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So I'm considering a new project, Haven't owned a dedicated street/drag car since 1985.. And I raced a Bug..
Looking for a chassis to avoid smog checking to stay "street legal". (So older than 1975 ideally... )
Been looking around kinda lean towards a early Chevy II, Dodge dart, something in that size.
Trying to decide which one will have decent track manners based on track and wheelbase..
Build scope, Body(15' quality) , link suspension rear, a-arm front, 8 point, glide, N/A 5.3..
Hobby racer,, want to stay at a level that wont make it "too" much of a money pit.
So whats the opinions,, What car would you pick for a old guy toy with decent manners to run on a friday or saturday night?
Cheers.
FWIW, I have the tools to do most of the typical fab work and experience, I was thinking of using as much stuff that i can buy and fab the weird bits. (MIdwest chassis etc.. ) Not gonna scratch build , but most stuff would be on table.. will be time vs money. (like always..)
Mostly staying at 5.3 just cause easy, could do a 6, want to run a AL block.. If I stay 5.9 and down, It gives me a weight advantage.
I am going NA just cause these days its different Planning on E100, Terminator Running Kinsler Stacks. (I like the sound... )
Going to build it so I can put a plate on. I want to be able to drive it around town occasionally.
Been looking at the small body 60's/70's, Chevy II , Duster, in that ball park , But looking at everything ,,, You can fit a V8 in a Gremlin....
Might even go back to high school and find a Vega.. LOL They are expensive these days, last one I owned I traded for a Pocket Knife.
I'd rather run strong NA than spray something but I've gone both. I'd go with something like an LY6 with factory rectangle port heads, would be quite the runner EFI or carbed.
My street strip car is a '67 Camaro but I'm a secret nerd for the '68 Dart done up like a factory Hemi car.
I’ve always been a 62-65 shoe box nova fan. They are a little small and I feel a little scary to drive once you get to a certain power level lol. I do think a dart would be a sweet ride with a 5.3 na build in it
My uncle has a 65 Nova he tubbed and everything. Cool cars, sounds like a lot of guys swap the front suspension out maybe just research that for hidden costs.
Just like your generation camaro the novas basically have a whole front clip that’s bolts on which gives you coil over suspension and a rack and pinion. Way stronger and a much better design put cost a decent penny
I'd look on Racing junk for a project/roller that is street legal and drag race prepped with no motor. https://www.racingjunk.com/category/...cing-cars.html
In the 80s I drag raced bugs too, mine is still racing in Italy.
Got any pics of your old drag bug?
Last edited by Passmenow; Feb 21, 2022 at 09:42 AM.
Good luck with your project.
As to a car, 74 Ventura….
Get with @RonSSNova on here. He’s in the PDX area and might be able give an assist…. He’s a good dude and quite knowledgeable.
Want the lightest chassis possible that’s reasonable IMO. Easiest to find a roller on racing junk or similar. For an NA build I’d be looking at feather weights. Model T’s, Buckets, etc. Easy to tag and title as well. My 26 Model T is 2400lbs with a 200lb driver, alum 5.3, glide, 9” and turbo setup. Something like this NA with 500hp would scream. Lighter you go the less you’ll spend on parts and the longer parts will last.
If you have E85 local, you can run up to around 13:1 NA. I’d send some factory small port heads off to have the CC filled and heads milled to the max. Do a decent valve job/upgrade while you are at it. Run a ms3 - MS4 cam and you *should* be able to tickle 500hp NA on a Stock bottom end 5.3. Could even bore out the alum block 5.3 to 3.9” and make it a 5.7 fairly cheap. Depends on your budget.
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Car selection. Which car would you pick? 
