[SD455DJ]

I believe good believable power numbers for the XV 400 with these cams are:

•Pontiac 066 Cam – 330 hp at 445 lbft torque
•Summit 2800 cam – 340 hp at 440 lbft torque
•Summit 2801 cam – 360 hp at 430 lbft torque (actual uncorrected dyno values)

…with 10.0 to 1 compression and a careful rebuild with torque plates and quality components (pistons, rings, bearings, etc.).

Thanks for following along! It’s been a rewarding journey so far and next spring will tell how it actually performs at the dragstrip.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

The previous owner weighed the Tempest the one time he had it at the track and it weighed 3650 lbs with him in it and a half tank of gas....he weighs at least 225 lbs, and I'm at 150 lbs, so 3575 lbs with behind the wheel. I plan on swapping it to manual steering which will shed another 30 lbs, so it'll be 3600 lbs with me and a full tank of fuel. That is almost 500 lbs lighter than my '70 Judge (4080 lbs with me)! I wish they put RAIV's in stripper Tempests in '69 and '70...they would have been game changers!

Dennis

['ol Pinion head]

Dennis, lovin' the engine results!
3400 reads a hair light to me for a '70 V8 Coupe w PS, esp with near 50lbs of fuel.
The prev 455, did it have E heads & headers? No radio, alum rear drums? Do you have a copy of the '70 AMA sheet where it lists weights? I would have bet another 120-140 lbs.

[SD455DJ]

Thanks Roger! That’s the weight the previous owner showed me on one of the time slips he had from Mason Dixon Dragway (Hagerstown, ND) which has certified NHRA scales. It actually weighed 3680 lbs. with a (claimed) half tank with the 225 lb. driver. Remove the driver weight difference of 75 lbs. and power steering setup (30 lbs.) and I come up with 3575 lbs., then add in 60 lbs. for a full tank of gas and you’re at 3635 lbs. OK, I’ll round it up to 3650 lbs. in case I have a couple of cheeseburgers before the race (haha). I think the AMA weights are on the heavy side and include full fluids including gas. The car weighs pretty much the same as Dan’s 455HO T-37 with the TH400 and basically the same options, except the power steering (30 lbs.) and power brake (drum) booster (8 lbs.). It is certainly going to be weighed again to confirm the actual weight and I will report back in 10 months.

The 462 motor that came in it is a .030 over 400 block with the 4.25” stroke crank, 6X-8 heads with the SD Performance CNC 260/200 cfm port job done to them, Holley 850 on a RPM intake, RAIV clone cam (from Bullet) with 1.50 rockers & regular hyd. lifters, std. RA manifolds (2.25” outlets), 2.5” mandrel bent Pypes X-system with 24” body (huge & heavy) Magnaflow (truck) mufflers, 3.42 posi 12-bolt rearend, TH400 with a Continental Jim Hand tight 10” convertor, std. drum brakes with iron brake drums, all vinyl interior (with the wrong ’70 Chevelle pattern upholstery), AM radio, factory in-dash tach (added) and carpeting which is lighter than the rubber floor mat (Dan’s T-37 came equipped that way too as the original owner knew it was lighter by 10 lbs., or so). The OO didn’t dyno it, but thought 425 – 450 hp to the rear wheels.

The one and only time the OO took it to the dragstrip (Mason Dixon), he drove it from Ashland, VA about 160 miles there and 160 miles back, made 3 passes, two on drag radials he brought in the trunk and rear seat, 1st pass 11.929 at 113.45 mph, 2nd pass 12.082 at 114.85 mph, 3rd pass (on G70 Wide Ovals) 12.301 at 114.65 mph, then drove home. All runs were with the air cleaner on and thru the exhaust. That motor now resides in the ’70 4 door M-20 4-spd LeMans, except with the factory iron intake and Q-jet. That combo ran great down and back to Norwalk (500 mile round trip) and got almost 18 mpg (3.08 gears at 55-65 mph on the back roads driving for economy).

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

….Hagerstown, Maryland...not ND (North Dakota)!

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Thanks Roger! That’s the weight the previous owner showed me on one of the time slips he had from Mason Dixon Dragway (Hagerstown, ND) which has certified NHRA scales. It actually weighed 3680 lbs. with a (claimed) half tank with the 225 lb. driver. Remove the driver weight difference of 75 lbs. and power steering setup (30 lbs.) and I come up with 3575 lbs., then add in 60 lbs. for a full tank of gas and you’re at 3635 lbs. OK, I’ll round it up to 3650 lbs. in case I have a couple of cheeseburgers before the race (haha). I think the AMA weights are on the heavy side and include full fluids including gas. The car weighs pretty much the same as Dan’s 455HO T-37 with the TH400 and basically the same options, except the power steering (30 lbs.) and power brake (drum) booster (8 lbs.). It is certainly going to be weighed again to confirm the actual weight and I will report back in 10 months.

The 462 motor that came in it is a .030 over 400 block with the 4.25” stroke crank, 6X-8 heads with the SD Performance CNC 260/200 cfm port job done to them, Holley 850 on a RPM intake, RAIV clone cam (from Bullet) with 1.50 rockers & regular hyd. lifters, std. RA manifolds (2.25” outlets), 2.5” mandrel bent Pypes X-system with 24” body (huge & heavy) Magnaflow (truck) mufflers, 3.42 posi 12-bolt rearend, TH400 with a Continental Jim Hand tight 10” convertor, std. drum brakes with iron brake drums, all vinyl interior (with the wrong ’70 Chevelle pattern upholstery), AM radio, factory in-dash tach (added) and carpeting which is lighter than the rubber floor mat (Dan’s T-37 came equipped that way too as the original owner knew it was lighter by 10 lbs., or so). The OO didn’t dyno it, but thought 425 – 450 hp to the rear wheels.

The one and only time the OO took it to the dragstrip (Mason Dixon), he drove it from Ashland, VA about 160 miles there and 160 miles back, made 3 passes, two on drag radials he brought in the trunk and rear seat, 1st pass 11.929 at 113.45 mph, 2nd pass 12.082 at 114.85 mph, 3rd pass (on G70 Wide Ovals) 12.301 at 114.65 mph, then drove home. All runs were with the air cleaner on and thru the exhaust. That motor now resides in the ’70 4 door M-20 4-spd LeMans, except with the factory iron intake and Q-jet. That combo ran great down and back to Norwalk (500 mile round trip) and got almost 18 mpg (3.08 gears at 55-65 mph on the back roads driving for economy).

Dennis

Thanks Greg for the compliments! I forgot to mention that the static compression is 9.5 to 1 (even verified that with the Whistler) and the block is zero decked with Felpro 1016 head gaskets (.039" crushed).

Dennis

[OCMDGTO]

Looks fantastic!

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by OCMDGTO

Looks fantastic!

Thanks OCMDGTO!

[Mike Kasparian,Sr.]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Thanks Roger! That’s the weight the previous owner showed me on one of the time slips he had from Mason Dixon Dragway (Hagerstown, ND) which has certified NHRA scales. It actually weighed 3680 lbs. with a (claimed) half tank with the 225 lb. driver. Remove the driver weight difference of 75 lbs. and power steering setup (30 lbs.) and I come up with 3575 lbs., then add in 60 lbs. for a full tank of gas and you’re at 3635 lbs. OK, I’ll round it up to 3650 lbs. in case I have a couple of cheeseburgers before the race (haha). I think the AMA weights are on the heavy side and include full fluids including gas. The car weighs pretty much the same as Dan’s 455HO T-37 with the TH400 and basically the same options, except the power steering (30 lbs.) and power brake (drum) booster (8 lbs.). It is certainly going to be weighed again to confirm the actual weight and I will report back in 10 months.

The 462 motor that came in it is a .030 over 400 block with the 4.25” stroke crank, 6X-8 heads with the SD Performance CNC 260/200 cfm port job done to them, Holley 850 on a RPM intake, RAIV clone cam (from Bullet) with 1.50 rockers & regular hyd. lifters, std. RA manifolds (2.25” outlets), 2.5” mandrel bent Pypes X-system with 24” body (huge & heavy) Magnaflow (truck) mufflers, 3.42 posi 12-bolt rearend, TH400 with a Continental Jim Hand tight 10” convertor, std. drum brakes with iron brake drums, all vinyl interior (with the wrong ’70 Chevelle pattern upholstery), AM radio, factory in-dash tach (added) and carpeting which is lighter than the rubber floor mat (Dan’s T-37 came equipped that way too as the original owner knew it was lighter by 10 lbs., or so). The OO didn’t dyno it, but thought 425 – 450 hp to the rear wheels.

The one and only time the OO took it to the dragstrip (Mason Dixon), he drove it from Ashland, VA about 160 miles there and 160 miles back, made 3 passes, two on drag radials he brought in the trunk and rear seat, 1st pass 11.929 at 113.45 mph, 2nd pass 12.082 at 114.85 mph, 3rd pass (on G70 Wide Ovals) 12.301 at 114.65 mph, then drove home. All runs were with the air cleaner on and thru the exhaust. That motor now resides in the ’70 4 door M-20 4-spd LeMans, except with the factory iron intake and Q-jet. That combo ran great down and back to Norwalk (500 mile round trip) and got almost 18 mpg (3.08 gears at 55-65 mph on the back roads driving for economy).

Dennis

Dennis , impressive performance and cars , enjoying this thread . I have almost the same motor combo (455/6x heads) in my 71 T37 with similar performance results . Weighed it at Norwalk and was surprised that it was 3890 with me in it . Pwr steering , pwr brakes ac car , just leave it in drive and go , fun to drive .

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Mike Kasparian,Sr.

Dennis , impressive performance and cars , enjoying this thread . I have almost the same motor combo (455/6x heads) in my 71 T37 with similar performance results . Weighed it at Norwalk and was surprised that it was 3890 with me in it . Pwr steering , pwr brakes ac car , just leave it in drive and go , fun to drive .

I love your T-37 Mike. What does it run and what's the running gear?

Dennis

[Mike Kasparian,Sr.]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

I love your T-37 Mike. What does it run and what's the running gear?

Dennis

I only made a few runs at Norwalk , my daughter drives/races it also . It went 12.04@113 mph with full exhaust , ra exh manifolds , 3.55 gear , turbo 400 and steel wheels with drag/ street radials . Just has a tci 10 " street converter and just leave it in drive . I have the engine out for some changes , new ring set and going to do a little .more work on heads . Can't just leave things alone , lol .

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Dennis, lovin' the engine results!
3400 reads a hair light to me for a '70 V8 Coupe w PS, esp with near 50lbs of fuel.
The prev 455, did it have E heads & headers? No radio, alum rear drums? Do you have a copy of the '70 AMA sheet where it lists weights? I would have bet another 120-140 lbs.

Roger, attached is the AMA weights for the 1970 A-bodies and the associated weights for my Tempest…
Coupe 23327 3336 lbs.
Turbo H-M (400) 23 lbs.
400 V-8 4-bbl. Engine 245 lbs.
Power Steering 31 lbs.
Power Brakes (Drum Frt.) 9 lbs.
Radio 8 lbs.
Add for 12-Bolt Rear Axle 15 lbs.
Total Estimated AMA Weight 3667 lbs.
Previous Owner Weight 225 lbs.
Total Race Weight 3892 lbs.
Remove 75 lb. driver difference (75 lbs.)
My Race Weight 3817 lbs.

The previous owner ran without the spare and jack, so add another 60 lbs. to his scaled weight of 3680 lbs. = 3740 lbs. with him and a half tank…3801 lbs. with a spare and full tank of gas. Remove my 75 lbs. difference and that equals 3726 lbs. with me behind the wheel with spare and a full tank. So, that probably looks a bit more plausible. Take off the power steering (31 lbs.), half tank of gas (61 lbs.), and the spare/jack (60 lbs.) and the weight drops 152 lbs. to 3574 lbs. (3665 lbs. based on the AMA weights for a 91 lb. discrepancy). I probably made this a lot more confusing than it has to be, but that’s my math and we’ll see next year.

Dennis