1/4 mile monster or cruiser

[deerhunter]

I'm torn between continuing to build my '79 El Camino into a street/strip car, or going back to stock. At the moment she's got a 350 with a mild cam, aftermarket intake manifold, rebuilt 650 Quadrajet, Long tube headers, TH-350(stock), and a Ford 9" with 3.90s and a locker. I swapped the bench for buckets and the column shifter for a B&M floor shifter. The rear needs new axles and adjustable upper control arms to be streetable, but I'm still considering going back to my stock 2.41 7.5 inch and cruising the sh*t outta her. But I still may throw more money at her with a top engine kit and built TH-350, or 200-4r, but I dunno. Let me know what you all think.

 

[JBreu]

I say move forward with the street strip idea..........When you throw another transmission in it such as the 200-4r or I suggest the 700-r4, either way you'll be able to crusie the streets with that overdrive...I have a 700-r4 with 4.10 gears in the rear...I can cruise the streets with that o/d gear and can still rip the 1/4 mile in the 12's 🙂

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Keep the 3.73 gears and go with an OD trans first before doing any work on the engine. I had a TH350 along with two complete housings, one with 2.41 dog leg and one with auburn posi 3.73's. There is a HUGE difference and 2.41's flat out suck. Only reason I swapped the rear ends on the weekends is because I had to drive 3 hours to go to school and most of the trip is highway driving. Those high rpms at highway speeds get really old after a while. Hence why I'm going to a 700r4 so I don't have to swap rear ends anymore.

IMO there is nothing good about keeping a g-body stock. Now I'm only referring to base line cars, not the specialty ones like the 442 or turbo cars, but in general our cars suck stock and aren't worth the wasted effort to keep stock. Figure my gf POS ford focus makes more hp than my malibu when it had the original 305. That's sad.

 

[deerhunter]

haha, agreed. when i drive my wife's 03 Denali XL, it's sad that her giant suv throws me back in the seat more than my cartruck.

 

[Tuggy24g]

Like everyone said make it a street strip car! You seem like you done a lot of work so far to it so keep going. One day you will be done with it.