388 in a 1980 Z-28

[camaro4516]

I have two questions. First: I have a 1980 Z-28 with a 388 motor, Eagle crank, 6" H-beam rods, wiseco pistons, dart 230 cc pro 1 heads 64cc, 13:1 compression, edelbrock intake, prosytems 950 carb, all comp cams valve train, 672 lift with 1.6 jesel shaft rockers, powerglide trans with a 4500 converter. Stalled 4100 on the brake. 4:88 gears, full spool, 28x10x15 tires and cal-tracs. I can get any other info you might need. Was wondering what times car should go in 1/8 mile??
When I went out I went a 7.30 which I thought was slow. Looking at the video the car is real lazy out the gate. At about 50 or 60 ft out you can really hear it coming on. Which brings me to my next question. When I was at the track I noticed when I would put it in gear it would lug the motor down and die out. Everyone I talked to came up with the same answer, converter. When I originaly got the converter it went to 4400 on the brake. I sent it off had it checked and also sent out the trans and had it checked both were said to be O.K. I put everthing back in the car and had the same problem. Only this time it would only stall to 4100. I put in a stall from a friend that was a 8 inch TCI 5500 stall just to see. Put the car in gear and it idled fine and would stall 5400 on the brake. So I bought another stall from another company and put it in. Supposed to be a 4500 stall got it in the car and am having the same problem. Car acts like it want to die out and only stalls to 4100 on the brake. Does anyone have any ideas? Am I wasting my time with a 388? Do I need to go with a different combo I am at my witts end. Any info would really help....Thanks David

[Mr Z]

I have a similar 388, Dart lilM, 12.9 comp 6in rods, TCI 3600 streetfighter converter, Brodix 227 track 1's Jesel 1.6, Comp .737 intake, 270@ .050 roller, Eddy Super Vic an a 1000hp Holley in a 63 Nova street car with full exhaust an 3.55 gears. I stop for a milk shake on the way to the track an still run 7.22/ 1/8mile through 2 inch tailpipes on 235/60 drag radials. This combo has gone low 9's @ 152mph in the 1/4 with a 350shot from the jug in my Z28.
I think your cam ain't right or something, mine pulls hard with the 10inch converter right off the line??? I've been unhooking the secondarys to slow it to 7.60s to run with the street car class (7.49 an slower) Ya really don't need that deep of gear for the 1/8 either, your converter might work better with a 4.30 or 4.10 actually be faster.

[camaro4516]

What kind of times did you run on motor in your camaro? How much does it weigh? I know this thing will go faster if I can figure out the right combination!!

[Scott McMullen]

My Nova Had a 388 In it when I first Brought it out
Light wieght Scat Crank
6 in Eagle Rods
Wiesco 13 to 1 Pistons
Brodix Track Ones 215's Cnc'd to 220's
Wilson Manifolds Cnc'd Super Victor
1000hp Pro systems Carb
Comp solid roller .660 int .630 exh. 260 @ .50 268 @.50 110ls 110 IC installed @ 108
In My 3600 lb Nova and 29.5 x 9.0 slicks with a 4000 stall foot brake and a 4.56 gear It went
1.55-1.50 Sixty
7.00 @ 100.00mph
11.20 @ 121.00
This is With Full exhaust (magnaflow) On C12 fuel

[steel town]

camaro4516 you have too much gear in that car a set of 456's and a 5000-5500 stall small blocks work best with atleast a 5000 stall . Scott I like that cam you ran should have worked well

[Scott McMullen]

camaro4516 you have too much gear in that car a set of 456's and a 5000-5500 stall small blocks work best with atleast a 5000 stall . Scott I like that cam you ran should have worked well
It was a Very Good Cam the Car was Never Fully Tuned in Either I was already to Fast with no Roll Bar The Car Had 10 Sec ETs in it I just never Tuned it! Plus It was Very Streetable. Then I went to the 355 and Had Decent Results with less Engine

[5678TA]

am i missing something or does that not sound very fast with that much motor???? granted my 385 is not running those numbers, but mine is with 10.65:1 on 92 octane, a solid flat tappet cam(306S), brodix racerite 200 heads(266cfm/179cfm @ .600" lift), vic jr. and a 750 annular mighty demon.. i've hit a best of 7.44@93 and 11.65@116 with a crap 1.69 60ft.. all the while leaking most of the compression out of the #3 cylinder.. your setup should be deep into the 10's, 1/4 mile.. around 6.5ish in the 1/8..

[steel town]

ok 5678 I have a 406 that doesn't even have 10.1 comp I run it on pump gas with the old Dart sportsman iron heads in a 3600lbs 80 Z I've ran 11.0's @125 and the car wouldn't 60ft worth shit I've had 6.9 1/8 mile and I've "had" 1.54 60 ft just not all in the same run .I'm sure I would have been able to run a good 10 second run .This car was not a track car it was a street car with no cage so every time at the track was limited to about 1 or 2 runs then I was sent home