According to Dwights site, the 66 full sized Chev with a 427/425 HP is a stick only combo, with SS/F the natural class at 3868 pounds with driver. Sounds like a parts breaker to me. Years ago, I used to help a local racer, who ran 65 Big Chevs in Super Stock. This was in the early-mid 70s, his 65 Biscayne ran SS/KA with a 396/325, he later swapped the running gear into a 65 Impala wagon, which ran SS/LA, I think it was. I remember he ran a Turbo 400, which unless I am mistaken, was the first year for a 3 speed in a Chevy? Back in those days, S/S cars had to retain stock style rear suspension, and those cars had a habit of ripping the upper control arm brackets out, even the BB cars, that had 2 uppers.

[DeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

According to Dwights site, the 66 full sized Chev with a 427/425 HP is a stick only combo, with SS/F the natural class at 3868 pounds with driver. Sounds like a parts breaker to me. Years ago, I used to help a local racer, who ran 65 Big Chevs in Super Stock. This was in the early-mid 70s, his 65 Biscayne ran SS/KA with a 396/325, he later swapped the running gear into a 65 Impala wagon, which ran SS/LA, I think it was. I remember he ran a Turbo 400, which unless I am mistaken, was the first year for a 3 speed in a Chevy? Back in those days, S/S cars had to retain stock style rear suspension, and those cars had a habit of ripping the upper control arm brackets out, even the BB cars, that had 2 uppers.

I hadnt thought of the upper control arm issue.

I have seen examples documented of the big Chev in SS/Auto, not so much impact loading, but it seems indeed the loading was too much to launch a winning stick car.

There was a T400 L72 for its final year 1969 only but it looks like very few were built like under 100. I dont see any of those in the win sheets either for 1969-71 but as I pointed out I'm missing a few event results from those years.

Do you have a link to Dwight's site you referred to?

[lareagle]

Norm Fryer ran one in stock & super stocker
He was in Div 1. Very fast as stocker , I thing he was the fastest of the Biscayne body cars.

[Dave Gantz]

Originally Posted by DeuceCoupe

Do you have a link to Dwight's site you referred to?

http://www.classracerinfo.com/ There's a sticky on the S/SS home page.