Horse Power, Track Shit, Torque, Cubic Inches, Liters, Run What Ya Brung, Auto or Cycle

Ran this weekend at a "new" track here in Dallas, G2 Motorsports Park. Been open for 2 years roughly, but there are very few "public" track days because the owner is, uh, well known LOL... Track is a great small car track outside of the back straight. The "fast" cars this weekend were running high teens.

Got down to a 2:32 which is pretty damn quick for 132 whp Miata. I was on a 2:31 lap, but got held up by traffic. My Garmin shows a 2:30 optimum and it showed that a few different sessions, I just cant put it together. I have about 4 2:32 laps so I didnt just have a single fluke lap. Its pushing the car pretty good at that pace. Spec Miata guy who I got some coaching from, and also drove the car, thinks the car has a :29 lap in it, but beyond that he wasnt sure since im basically out of HP at that point.

Im also at the point that I could take advantage of ABS. I have a BMW MK60E5 setup to go in the car when I do the LS swap. Im locking single tires occasionally. The guy I talk to quite a bit on building my car says thats the sign you are at the limit of the braking system. He says "oh if you were locking up both fronts or all 4, then you are just over braking, but when you have single tire lock up, yea its time for ABS that can trim each individual wheel".

 
Shaved 19 seconds off my previous best time at VIR. 2:25. Only new mod was changing to RT660’s 295 sq on my 2013 M3.
A guy trashed his new Z06. Luckily paid $900 for track insurance. Unfortunately the deductible will probably be $12K.
 

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RT660... so many better tires out there today.

Those tires were good maybe 4 years ago.

Have you had an issue with them chucking the tread? Everybody thought it was fixed with the RT660+ but I guess not.

Im going to try out the Vitor P1's as my next tire. Supposed to be faster than the RC1 I am currently been running.
 
RT660... so many better tires out there today.

Those tires were good maybe 4 years ago.

Have you had an issue with them chucking the tread? Everybody thought it was fixed with the RT660+ but I guess not.

Im going to try out the Vitor P1's as my next tire. Supposed to be faster than the RC1 I am currently been running.
I got a deal on them from Tire Rack. I haven’t had any tread issues but only ran them for 6 hard sessions. Grassroots does a pretty thorough comparison between a few. Seems these weren’t bad and pretty close to A052
 
Shaved 19 seconds off my previous best time at VIR. 2:25. Only new mod was changing to RT660’s 295 sq on my 2013 M3.
A guy trashed his new Z06. Luckily paid $900 for track insurance. Unfortunately the deductible will probably be $12K.

Geez, 19 seconds sounds like a lot.

What was the cause of the Z06 fubar?
 
Geez, 19 seconds sounds like a lot.

What was the cause of the Z06 fubar?
19 is a lot. Probably gained experience and the better tires I know helped. Not sure what happened to the zo6. Several others went off track and 1-2 into a guardrail. It’s a fast course and technically difficult. Especially in Esses at 120+
 
Whether it's your first or 50th. Firing up a new motor is like boobies.
Or getting one going that hasn't run in years. Nothing better then hearing it start and run. Just did that today, wife bought a jeep in a box. A week putting it in one piece again, and no run. It had sat for four years. New fuel pump, this was at the bottom of the tank



Drain a full tank of what I guess at one time was gasoline put in a few gallons and no start. Fuel pressure at 43lbs, so I start chasing all this computer bullshit, God i hate "new" cars, it is a 2004 TJ. Check spark, ok I have spark, hmmm. Old school squirt carb cleaner down the throttle body and it runs, get the spray feathered right and it runs well....no fuel. Noid light on the injector harness shows all 6 are getting signal....ok pull injectors and test them hooked to the fuel rail and see if they squirt. 5 of 6 dead, bench test and they will not even click. Man that is odd. New injectors in and it fired right up, first start under my roof, you did something.

My only guess is some of that trash in the tank made it to the injectors, some idiot at Chrysler thought it sis not need an online fuel filter.

Going to look into adding one.

Fust drove down to the mail box and around the back pasture, very open feeling, felt like the doors are not closed, it has no top. My first jeep. You really feel out there, I don't feel that open on a motorcycle, must be because I have been on bikes for 40 years, and at 60 this is the first time I have been in an open jeep.
 
So this is my other daughter's car.... '71 Malibu. The 1st pic was taken the day we brought it home 10 yrs ago.
She is the 3rd owner, although the 2nd owner (a relative) never drove it. The body and interior has been 'freshened up' by the original owner'. For the past 10 yrs she has put about 100 miles on it.
She has saved her pennies for literally the past 20 yrs, and next week will be hauling it out to J.B.'s Power Center in Edmonton for a Pro Worx 383ci Stroker, FTI 700R transmission, new suspension, and disc brakes.
She intends to redo the interior again to her own tastes with bucket seats this time.
The A/R wheels are 'take-offs' from the other daughter's Firebird until she decides what she wants, but may stay on because
'it's like what Dad had on his' 🙂.
We were originally going to do the build together, but age and health have diminished my confidence in a successful project...especially when it is her money at stake.


Amy's car (02) - Copy.JPG


These are taken yesterday as it got driven out of the Sea Can its stored in.
copy (4).JPG
copy (5).JPG
copy (6).JPG


The stock 307 is the original factory engine...it will be coming out next week.

copy (1).JPG


And this one will take its place.

1000007064 - Copy.jpg


It's not a earth shaking project....but it's a big deal to her. 😉
She's dreamed of this for 20 yrs now.
 
So this is my other daughter's car.... '71 Malibu. The 1st pic was taken the day we brought it home 10 yrs ago.
She is the 3rd owner, although the 2nd owner (a relative) never drove it. The body and interior has been 'freshened up' by the original owner'. For the past 10 yrs she has put about 100 miles on it.
She has saved her pennies for literally the past 20 yrs, and next week will be hauling it out to J.B.'s Power Center in Edmonton for a Pro Worx 383ci Stroker, FTI 700R transmission, new suspension, and disc brakes.
She intends to redo the interior again to her own tastes with bucket seats this time.
The A/R wheels are 'take-offs' from the other daughter's Firebird until she decides what she wants, but may stay on because
'it's like what Dad had on his' 🙂.
We were originally going to do the build together, but age and health have diminished my confidence in a successful project...especially when it is her money at stake.


View attachment 8661483

These are taken yesterday as it got driven out of the Sea Can its stored in.
View attachment 8661485View attachment 8661486View attachment 8661487

The stock 307 is the original factory engine...it will be coming out next week.

View attachment 8661499

And this one will take its place.

View attachment 8661502

It's not a earth shaking project....but it's a big deal to her. 😉
She's dreamed of this for 20 yrs now.
Very cool experience for you two together!
 
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So this is my other daughter's car.... '71 Malibu. The 1st pic was taken the day we brought it home 10 yrs ago.
She is the 3rd owner, although the 2nd owner (a relative) never drove it. The body and interior has been 'freshened up' by the original owner'. For the past 10 yrs she has put about 100 miles on it.
She has saved her pennies for literally the past 20 yrs, and next week will be hauling it out to J.B.'s Power Center in Edmonton for a Pro Worx 383ci Stroker, FTI 700R transmission, new suspension, and disc brakes.
She intends to redo the interior again to her own tastes with bucket seats this time.
The A/R wheels are 'take-offs' from the other daughter's Firebird until she decides what she wants, but may stay on because
'it's like what Dad had on his' 🙂.
We were originally going to do the build together, but age and health have diminished my confidence in a successful project...especially when it is her money at stake.


View attachment 8661483

These are taken yesterday as it got driven out of the Sea Can its stored in.
View attachment 8661485View attachment 8661486View attachment 8661487

The stock 307 is the original factory engine...it will be coming out next week.

View attachment 8661499

And this one will take its place.

View attachment 8661502

It's not a earth shaking project....but it's a big deal to her. 😉
She's dreamed of this for 20 yrs now.

That intake is going to make it a tight fit for the hood on the air cleaner. There's a drop style air cleaner for the Holley carburetor that will give you a bit of extra room.
 
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That intake is going to make it a tight fit for the hood on the air cleaner. There's a drop style air cleaner for the Holley carburetor that will give you a bit of extra room.
Ah...good catch!
A little embarrassing 😎.....but glad it got caught by you in advance. 😊 I told you I was a little out of shape for this.
I never thought twice about it as its not a high rise. I'll do some quick measuring before wee load it today, and check the options on their website.
Thanx DY, that could have ended badly.
 
Very cool experience for you two together!

Yes, I had a '71 back in the mid '70's (my Avatar pic) that I did up and she always luved the pics and stories, and wanted one like it.
It just so happens that the guy I got my parts from 50 yrs ago, Jim Bell, is an aquaintence of mine now, and immediately took interest in our project and wants to be involved in her car as well.
 
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Ah...good catch!
A little embarrassing 😎.....but glad it got caught by you in advance. 😊 I told you I was a little out of shape for this.
I never thought twice about it as its not a high rise. I'll do some quick measuring before wee load it today, and check the options on their website.
Thanx DY, that could have ended badly.
Measuring probably won't work. You won't really know until it's in the car and the hood is on. I usually put the air cleaner on and make a tube out of aluminum foil and place it on the top of the air cleaner. Close the hood really slow and you can hear the foil crinkle. Open to see how much more you can close and compare to what you need to finish closing.
My Monte and my Olds have about a quarter inch with the hood closed using the dropped air cleaner base. Both motors have the air gap intake.
 
Measuring probably won't work. You won't really know until it's in the car and the hood is on. I usually put the air cleaner on and make a tube out of aluminum foil and place it on the top of the air cleaner. Close the hood really slow and you can hear the foil crinkle. Open to see how much more you can close and compare to what you need to finish closing.
My Monte and my Olds have about a quarter inch with the hood closed using the dropped air cleaner base. Both motors have the air gap intake.

What I was thinking of doing is measuring up from the block deck today, to a taught fishing line pulled across the engine compartment. Then start adding spec measurements for the manifold and carb off their websites to get close, but that would only get me close...not 1/4" close though.
Your trick with the foil is probably the way to go once the engine is in.
 
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What I was thinking of doing is measuring up from the block deck today, to a taught fishing line pulled across the engine compartment. Then start adding spec measurements for the manifold and carb off their websites to get close, but that would only get me close...not 1/4" close though.
Your trick with the foil is probably the way to go once the engine is in.
I think most hoods have more convex shape than we realize.
Every time I think a straight edge across the fenders will get me in the ballpark I'm dead wrong.
 
I already had my eyes on a cowl hood for the Monte Carlo because I knew it was going to be real close. I've never seen a second gen Monte with one so I am still thinking about getting one. It would also allow me to put a spacer under the carburetor. We tested it both ways on the dyno and it was not a big loss of power without it. 600 HP and I am running stock size tires. 5 or 10 HP ain't a big deal.

Screenshot_20250327-073910.png


I've only seen one in drawings.

Monte Carlo Car.jpeg
 
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So this is my other daughter's car.... '71 Malibu. The 1st pic was taken the day we brought it home 10 yrs ago.
She is the 3rd owner, although the 2nd owner (a relative) never drove it. The body and interior has been 'freshened up' by the original owner'. For the past 10 yrs she has put about 100 miles on it.
She has saved her pennies for literally the past 20 yrs, and next week will be hauling it out to J.B.'s Power Center in Edmonton for a Pro Worx 383ci Stroker, FTI 700R transmission, new suspension, and disc brakes.
She intends to redo the interior again to her own tastes with bucket seats this time.
The A/R wheels are 'take-offs' from the other daughter's Firebird until she decides what she wants, but may stay on because
'it's like what Dad had on his' 🙂.
We were originally going to do the build together, but age and health have diminished my confidence in a successful project...especially when it is her money at stake.


View attachment 8661483

These are taken yesterday as it got driven out of the Sea Can its stored in.
View attachment 8661485View attachment 8661486View attachment 8661487

The stock 307 is the original factory engine...it will be coming out next week.

View attachment 8661499

And this one will take its place.

View attachment 8661502

It's not a earth shaking project....but it's a big deal to her. 😉
She's dreamed of this for 20 yrs now.
The 307 had about 150 HP. It's going to be eye opening difference with the 383. Especially the seat of the pants torque increase.
"There's no replacement for Displacement !!!!"
 
What I was thinking of doing is measuring up from the block deck today, to a taught fishing line pulled across the engine compartment. Then start adding spec measurements for the manifold and carb off their websites to get close, but that would only get me close...not 1/4" close though.
Your trick with the foil is probably the way to go once the engine is in.
This is the air cleaner that I use. The top is a bit bowed up but I use a jam nut on the stem. I set it high enough that when I tighten down the top it won't interfere with the carb choke plate.

PXL_20250411_195151097.jpg


The drop base gets me that little bit of clearance that's needed. It's notched to fit over a Holley double pumper style carb.

PXL_20250411_195205545.jpg
 
This is the air cleaner that I use. The top is a bit bowed up but I use a jam nut on the stem. I set it high enough that when I tighten down the top it won't interfere with the carb choke plate.

View attachment 8662086

The drop base gets me that little bit of clearance that's needed. It's notched to fit over a Holley double pumper style carb.

View attachment 8662085

Gotcha. I see what you mean. That's a nice look as well!
Engine bling has always been 'important', but there is SO much available nowadays.
The options were limited years back, plus the cost of parts seemed higher and the focus was more on getting performance for your $ buck $ vs looks.
I had only MT valve covers for sex appeal on my 327 because I was broke by the time I finished filling the block with parts that made it go.
pic from '77ish
'68 327c.jpg
 
The 307 had about 150 HP. It's going to be eye opening difference with the 383. Especially the seat of the pants torque increase.
"There's no replacement for Displacement !!!!"
Absolutely.
I never had access to a dyno when I was doing mine....but mine also started out with a 307, and the 327 I put in was impressive. The 'drive-in crew chiefs' 😆 figured it was mid to high 300 horses. ? Which nowadays my wife's Chev truck exceeds. But in the mid 70's, that was fast for street...here.
They figure hers will be mid 400's, and lots of torque.
They will dyno it next Wednesday when we get there to drop off the car. They were nice enough to wait for the test so we can see it. 👍
Dyno room pics and specs after Easter Monday!
 
Absolutely.
I never had access to a dyno when I was doing mine....but mine also started out with a 307, and the 327 I put in was impressive. The 'drive-in crew chiefs' 😆 figured it was mid to high 300 horses. ? Which nowadays my wife's Chev truck exceeds. But in the mid 70's, that was fast for street...here.
They figure hers will be mid 400's, and lots of torque.
They will dyno it next Wednesday when we get there to drop off the car. They were nice enough to wait for the test so we can see it. 👍
Dyno room pics and specs after Easter Monday!
You can watch a thousand dyno pulls on u tube but when you are there on the other side of the glass it's pretty cool. Even better when it's your motor.
Many years ago I was at Detroit Gasket doing some AC repair on the dyno room. They had a NASCAR test motor on the dyno and were just getting ready to run it. I stayed and watched because they were going to run it to simulate race conditions. Something like 7500 RPM for so many seconds and then back down some RPM for a few seconds and then back to full throttle to simulate whatever race track. I asked the guy if he ever got bored doing it and he quickly replied no.
 
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