[Damian]

Back in the day you didn't have smog and CARB issues and gas wasn't $4 a gallon.

[jedhead]

When I was rebuilding engines, I did most of all prep work my self. The machine shop did the boring and balancing of the rotating parts. My brothers and I did alot of trading to get the parts we needed. When we needed to rebuild a powerglide for our 65 Impala bracket car, we enrolled into a transmission class at Goldenwest College and talked our instructor into using the transmission for the class project. It cost us $90 and a few nights for a full race transmission. The engines were more simple with carbs and no electronics. Like others said 13 second cars were quick in the day, but I think one of the main reasons times have dropped so much are because the tires are so much better today. My 70 Chevelle had a lot of power, but I could not put all the power down on the pavement.

Bob

[Vettezuki]

Originally Posted by jedhead

When I was rebuilding engines, I did most of all prep work my self. The machine shop did the boring and balancing of the rotating parts. My brothers and I did alot of trading to get the parts we needed. When we needed to rebuild a powerglide for our 65 Impala bracket car, we enrolled into a transmission class at Goldenwest College and talked our instructor into using the transmission for the class project. It cost us $90 and a few nights for a full race transmission. The engines were more simple with carbs and no electronics. Like others said 13 second cars were quick in the day, but I think one of the main reasons times have dropped so much are because the tires are so much better today. My 70 Chevelle had a lot of power, but I could not put all the power down on the pavement.

Bob

Tire tech is a HUGE deal. But it's also clear, off the shelf cars are radically more powerful than they used to be not that long ago. Consider the V6 Mustang . . hell the V6 Accord(!).

[jedhead]

Agree.
Much of the increase in power came from the integrated circuits. The advancement in computers controlling the engines have revolutionized the engines today. When I owned my 1974 Jensen-Healey, most people including gear heads didn't see an aluminum DOHC 16valve 4 cylinder with twin 2 barrel delloros in which the engine block is covered with stress webbing so the front suspension mounted to the engine and the engine mounted to the unibody. Almost all 4 bangers are 16 valve DOHC. Some make 120hp per liter!

Bob

[BRUTAL64]

Originally Posted by jedhead

When I was rebuilding engines, I did most of all prep work my self. The machine shop did the boring and balancing of the rotating parts. My brothers and I did alot of trading to get the parts we needed. When we needed to rebuild a powerglide for our 65 Impala bracket car, we enrolled into a transmission class at Goldenwest College and talked our instructor into using the transmission for the class project. It cost us $90 and a few nights for a full race transmission. The engines were more simple with carbs and no electronics. Like others said 13 second cars were quick in the day, but I think one of the main reasons times have dropped so much are because the tires are so much better today. My 70 Chevelle had a lot of power, but I could not put all the power down on the pavement.

Bob

Yep, tires make a big difference. In 1974 I was in all Corvette Drag meet at OCIR. I could spin those tires with out even trying. Hell, even the BF Goodrich's I have now are better than the tires I had in 1972.

Oh yea, I won my class--I beat a 327 360 hp 62 Vette on the final round. I ran a 14.03 with shitty tires.


All things being even, I'd rather go back to 1969 and build the shit then. It was a LOT of fun. Now, It's all a big headache to build stuff.