[Kirt Adams]

From what I see on this forum most of the folks here are into restos, customs, street machines,and drag racing. This is all very interesting but, during a group ride with my motorcycle club we happened upon a Solo II SCCA Hillclimb and I'm now obsessed. I want to turn my 79 T/A into one of these racers while keeping it barely street legal.
I have the rulebook, but they don't give any ideas for improving handling, acceleration, etc.
I have 3 engine options to go with from a 350 chevy motor to a 403 olds, or a 455 Pontiac. The olds doesn't impress me and I'm afraid the 455 may be too heavy. Can anyone help point me to a place where I can get the info I need to make these decisions.
I also need Serious performance suspension equipment.
All other parameters fall within the rules so I have guidelines for them.
Are there any fiberglass body parts available?
One more thing, does anyone have any experience they could share on the subject of stuffing a 455 engine into an 86 GMC 4x4 with a toploader trans? I figure if I don't use it in the Bird I might as well win a few 4x4 pulling competitions with it.
I know this is asking quite a bit and I thank you for your time.
Kirt Adams

[Kirt Adams]

From what I see on this forum most of the folks here are into restos, customs, street machines,and drag racing. This is all very interesting but, during a group ride with my motorcycle club we happened upon a Solo II SCCA Hillclimb and I'm now obsessed. I want to turn my 79 T/A into one of these racers while keeping it barely street legal.
I have the rulebook, but they don't give any ideas for improving handling, acceleration, etc.
I have 3 engine options to go with from a 350 chevy motor to a 403 olds, or a 455 Pontiac. The olds doesn't impress me and I'm afraid the 455 may be too heavy. Can anyone help point me to a place where I can get the info I need to make these decisions.
I also need Serious performance suspension equipment.
All other parameters fall within the rules so I have guidelines for them.
Are there any fiberglass body parts available?
One more thing, does anyone have any experience they could share on the subject of stuffing a 455 engine into an 86 GMC 4x4 with a toploader trans? I figure if I don't use it in the Bird I might as well win a few 4x4 pulling competitions with it.
I know this is asking quite a bit and I thank you for your time.
Kirt Adams

[SiberWolf]

Hmm... well personally i'd go with the 455. The extra weight can be made up for with the extra power. I've heard of some impressive results with the 403 though, don't count it out so easily. Get rid of all the smogger stuff on there and you can produce quite a bit of power with that Olds motor. Not much experience with the 350 myself, so i'll refrain from commenting on it.

I'd say go with a 400 and build it up if you had that option. That's what i'm working on right now in mine, and i'm already starting to see results with barely anything done.

Whichever engine you choose, cehck out AC Delco Rapidfire plugs. Putting them in in place of the standard Delcos gained me .5 sec 0 - 60. A nice gain for $30 of spark plugs.

SiberWolf