[guidos]

Well I am signed up for Hot Rod Drag week, Going to Drive all the way, probably tow a small trailer. It is 2200 Miles to get to Bowling Green to Start drag week, so it is going to be quite a Journey!

I installed a rollbar this winter and ordered some belts from Vincent Mayeda, Very happy how both turned out!

I will have a Spare TKO 600, and potentially a spare short block.

The engine program, well, two completely different deals, The 1st is my 474 (4.25 stroke 455) aftermarket 4 bolt caps, with my Heads from SD, not sure if it will be tripower or Northwind, going to do some testing. This combo will have a hydraulic roller in it with hydraulic roller lifters.250/260 ish with around 630lift.

Second engine (hopefully all will work out and this will be ready and tested) IA2 block, 4.35 stroke and 4.35 bore, SD performance wideport heads, with a matching Northwind intake, all under the stock hood. The cam will be 55mm, and lifter bore will be bushed, and 904 lifters (bushed not needles). No idea of what the cam details are yet. But solid roller. The valve covers will have sprayers in them to cool the springs, and heads will have external drainbacks. Crower shaft rockers on this deal. The plan is to make 750+ HP.....and make it live on this torture fest!!

Hope the 474 will run 10's, time will tell, the IA2 will run 10's for sure, how deep into the 10's well I guess we will see! Will the TKO's handle the IA2...car is not getting lighter probably over 4000lbs. Hope the week points will be found before the trip, most of the tracks are sub 1000 feet altitude, our local track is 2200 feet, so the car will see more HP at drag week.

I will be running in the Super Street Big Block Naturally aspirated, not sure how competitive I will be, just hoping to finish at the point....and get home!

[mike leech]

good luck and keep us posted

[TheSilverBuick]

I'm simply going to stock you across the interwebz, lol. That interior looks great! Look forward to seeing the build.

[Hooter]

Hope to meet you at Gateway. Looking good.

[guidos]

For sure Hooter, it will be great to meet you also, as well as all the others!

SilverBuick it will be great to do this adventure with yeah.

My Brother is driving his 69 mustang also, and we are hoping my Dad will be a passenger, he turned 70 last year and is a car guys as well, so that would be cool. Plus his 70 years of experience could come in very handy!!

[Hooter]

Bet those seats way more comfortable too on a long haul. Stock ones absolutely no support.

[guidos]

Yeah Hooter, I tried to retain the stock seats, new springs, foam, to no avail, but I love the new ones, and that console, with armrest, in the middle should make for a comfy trip!

[v869tr6]

Better be in very good health at 70, dragweek is a test of man and machine. At one point last year I was awake for 42 hours straight.
A little trouble and a 400 mile drive down the goat paths they pick out for routes and things get ugly, there just isn't much extra time.

[guidos]

Yeah he is a workaholic and still going strong, will have to bring him a comfy supervisor chair for some naps though! He has been a hotrodder all his life, they recently did a cross canada tour in there hot rods towing small travel trailers. He hasn't committed yet, and I know he watched the TV special about it recently, he is always up for a challenge!
42 hours, yeah that will be challenging for sure, why did I reserve hotels again LOL.

[02Hawk]

Good Luck Rich.....wish I was going too. Your car looks great.
On your cam, don't go to the LS firing order. When Dave did my last refresh I tried a cam with the 4/7 and 3/2 swap. I am going back to a Comp roller with only the 4/7 swap....the other cam was the cause of my issues last year.....info only......I can send you the cam specs if you are interested.
Also my combo never ran faster at Portland or Norwalk than it did at Budweiser....so altitude is not much of a factor in a IA 2.......my. 02 cents.

[jdw_poncho]

Car looks great! Good luck, I'll stop by and check the car out.

I think they frown on replacing a shortblock. Are you planning on bring it with you just in case you need it for the drive home? I wonder if they even allow you to carry it along?

I live in Mid-Missouri so if something happens and you need a shop let me know.

With as many pontiacs going on the trip we might be able to have enough spare parts to get us by!!

Man those seats look a lot more comfortable than the old kirkey aluminum seat I have. Im looking hard to have a better seat this year.

Show us some engine pics when its together.


Jeff

[67cruiser]

Mind if i ask what yr. seats are those out of???

[guidos]

Thanks John, good info.

Jeff the shortblock is definitley a "get the car back to canada", I know they don't want you racing with one block and driving with another, not sure what the deal is with the "just in case" senario.

The seats are Procar 1000's from scat. Here is a summit link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sca-80-1000-51l

Thanks

[GTO Dan]

Good luck and please keep posting. This is great.

You are braver than me though running a TKO with a 535 at 4000 lbs and drag race tires.

[Ron H]

Good Luck Rich. Have a ton of fun.

Make sure you buy some travellers insurance. Ya never know what can happen and without it in the US you will be selling your car just to get home!

[6t7gto]

Guidos,
I'll be sure to look you up and introduce myself.
I'm going as a co-pilot with Neil Sabo in either his mustang or cougar.
It's his 4th year and my first. Looking forward to it.

David

[stickboy]

Looks good Rich, I will also try and meet up with you guys at Gateway and see your car in person.

[blueghoast]

Love how the roll bar turned out.
It's hiden very well.

GT.

[estep455]

good luck! see you at gateway. danny

[grandville455]

Looking good! Good luck with your new setups!