[gjn]

Steve,

My experience is only with Pontiac low RPM motors. Prior to my cam change, I shifted at 5,200 rpms (now it looks to be 5,400). To be honest, I was looking to buy a 67 Nova SS or a 68 Firbird 10 years ago when I purchased the Firebird which I just happen to find first. I had no idea of the difference in between Chevy and Pontiac at the time. My initial rebuild of the 400 had to be one of the worst mismatched combos ever. I had 8 to 1 comp with a cam that required 9.5 to 1, stock converter, and 3.08s. It had so little torque, I could barely turn the radials over with out major power breaking. My cranking compression was 135 PSI. Fortunately, I was able to rebuild the motor in 2004. I had at that time found the Street Performance Pontiac site and modeled my motor after several of the featured cars. I didn't like the idea of Rhodes lifters (for what ever reason) and really wanted a 3.25 gear so I could cruise at 3k rpm at 70 mph with a 26" tire. By then, I had read/researched for hundreds of hours and figured out that the entire combination matching was the key to success. I ordered a stroker kit from Butler, had them port the #16 heads to flow 250 cfm at .5 and had them help select the cam (XE 274). I was able to get that combo down to 12.36 @ 111 with a 650 dp and 2.4k stall shifting at 5,200 RPMs over the course of a year (my first pass was 13.8 @ 101). I went to a continental converter 10" 3.2k stall and a ProSystems 800 CFM carb and ran a best 12.002 @ 112 the next year. For various reasons, I rebuilt the motor and decked the block and changed to a customer grind cam by Straightline Performance 236/250 .510/.510 112. Last weekend, I went out and ran a best 11.935 @ 113.33 on my second full pass with this combination. The only other change was the ET drag radials form ET streets. Right now my biggest issues are hooking and small tube headers 1 5/8" with a 2 1/2" exhaust with an h-pipe. I am going to unhook the exhaust at the collectors this weekend to see how much it is costing me.

I love the Pontiac engine/head design of high velocity ports/torque monster motors and am so thankful I found the Firebird before I found a 67 Nova. I run a low RPM 5,400 motor with a highway gear 3.25 that enables me to cruise at 70 mph at a comfortable 3k rpms, with a hydralic cam that is reliable and cheap, on pump gas, in a car that could be a daily driver (if I needed it to be) that runs 11.90's. I don't have to run a drag gear to get this kind of performance or wind the motor up to 7k rpms. Once I sort out the traction issues and can afford to pop for exhaust, I think I will be in the 11.70 range. A chevy guy came up to me after 11.935 my run and asked what gear I had, I told him it had a 3.25 in it and he just shook his head in disbelief and started laughing. They always say, man what would it run if it had a real gear in it?

Could I have run 11.90's with with the Nova. Most definitely; but, it would have been a screaming 406 with a lot more gear/cam or a big block with bigger ports that would require more cam and gear. It definitely would have been less drivable on the street. I have yet to see a Chevy that is set up as mild as mine or some of the noteworthy street strip guys that post here at KCIR. I am not saying they don't exist, I just haven't seen them.

For street strip it doesn't get any better than a Pontiac tractor motors in my opinion.

What do I consider high RPMs, north of 6,000....but you have to consider the source. I am not an all out racer.