[The Boss]

Current best on my 71 GT-37, bone stock 8.1 cr, 455HO/Auto 3:08 is 13.37 3840 lbs with me in it.

3:73's will be in it for the spring, hoping for high 12's.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Current best on my 71 GT-37, bone stock 8.1 cr, 455HO/Auto 3:08 is 13.37 3840 lbs with me in it.

3:73's will be in it for the spring, hoping for high 12's.

Chris, Dan's T-37 (Canyon Copper w/ white painted top) has the original motor in it that is 8.4:1 compression, original 068 cam and lifters, a re-ring (std. bore) and new bearings (years ago) with the original 3.55 gears and he has run as quick as 12.87 @ 107 mph shifting at 4800 rpm. Like his gold T-37, it weighs 3675 lbs with driver and a 1/2 tank of fuel.

I think you should nail the 12's with that gear change, certainly with a little more compression.

Dennis

[DJ455HO]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Chris, Dan's T-37 (Canyon Copper w/ white painted top) has the original motor in it that is 8.4:1 compression, original 068 cam and lifters, a re-ring (std. bore) and new bearings (years ago) with the original 3.55 gears and he has run as quick as 12.87 @ 107 mph shifting at 4800 rpm. Like his gold T-37, it weighs 3675 lbs with driver and a 1/2 tank of fuel.

I think you should nail the 12's with that gear change, certainly with a little more compression.

Dennis

It's been too long since I've been active on this board, and this is the right thread to pull me back in! This is a great topic to discuss, but one that will never be decided. My brother and I have debated this since we were juveniles with our own cars! The RAIV has superior top end, while the 455 HO shines down low. When it gets right down to it, stock from the factory, I think it's a draw.

Just to correct what my brother said about my CC T-37, the engine is 30-over, and the compression is an actual 8.1 to 1. I rebuilt the engine in late 1984, preparing for the very first muscle car race at the 1985 Buick GS Nationals in Bowling Green, KY. The trans has a shift kit, but the shifts aren't brutal. The exhaust system was probably the biggest power adder with 2.5" mandrel pipes from Torque Technologies, X-pipe, and (old tech) Walker Hemi Super Turbo mufflers. The 12.87 ET is its best so far, and that was in optimal conditions (both weather and track). I would guess with better mufflers, the car could go marginally faster.

The gold T-37 (cloned HO car) was built to take advantage of the Pure Stock rules. I didn't want to push the compression to the max allowed of 9.9, shooting for 9.5 so that the engine would perform fine on premium unleaded. The actual compression came in at 9.4 on the Whistler. It has touched the 12.40s, but usually settles into the 12.50s. Oh, I don't use hop stop bars on any of my cars!

Glad to be back with my fellow PY buddies!

Dan