My ‘68 Camaro had a 4bbl Quadrajet that was replaced by a 650 cfm Holley double pumper and mechanical secondaries. I was young and didn’t know what I was doing and had spending money so I special ordered race fuel bowls. Side inlet. Think about $400 back in the ‘70s.
Some memorable street races involved going up against a big block Roadrunner. I should have just left the Camaro in the garage. I got smoked so bad it was embarrassing.
Another Chrysler I had issues with was a Duster with a 340. Those things were quick, a lot quicker than their 318. I’m talking not just walking away from me, but he was at least a block away when I backed off.
Line you said , good memories. Some make me wonder why I am still alive.
The massive ones sticking out the side of dragsters when you’re there in person for a night race, you’ll see little blue sparks jumping all around. On a normal car that means your wires are shot, on those it is just normal. They’re insulated like crazy and I still wouldn’t get anywhere near a plugged in wire while it is running (of course the massive heat and flames from the exhaust would prevent you from getting that close anyway). I do miss the smell of nitro though.
I’ve had two Hemi Rams, a 2008 5.7 and a 2018 6.4. The 2008 required the copper plugs (and rubber boots on the coil over packs) every 30k. I did it a couple times, around 30 minutes and under $50, wasn’t bad. The 2018 uses iridium plugs and says 100K but I won’t go that long. The second plug doesn’t make any power, it is just there to burn off excess fuel vapor to meet EPA requirements. It fires on the exhaust stroke. At least with the 2008 it was paired up/spliced so that when one cylinder sent a power spark another sent an exhaust spark at the same time so they didn’t have to do 16 timings. I’m guessing the 6.4 is the same.
I’ve been driving low tech pushrod single cam V8 engines for all of my adult life (I do consider the hemi to fall in that category too, but I’m mostly talking about the GM LT and LS engines), I just like them. Simple, powerful, reliable. My current car is a 427 pushrod LS7. With all the new cars (other than the hemi based ones) they’re going too high tech. I’m considering going the other direction and finding an early '70s Chevelle and dropping a crate LS6 in it (no way I’m paying the price for a numbers matching '70 with an LS6, I don’t care about the collectability).
I’ve torn apart Mopar Magnum v8, GM LT/LS, and Mopar Hemi. With the exception of the older ones having a distributor instead of coils, they’re all basically the same core design they were using back in the 60s and 70s.
Of course if you want an engine that purrs and runs quiet and doesn’t sound like a sewing machine desperately in need of an oiling, I would not recommend them. But that’s why you toss a loud exhaust on it…
My buddy took a bone stock ‘68 Camaro with a six cylinder, dropped a 350 with a Muncie in and turned low 14s in street tires. On ‘Run what you brung’ night, I had plans with a girl later that night, so I drove separately. My buddy said “let’s see what she will do!” I was next to a Vega with a big block. I had no idea what I was doing, and had never watched racing on tv. I drive up to the Christmas tree, it changes green for me, the Vega disappears down the track, and I smoke the tires halfway down the track. Had no idea that I was supposed to drive through the bleach, get the tires hot, then back up. Nope, but I did make it to 90 mph but the time was horrendous. I think 1/4 mile was 17 seconds because the first 10 seconds was me smoking the tires in the bleach not going anywhere. My right leg was shaking like Elvis because I didn’t bother to check the brakes, tires, oil level. Important stuff.
