building a drag car!
i have an 87 camaro 305 stock
its got a 700r4 tranny in it
plands for it include a cut out exhaust, cam, and eventually a twin turbo

what are some other things i can do
and what kinda times does this car run stock?

thanks everyone

 

Stock 305 time are probably in the 16 second range. Don't expect massive improvement with a 305 without a lot of investment.

If this is a strip only car, the best advice is to remove everything not required for speed or safety. The sky is the limit as to what you can do. It depends on your mechanical ability and your budget.

Get rid of the 305. A 350+ is a better choice. Get rid of the 700R4. It's a great street tranny but you don't need the deep first gear with the wide 1-2 shift or the OD on the dragstrip. A TH350 is a better choice or you could go with a beefier tranny like a TH400.

Once you start making a lot more power with a twin turbo, the tiny 10 bolt diff will quickly fail. Expect to spend at least $2000 for a better diff.

 

i do have a rebuilt 350 standing by, its the matter of finding the time to swap it
is there a cheap way to upgrade the 700R4 instead of just replacing it?

 

No.

 

 

I would dump the 700R4, especially if your planning on a twin turbo setup. If you live in the mid-atlantic area I can recommend someone who will build you a 200R4 at very reasonable price, and it will take anything that you can throw at it, not to mention maintaining the desired 4th gear, and at WOT to boot....

 

it really depends on what your power level you want. I had my 700r4 rebuilt with a pro built trans rebuild kit, and costs around 500. They say it can handle around 550 hp. So far my 700r4 has worked great. But if this is strictly for the dragstrip, the 700r4 is really not needed, a 400 or 350 would be better to handle high hp builds.

 

Also dont expect much from a "rebuilt" 350. If it includes remanned rods and cast pistons you are looking at a peak output of 4-500 hp at most and thats assuming you know exactly what you are doing and everything works perfectly. Get one thing wrong with the tune or have something fail in the fuel system and that motor will be well and gone.

Even with a couple grand in a forged internal rebuild the block is good for maybe 500-600 HP.

It's time to get serious and decide exactly what you want to do, if you use the factory engine and trans your power and times will be limited. Try exceding those limits and you'll be picking up parts everytime and throwing buckets of money at the car, either replacing what broke with the same thing or by replacing them with what you should have had from the start.

 

What's your definition of a drag car? Is this really a street strip toy or a dedicated drag car that will get towed to the track, run and towed home? Do you have a specific class in mind?

 

it is a true drag car project, i will not have it on the streets at all
and the class really depends on how fast i can get it

 

is the TH400 a direct bolt on?

 

As already stated, you really have to decide how serious you want to get with it. If you're wanting to pull the front tires off the ground, you're not going to do that with the 305. If you can afford it, slap a 383 in it, a built TH350 and a 9" rear and get after it, if not you'll have to decide what you can afford and upgrade accordingly. Luckily, this is why we have bracket racing

Dan

 

right now im just working with the 305, and soon a 350. bracket racing is probley where im gonna stay for a few years untill i have either the money and time, would a TH350 or 400 bolt onto a 350? and would it help or should i just leave the 700R4

 

A TH350 or TH400 with a Chevy bell housing bolt pattern will bolt up to a Chevy 350 engine.

 

#1. Set realistic goals. People with 305 camaro's and no racing experience don't usually end up with twin turbo race cars with "cams."

#2. Search and read long and hard as to what others have built and how they did it. That will trigger you to say "hey, thats the direction I want to go.

#3. Budget and plan. After you have a good idea of what your going to build you can figure out what you have to spend and choose the parts wisely. If your budget is tight than buy used and only what you need. Don't hack it up into a race car if you don't have access to a trailer. Plan wisely.



But my real advise is ... If you want a fast car, save your money and buy something at least halfway done. I only say that becasue your starting with nothing and there is a long expensive road ahead of you.

 

listen to fast 383.

i had a decently quick 305, and i could spend hours typing up all the things you could do to make your 305 work for you, and put a smile on your face. you WILL be money ahead by bracket racing your 305 in stock form, and building something different with a larger bore to create more efficient power.

 

ok, well first of all "fast 3838" no need to be a dick
#1 i do have race experience
#2 im not a dumb **** i know it is a long expensive road ahead of me, i knew that before i bought the car

but anyways an update,
i just got the 305 out, and am picking up a 350 up this weekend
now i just have to decide to just leave the same tranny, or wait and get a new one like you guys suggested a TH320 or 400
the interior is gutted, and im in the process of refabricating it.
any tips on the swap?

 

Deleted. not worth it.

 

just close this thread now, i see it going nowhere fast...