Evan and I have been into classic cars for quite some time. Not only are we twin brothers, but we enjoy disagreeing with each other any chance we get. It would stand to reason, then, that he would be a Ford guy, while I got the Chevy genes. We both got classic cars when we were 16 and have held onto themn for all these years, making only minor changes as our schedule and financial situation would allow. As we are now getting further out of college, we are now able to put a little more time and effort into our classics.
The story gets a little fuzzy, as to when we actually committed to it, but we both deeply involved in a trash talking session about each other’s cars when we decided that we needed to settle this with a race. Mind you, neither of our cars would be considered “fast” by todays standards, and I am confident that if we both only owned radio flyers wagons, we would have still made this bet. Who’s car is faster in the 1/4 mile? Evan has a 67′ mustnag, and I have a 65 ‘ impala SS. Historically, Evan could blow the tires off my land yacht. His confidence is also stemmed from the fact that he recently rebuilt literally everything in his 289 engine, including a custom ground cam, (duration and lift unknown at this time), heads completely gone through, as well as a full rebuild on his c4 transmission (auto 3 speed). My main point of contention now is that I swapped out my powerglide transmission for a more modern 200-4r overdrive transmission (going from 2 gears to 4 gears), as well as swapped out the highway friendly 3.07 gears for a set of 3.73 gears in my 12 bolt. My powerplant is my correct 327, withthe correct camel hump 461 heads, a comp cam’s camshaft, headers, edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 4 barrel carb, HEI, and new accessorics including dual electric fans on my aluminum radiator.
Evan believes that his 2800lb +/- car will blow by my 3600lb +/- car with his 2 barrel carb and 2.73 rear gears. I think that my new gearing will make up the weight difference, and my more potent mill will start pulling away halfway down the track.
The only way to settle this it to race, which is exactaly what we’re going to do! We will figure out who has the quicker car. The winner not only gets ther $500 bet we each have riding on it, but bragging rights for eternity (or until one of us does something else to our car!)
Not to worry, we will video the entire race and do pre-race interviews with us both. Let us know if you have any questions, or if you care to predict the outcome. This will be the ultimate grudge match, and a race worth watching! Stay tuned!
40 Comments
Anthony Vincent Piraino
well if we think of it, what rear end does the mustang ahve? cuz if it is driven right with a 9 inch rear, it has a chance but id have to give it to the chevy unfortunately….
Alvin Keith
if its spinning you aint winning
Larry Gronemeyer
The Mustang is not geared to take advantage of the high revving 289. I am a Chevy fan but years ago went up against a 289 hi performance with 4:11. I had 350 300 with tarantula torker and 780 holley and hooker headers. I underestimated the mustang the first round and got it on the 2nd.
Robert Mitchell
So it’s December and this was posted on July 10 and you haven’t raced yet?
Tom Binney
The “camel humps” used to be called “fuelie” heads, I had them on a ’66 Chevelle convertible with a 283 and a Saginaw 4 speed that had a 3.11 first gear. With the addition of a 780 Holley carb and 2-1/4″ dual exhaust, it was one of the quickest 1/4 mile cars I ever owned. I raced ’66 Chevelle Super Sports up to 360 hp and beat them in the quarter mile every time once I replaced the crap stock shifter with a Hurst unit. The Super Sports had Muncie transmission with a 2.20 or 2.52 first gear. The Saginaw had a 2.20 SECOND gear. Even though I had a 3.08 (I didn’t know they made a 3.07!) that gave me a 9.58 ration in first gear. When they put a 4.10 rear end in the SS it was generally with the 2.20 first gear (9.02 overall) because they tried to use torque to make up for the ratio. I was always surprised that I would get a 3-5 car length hole shot on the SS until I figured out the gear ratio thing. I had an open rear end, but used air bags to preload the rear end so you couldn’t tell it was open and of course the soft Mickey Thompson tires really helped. I never lost to a Mustang until they put over 400 cubic inch motors in them. Even then they had to catch me in the 1/4 if they kept trying after the first 500 feet. The Chevelle being a convertible weighed in around 3200 lbs. so it wasn’t as light as the Mustang. Be sure you practice launching around 4,000 rpm if your torque converter will allow it. Check your launch stripes to be sure you are getting even appearing launch stripes left to right. If you don’t air bags are a good trick, higher air pressure in the left one will keep it from lifting. Adjust it up until they become uniform.I’d bet on the Impala. The 327 is a good combination quick revving / torquing motor and hold it’s own. Be sure he hasn’t added Nitrous to the Mustang, they really fly with that. Good luck and keep your foot on the floorboards until you cross the finish line!