SBC Stocker engine/trans; a couple of questions.
 

Bought an old Stock Class drag car. My daughter's going to be racing it, so it does'nt need to be very fast.......but........ It ran high 13's to low 14's in it's day, and that will be fine for her to learn with. It's a 220 HP 283, and STOCK; the cam is .398 lift on I/E. I have access to a new set of 1.6 ratio roller rockers; would they be worth the time to install them? The other concern is the converter; swapping to an aluminum Glide, 1.82 first gear unit, trans brake equipped (probably won't be using the brake). The rear gearing is 4.88:1, with a 29 inch tall tire. The 220 HP comes in at 4800 RPM. What would be an approximate stall of the converter I should be looking for? I also have access to a Glide converter, "4500" stall; usable? Thanks.

Likely, anything you can do to make the cam act bigger will help- to a point. It would increase the lift to 0.425", but w/o knowing how close to the limit the springs are w/1.5 rockers, it's hard to say if the swap would work as hoped, or not. I'd be considering a different cam and springs to better match the TC and rear gears.

With your HP peak RPM where it is, the 4500 RPM stall speed isn't going to work- the engine will also be WAY beyond the HP peak going through the lights. Either less gear and TC or more cam, IMO.

I'd throw at least a 30-30 cam in there, with the 1.6 rockers, you are going to need the rpm with the driveline parts you intend to use. I'd use the
"4500" converter, probably only will go 3800 rpm on the 283 anyway.

What is your take on:It's from a Harvey Crane page that talks about doing a lash loop.

It would seem to me that the size of the engine might well have an affect on how well this excess lash works, but there may be more to it than just that.

The 30/30 cam doesn't have a ton of lift to give away, but it can spare the duration, I suppose- but there again the displacement would have to come into play. What might be the hot set-up on a 283 wouldn't necessarily be what you'd want on a 327-and-up engine.

I would not just put on a set of 1.6 rockers, believe it or not the valves might just hit the pistons. If this engine was a legit Stock Eliminator piece then the cam probably has a profile with a lot of duration and a ramp shape that looks more like an Acme thread than a cam lobe. Stock rules dictate stock lift but that's about it and to maximize the area under the curve the cams typically have VERY aggressive ramps.

So what is the engine in? Got pictures?? :cool:

rocker change:
LOL,,,gain-add about 5% to the HP peak "maybe" going to 1.6 when ya only got 220HP doesn't do a whole bunch for ET/mph....

as often as not,,,changing just the intake or exhaust rocker ratio helps the most depending on the stock heads I/E ratio configuration and head exhaust port design restriction type problems and restrictive exhaust manifolds ...
(to find the actual best/worst ratio combo possible you almost have to do the changes and test on a dyno)

my $.02:
focus on the car is totally safe for her to drive!!!

13's 100mph+ is plenty quick for her to learn how to drag race,,,(reaction times/60' times=who wins a stock class race)
with those very deep rear gears and "instant" TQ from the stock cam at launch it will likely be a hand full to get traction out of the box!!!!

I wouldn't change anything until I had some ET slips to see what the 60' times do look like (with just timing and carb tuning to best match the pad)...
and then had "carefully" read the rules of the local strip for what changes are/are not allowed...

And yet, you want to make it faster? I'm scratching my head here. It seems your contradicting your first two sentences. :confused:
If I were you, I would let my daughter learn with it the way it is and then drop a bigger engine in it. I had a 55 with a 283 and 30/30 solid cam in it and it and even though it sounded good, it wasn't what I was planning on. :D
And then there was the constant ticking from the rockers. :eek:

I agree with you, but this is a real step down for me, back into a door car after 25 years (yawning). I'd like to see it in at least the mid 13's. I don't want to take this car apart, even if it's temporary; 57 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery, 220 H.P. 283, currently has a cast iron Powerglide, Junior Stock Class O/SA car, that's been in storage since 72'. I have a lot of parts at my disposal, but most are borderline, or way too overkill, for this car. Any larger engine, or substancial increase in H.P. to the current engine, then the rear end will also have to be swapped out. I bought this car because it had history, and was complete; I'd like to keep it original, but have some fun with it also. Her Mitzubishi Lancer OZ Rally with a 5 speed would probably be almost as quick (even with the throttle limiter installed on it).

Ok, you already know what your getting into. Just wanted to clear that up.
Have fun with your daughter, My first was only interested in boys, the second crashed everything she ever owned (wouldn't let her drive mine) and the youngest just screamed a lot. Good luck. :D

Actually, the car came out of Indianapolis, Indiana. If you go to RacingJunk.Com, and plug in item number 1878758, you'll find the car and rundown on it.

junior,
a suggestion?:
forget about Adrenalin rushes and focus on both of you making truly life long memories from just having fun together....

yup a stock evo VIII is a 13.5 according to the magazine tests...

test/tune both cars to matching best ET...

go race against each other (repeatedly) on a test and tune day!!!!

make up your own crazy handicapping rules????
lol,,,like less than 1 second reaction time is a red light for you because you are experienced!!!
(heck, ask the clock operator, he might be able give you a comp/bracket light when you two come to the line just cause it is dad against daughter)

Just look at John Force and his daughter. Either one would be intimidating at the starting light. :D