[Thumpin455_GTO]

It feels like one of those day time shows my mom likes to watch in this thread...

FWIW when I had the iron headed 455 in my 79 it was at 3650lb wet. Went to a 400 stroked to 467 with E heads and added a glass hood to clear the Victor/1050 and it dropped to 3100lbs wet. an IAII iron block is slightly heavier than a stock block, but you can make up that difference easily in power, reliability, and dropping some weight off the car.

Think about a glass nose over the factory bumper, those things are heavy on the 70-73.

[pont406]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

Actually Brian, I thought it was Brad's Dad's block, his step mom's block, AND Brad's block that were in bad shape.

Tom V.

Tom, your close, it was Brad's and Terry's (Dad) blocks that were Butter, Linda was running an IA2 block at that time, (which I believe Brad is now using) , Terry and Linda are using the replacement KRE Block in there car, N/A powered, Brad wanted to be "better safe than sorry" with his Supercharged setup. so he using the IA2.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by Thumpin455_GTO

... was at 3650lb... Went to ... E heads and added a glass hood... dropped to 3100lbs...

Lost 550 lb.? That's some strange arithmetic. Same scales?

[Brian Baker]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

Actually Brian, I thought it was Brad's Dad's block, his step mom's block, AND Brad's block that were in bad shape.

Tom V.

Don't know about a "3rd block", but I do know it was Brad's block, and his Dad's block that sh!t the bed.

[Jeff V]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

Quote:


You think maybe the car standing on its bumper might have had something to do with the connecting rod failing (due to lack of oil, maybe?) Naw, that could never happen.

Course the block never takes any stress when it is tied into the chassis and you drop the chassis from 13 feet up either, right?

Tom V.

Not doubting your expert opinion Tom,but my 66 GTO has stood on the bumper on at least 30 passes and carried it out over 100ft.I sometimes shift into 2nd gear while looking at the sky.It has a stock block with a 6 1/2 qt Canton pan.The engine is mounted solid with a midplate and solid stock-type motor mounts.So far,so good.

[Tom Vaught]

Your 66 have a basically stock frame under the front, Jeff?

Tom V.

[Brian Baker]

Originally Posted by Jeff V

Not doubting your expert opinion Tom,but my 66 GTO has stood on the bumper on at least 30 passes and carried it out over 100ft.I sometimes shift into 2nd gear while looking at the sky.It has a stock block with a 6 1/2 qt Canton pan.The engine is mounted solid with a midplate and solid stock-type motor mounts.So far,so good.

I've seen Russ White do the same many many times as well, but I think what you two guys do compared to that bumper dragger that Cooper did (that lifted the rear tires off the ground) is a bit different.

[triathlonx13]

Originally Posted by dda72

Pontiac-dude, the goal is 5.80-5.90 in the 1/8 mile with a 72 Firebird weighing 3580 lbs on 10.5 tire naturally aspirated. Current set up runs 6.35 @ 105 MPH with RamAir IV heads so hopefully 925-950 hp would get very close. The thought was an aluminum block would save weight on the nose along with aftermarket strength compared to a stock block. After reading some of the posts I need to do more homework for sure!

Thanks,
Dwight

Another option - might be ina different direction... but a full fiberglass front end will lighten you up... should be cheaper and achieve the same thing? VFN.COM

[Jeff V]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

Your 66 have a basically stock frame under the front, Jeff?

Tom V.

Yes.

[Tom Vaught]

My point is that if the front frame is modded, is tubular, or is not well supported then the block being tied to the chassis throught the mid-plate and the front plate will put more stress into the block if the front end hits hard.

In Larry Cooper's case he basically ran the car after he removed all of the oil to the mains without inspecting the engine for damage, (the story goes).

Breaking a rod in an aluminum block is never pretty.

Tom V.