4.88 gear,400,041 cam, opinions
 

i am still learning how to navigate so please be patient. i have a 57 pontiac project and just want some opinions on the parts i am putting together. i have 4.88 gear with 35 spline spool,72 model 400 engine, 16 heads, 1 5/8 hooker headers, 1 3/4 dougs headers,850 dp,ported cast iron intake,th400 trans,have not picked cam yet but i would like to go with 041 cam. maybe 3000 stall, 30 inch tire. what you guys think? thanks.

1/8 mile race car?You will need RPMs,I think you will need a single plane intake.Have the heads been ported?Pretty much all I see wont help your 400 breath.Tom

the heads look to have bowl work done. the ports have not been gasket matched. i was thinking about a purestock type build for the engine. iam not competing just a test and tune type thing.im curious what these old parts would do. by the way its manual brake and steer. the 4.88 may be too much but with 30 inch tire. maybe not. im no racer 1/4 mile is what i was thinking. im not following any rules so thats not a problem. just wondering what you racer guys would do with the parts i have. dont really expect to be the fastest thing around. these are parts i have laying around.

Cliff has experience making that cam work in a 400. Compression ratio is important.

Pushrod buldge is the lowest CSA, thus the flow choke on RPM. Open up to promote HP with RPM.

Could measure CSA along the intake track to valve bowl, then run a calc to see what rpm is wise to shift before choke. Maybe 4.10:1 would be better.

I've run 4.33s on the street with 400 and 068 cam. Id getTallest tire you can get. That locked rearend will not be fun either. Rode around with welded spiders, oh the days!

not going to drive on the street. but it has the 9.3 rear so i could swap chunks and axels. if i wanted.didnt 4.33 come from the factory? they probably had 28 inch tire?im thinking 30 inch tire would get me close. i was thinking good flat tops,forged rods,041 cam. 9.98 to 10.1 comp would be fun car to test and tune at the track. the 4.88 came with the spool thought i would give it a try but 4.33 is probably the way to go. the car will probably weigh 3400. thought i would share this combo and see what you racers think kinda share the fun.

4:88's
 

Rev limiter

agreed.

I ran my 3900 lb 78 TA with RAIV heads on a 400 with 4.56 and a 29.2" slick at the track and 275-60-15s on the street. 4000+ stall convertor and a TH350. It ran better with a dual plane intake in the car but if you are running 4.88s that will pick up the bottom end and use the better top end of a single plane better.

with 4.88 gear 30 inch tire what stall would you use or is that a loaded question. the car supposed to weigh 3600 complete. im thinking it might weigh 3400 with weight reductions. what about running a spacer? think of it like if you all had this particular set up . i would like to hear all suggestions. i hope this will be a fun thread. thanks to all for your input. i cant wait to here your combos. lets get that 1/4 mile smile.

I run 4.3’s on the street with a 28” tyre. Engine is a 400 with edelbrock round ports and a victor manifold. Turbo 400 with a 4500 converter. It’s actually very streetable and revs very VERY well. I wouldn’t take it on a 2000mile drive being a solid roller but I drive it as much as I can.


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Been there before, With a tall tire I think you'll have a blast and should
run good also. Carb spacer, yes 30 inch tire, yes. Now if you really want to
have fun put a stick in it. I ran my 62 Tempest that way for a while 4:33
gears though. I could only get a 28 inch tire in there.

GT

The radial slicks do not grow so you can run a taller tire closer to body work. Mine were the "short" 30x9 stocker slicks

yeah that 30x9 may be the ticket.

i think i can get a 30 inch tire under there . the original tire size was 28 inch.i agree a manual would be fun, but i plan on building it so anybody can drive it.thank you for the response.

that sounds like a good combo. what kind of car?

That's a lot of opinions.

K

I would also go a step bigger than an 041 since you have the gear.

i agree . i wanted to start there and see what that cam was capable of. what cam do you have in mind? 60311? or bigger? i dont know for sure but i calculated for 6000 through the traps give or take 200 rpms. im not looking for a specific number but i think it may suprise me.