Life with a radical pro-street car
 

Opinions from you guys that have and actually DRIVE a "race" engined pro street car. You know the cars I mean. 13:1 compression, big roller cam and even bigger carbs stuffed into a car with a minimal interior and a hard shifting trans and spool.
Do you guys ever wish that maybe you had not gone so wild or is it worth the headaches to you?
My last project was a mild 440 mopar in a mini tubbed Dart and while it was very drivable I always wanting more power. At what point do you most of you find that the car has lost it's fun quotient and has become nothing but a pain in your azz?
Mild or wild.....trying to decide what I want to build..........................

When I was younger, I had a pretty radical small block in a 66 malibu, I hated it on the street. thats just me though. I know a lot of guys that love bada$$ motors on the street, as for me, I'd rather trailer my race car to the track, and run a little less motor on the street.JMO

I am too scared of lifter failure.

Why not a large cubic inch big block that is built resonably mild so it is not to tempermental but can still make big power?

Curtis

That's the best idea yet...but my problem is I would have trouble keeping the "reasonably mild" part in my head while ordering pistons and camshafts. :)

Street cars,
 

Hey bomb,

We come from the same era. Did the same thing with a 67 Mustang. High compressioned, roller camed, tunnel rammed 289 w/Holley 600's. Work on it for a week to get it to run for day. Even back then, circa 1974-75, couldn't afford to feed it! That's why it ended up at the track. To be honest, one look at it, nobody wanted to race me, LOL!!!

No more street cars for me. The wife wants one but just a good "driver. If I only were flush with cash, I know where a 69 Camaro is right now! Then after she tired of it, make a perfect start for an NHRA stock eliminater project.

Yes, I guess I'm gettin old and would just as soon have my creature comforts on the street. My race car aint comfortable or quiet, like the old Joe Walsh album said, "Made loud, To be played loud". So as Zipper06 said "Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it".

Re: Street cars,
 

That's how I ended up with my Nova...I had/ still have a 1972 chevelle (my first car, built it myself with a friend, I have had it since I was 18, I'm 34 now)that I built a mild 406 for...hyd cam 11:1 10 inch converter 4.10 gear
I started to build a big block for it and ended up with a 14:1 .030 over 454 with a .714 roller cam.... :P After M U C H GRIPING/PREACHING from my father about ruining a very nice car, I bought the nova already tubbed and caged for the big block.
The car has been sitting at my parents house all this time and since it got flooded I am gona tear it apart this winter and re do everything...take all the race car crap *( 90/10 shocks, soft front springs and cheater slicks...and put the heater and sway bar back on) and make it a good driver...might ditch the 406 and build a mild pump gas 454 if money allows...it is a mid 12 second car like it is but it is HEAVY.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/f...LEPICTURE1.jpg

Bluebaugh Racing
 

I guess it depends on what you want. Today, I race with my boyfriend in the car pictured. We live hand to mouth for racing and everything is about racing. For me personally, I wish I had never taken my street car off the street years ago. (not pictured) I got into the slippery slope of bigger, better, faster, and more. My personal car sits it the back yard in yet another stage of needs more and needs more money. At least years ago, I could start it up and go. With this car we need a full crew of helpers to go anywhere and a sack of cash we don't have. But its our choice

Deborah-WFO

www.worldsfastestorganization.com
www.loperspeed.com

http://www.wforacingandmachine.com/i...kellyrecap.jpg

My thoughts....if it's too loud, noisy and radical....you're too old....LOL. I run a 12.5 small block, 600+ lift and a 4500 stall w/4.56 gears in my street car and I wouldn't have it any other way. 3.5" exhaust makes little old ladies roll their windows up.

BTW, I'm in my 40's.

OH,that reminds me,
EXCESSIVE NOISE
EXCESSIVE TAKEOFF
IMPROPER EQUIPMENT
NON-APPROVED TIRES
EXHIBITION OF SPEED
These are but a few of the charges I answered for in that old Malibu, cause you know, if ya got it....... Anyhow you're right Bamfster, I've gotten too old. :lol:

ill be 53 sept. 3d and the louder the better! cars and music were meant to be LOUD! i have always built high compression, tunnelramed engines for the street in the mid 80s i was giving my dad a ride in my 55 and when i went from 2d to 3d he went to say something and just as the cluch HIT his teeth hit the floor. he looked at his teeth looked at me looked at his teeth again and laughed like hello. he loved it i loved it. it was good. i still love it now my son loves it.build it to run but leave a place to hang a licence plate.

My kids always want to take the hotrod when we go somewhere. My daughter (8y/o) always wants me to do burnouts.

"Street Cars"
 

I have a 72 GS that was a drag only car at one time. I'm running a SBC with a 671 blower. When I started to drive it on the street I hated it. The ladder bar suspension and locked rear end with a 456 gear made it horrible to drive. I changed it to a 4 link with a posi and 370 gears. Changed the racing seats to some seats with padding for a** comfort. I'm not fast anymore but I scare the hell out the kids with their pocker rockets, and sound good doing it. I don't race the car just show n go now.
Oh yeah its been tubbed and has a 6 point cage. Hope this helps you decide. My plates read "Old Kid". I'm 61 years young. :twisted:

The best is when you get pulled over and you have so much illegal stuff on your car the cop finally gives up hope lol.... Hell im famous in my part of town all the hipo's know me all the traffic cops and the sheriff is my next door neighbor lol :lol:

:D :D I'm 47 years old , 1972 challenger, 12.5.1 -440, very radical engine dyno 600 hp, 4500 stall, dana, 4.10, 8pt cage, and love every minute we are driving on the street , 3.5 exhaust, the louder the better, 8 year old nephew loves to go for rides :!: :!:

My two nephews ratted me out to my sister when I gave them a ride. :x