Help
Winter is coming soon and I need a project. My next project is to upgrade the drive train/rear end parts on my car. Here is what's going on.
It's a 72 Nova street car. Not a "drag racing" car. The motor is a 550 HP 468 BB chevy. the cam in the motor is a big long duration, high lift, mid to high rpm cam from Comp Cams 2500-6000 RPM range I believe. I have stock iron oval port heads which have been modified with porting, valve job, roller rockers, etc. Dual plane intake manifold, headers, etc. The car has a stock TH-350 trans with shift kit, stock (from 1972) torque converter, subframe connectors, 3.08 gear (upgraded to posi-traction), stock rear leaf spring suspension.
I want to car to launch better and go faster, (don't we all) while still getting some economy driving out of it while cruising. 5-6 MPG is fine with me.
I want to definitely replace the torque converter, and rear end gear for sure (right ?). Not sure about the trans yet. It's holding up so far and works well. Very expensive to replace that. I also don't know what to do yet with the rear suspension to get better traction. Right now with the current setup those tires spin all day long when I nail it off the line. Fun, but I aint going nowhere. I can't run a wider tire because the lower shock mounts are in the way and need to get relocated to the inner side of the leaf springs. that means welding, removing the gas tank, etc.
Your opinions please. I have a budget this winter of about $1500 to work with. That is all. Next winter, another $1500 and so on. what should I do first with that budget. I will do all the work myself unless absolutely required to bring into a shop otherwise. Like I may have to have any welding done by somebody else. I'm not that good at it and ill equipped.
Winter is coming soon and I need a project. My next project is to upgrade the drive train/rear end parts on my car. Here is what's going on.
It's a 72 Nova street car. Not a "drag racing" car. The motor is a 550 HP 468 BB chevy. the cam in the motor is a big long duration, high lift, mid to high rpm cam from Comp Cams 2500-6000 RPM range I believe. I have stock iron oval port heads which have been modified with porting, valve job, roller rockers, etc. Dual plane intake manifold, headers, etc. The car has a stock TH-350 trans with shift kit, stock (from 1972) torque converter, subframe connectors, 3.08 gear (upgraded to posi-traction), stock rear leaf spring suspension.
I want to car to launch better and go faster, (don't we all) while still getting some economy driving out of it while cruising. 5-6 MPG is fine with me.
I want to definitely replace the torque converter, and rear end gear for sure (right ?). Not sure about the trans yet. It's holding up so far and works well. Very expensive to replace that. I also don't know what to do yet with the rear suspension to get better traction. Right now with the current setup those tires spin all day long when I nail it off the line. Fun, but I aint going nowhere. I can't run a wider tire because the lower shock mounts are in the way and need to get relocated to the inner side of the leaf springs. that means welding, removing the gas tank, etc.
Your opinions please. I have a budget this winter of about $1500 to work with. That is all. Next winter, another $1500 and so on. what should I do first with that budget. I will do all the work myself unless absolutely required to bring into a shop otherwise. Like I may have to have any welding done by somebody else. I'm not that good at it and ill equipped.