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Original Message
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Here is some reference for you.. |
By Don V - 09/28/2001 12:02:02 AM; IP 64.12.102.28 |
My friend has a 69 Fairlane Fastback 390, to date his best time at the strip is 14.06. It is equipped as follows: 390 IP Cobrajet intake Crane blueprint series (copy of 390gt cam) stock ex manifolds (yes the puny unibody ones) 2 1/2 exhaust pipes no headwork done 735cfm Holley c-6 3.89 gears For reference, my 66GTA convert has run a best of 14.8. It is equipped as follows: Totally stock 390gt engine with the "S"ick intake 600cfm Holley 2 1/4 exhaust pipes c-6 3.50 gears as you can see big gains are made in intake and gears compared to the 69. Now I will go to bat for the 390. I often hear what a dog the 390 is. I ask compared to what? 440's 428's 455's yeah, those are pretty powerful motors, in a class by themselves no doubt. But what about mid size engines 396, 400,383 etc. I am now looking at a Car and Driver magazine, printed in March 1966 were they had a shootout of 442 - 350hp 4 sp - 14.59 et, 396-60hp 4sp - 14.66 et, Royal GTO - 360hp 4 sp, - 14.05 et, GS400 - 340hp - auto -14.92 et, FairlaneGTA -335hp - auto -14.26 et, and a Comet 390GT -335hp 4sp -13.98et. Not too shabby for a couple of dogs, and yes the magazine did not like the 390's either, but there it is.
One more magazine did a mid -size engine shootout recently, Musclecar Review May 2000. The shootout comprised a 68 442 - 15.33, et 70 396 Chevelle - 14.99, 68 GS400 - 14.92 et, 69 Torino 390 - 14.51 et, 70 GTO 400 - 14.44 et, 73 Javelin 401 - 14.17 et, and a 69 Coronet 383 - 15.48 et. Again, I think the 390 did well, certainly not a dog. I am no big fan of magazine tests, but I think the shootout in Musclecar Review is fairl assesment of what the the average owner/enthusiast, car can do, not by manufacturers who will fudge things for increased sales. The only reason I bring these things up is because a lot of my friends as well as myself actually run these kind of cars at the strip, and I never felt the 390 does that bad at the strip and neither did they. Well time to get off the soapbox... Thanks to everyone for letting me indulge myself, and if it was too long - I apologize in advance. |
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