[getmygoat]

Article in today's San Diego Union Tribune...

The article is about Vince Salerno, who bought his 1965 GTO brand new when he was 16 (parents must be rich or something).

Anyway.....

The article reads:

The car is a survivor in original condition, mostly. It was always a street racer in the bad old days, Salerno said "It held its own until Chevy came out with the big-block 396."

It became painfully obvious that the "wheezy, asthmatic Pontiac motors could not keep up", he said. In 1969, he installed the first of a long line of Chevy "rat" motors.'

We need to find Vince and give him a talking to!

[Brian Baker]

Well...the 389 was hard pressed to run with a 396...in factory trim.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by getmygoat

Article in today's San Diego Union Tribune...

The article is about Vince Salerno, who bought his 1965 GTO brand new when he was 16 (parents must be rich or something).

Anyway.....

The article reads:

The car is a survivor in original condition, mostly. It was always a street racer in the bad old days, Salerno said "It held its own until Chevy came out with the big-block 396."

It became painfully obvious that the "wheezy, asthmatic Pontiac motors could not keep up", he said. In 1969, he installed the first of a long line of Chevy "rat" motors.'

We need to find Vince and give him a talking to!

This guy is what I call a quitter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JSchmitz]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

Well...the 389 was hard pressed to run with a 396...in factory trim.

It depends. I was in the car when my dad's '64 GTO spanked a '69 396 SS. Not by much. I couldn't believe it myself. That Chevy sounded bada$$. He was not happy.

[PLAY400]

Geeze, up here always thought the 389 3x2 GTO was the trick set-up over the Chevelle 396

[limejudge69]

I would think that a 360hp 389 could outrun the 325 and 350hp 396's. The 375hp 396 is a different story...

[400 4spd.]

It's not always about the numbers. We all know a good driver can do more with less.

[limejudge69]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

It's not always about the numbers. We all know a good driver can do more with less.

Agreed, but we both know the 396/375hp was a different animal altogether than the other 396's.

[400 4spd.]

I know they are and I agree with you. I just remember lots of street races in the 70's where the underdog won, and it was often because of the driver's talents.

[Cammer-6]

I loved to pick on the SS 396s with 4 speeds because those factory shifters were guaranteed to hang up on a 2-3 powershift.

[mike nixon]

I never had a problem with a BB Chevy.

Most of mine weren't "stock" either tho.


Mike

[Andre]

I would imagine that most of these high hp machines were handicapped by the woeful bias ply tires of the day. I asked around some guys about whether they were street racing from a standing stop, rolling start etc. I never can get a straight answer.

[Sirrotica]

We would run either from a standing start usually away from a red light, or if someone happened to roll up on us it was on. I myself ran alot of 396 chevelles and never lost to them. A 440 mopar and a 428 Torino gave me better runs and I was giving up quite alot of inches as mine was a 400 69 GTO T 400. Even a stout 340 mopar in a cuda or duster body usually ran better than most 396 chevelles I ran.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

We would run either from a standing start usually away from a red light, or if someone happened to roll up on us it was on. I myself ran alot of 396 chevelles and never lost to them. A 440 mopar and a 428 Torino gave me better runs and I was giving up quite alot of inches as mine was a 400 69 GTO T 400. Even a stout 340 mopar in a cuda or duster body usually ran better than most 396 chevelles I ran.

I found the same to hold true. Often from a 20-25 roll you could keep the tires from incinerating with an automatic, but I would rather go from a dead with my 4 speed GTO. The hardest I worked was against a 70 R/T Charger with an automatic. We ran 3 times that night from dead, a very slow roll, maybe 10, and again at about 25, and every time I lost by a 1/2 to 1 car length.
The 340 Dusters were fast and could turn up quick. I ran against one with the 69 Z-28 in the picture below. One night at the beach, two jar-heads in a 4 speed 340 Duster kept mouthing off about how they could whip the Z. I had beat the car easily in the past, so I wasn't worried. We met at "the light" and went for it. The same day the Z had a Zoom 4:56 installed (in place of the 3:73) and had not been re-tuned. With the solid lifter 302 I knew to shift at 7800, and that's what I did. Everything was fine until I hit 3rd. It fell flat on it's face like it was starving for gas, and he came by me.
I guess the mechanical fuel pump couldn't keep up.

The 40 Ford deluxe coupe in the same picture had a storied past. It and the 69 Z-28 belonged to my best friend. The 40 Ford had a 392 Hemi, a 421 Pontiac and finally a 283 Chevy in it. The rear end was out of a 57 Chevy, and it had a cast iron non-synchronized 3 speed. It was the most fun. All steel, white walls, chrome reverse rims and baby Moons, it topped out at 90 in second gear. We surprised a few people with that car. No seat belts and a straight axle front end, it was a handfull at speed.

[R68GTO]

No discussion (within reason) about which factory car was faster is complete unless you know the rear end gearing in each car and the nature of the race...stoplight to stoplight, 1/4 mile, high speed highway run, etc.

[dhcarguy]

OK.......here's my 2cents. When I was 17/18 I had a 67 GTO with his and hers auto. I lived in Willow Grove ,Pa. ,Hatboro was THEE cruising town in our area. Every Friday and saturday night I would race someone ,I didn't care what car . This is the honest truth, no pipe dreams here. Every Chevelle I raced I beat ,except for the only 396/375 horse ,4 speed car that was around at the time. I raced this car at least a dozen times. and every time could not get passed his doors with my front end. I raced a 66 350 horse Corvette quite a few times and lost also.(4 speed car). I never lost any other races with my GTO., Mopars included although I never found a Hemi car to run with. I also never ran against a 69 z28 camaro either. .That's my story and I am sticking with it.

Dave

[Sirrotica]

Believe me most hemis didn't run that well if someone wasn't tuning them constantly most were dogs. They were impressive to sit at the drive-in with the hood up but I never had any trouble with them. A good running 440 car would run better. 383 Road runners were overrated too in my opinion too, these never gave me any trouble at all.

I can't think of any Z 28s I ran either, but I wouldn't be scared to run one. A friend of mine raced one strictly at the dragstrip and with slicks on it I don't believe he ever ran 12 seconds with it.

[Old Man Taylor]

Since he is in San Diego, he should stop by and see my two '64's.

[dhcarguy]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Believe me most hemis didn't run that well if someone wasn't tuning them constantly most were dogs. They were impressive to sit at the drive-in with the hood up but I never had any trouble with them. A good running 440 car would run better. 383 Road runners were overrated too in my opinion too, these never gave me any trouble at all.

I can't think of any Z 28s I ran either, but I wouldn't be scared to run one. A friend of mine raced one strictly at the dragstrip and with slicks on it I don't believe he ever ran 12 seconds with it.

Brad, Before my 67 GTO , I had bought a 65 Chevy ImpalaSS Conv. It was a 4speed /409 car. Only had it for 5 months when It was stolen. I still remember on the top of the steering column was one of those homemade labels with the original owners name.........I don't remember the first name ,but for sure the Last name was Yost. He was from Abington ,Montgomery county, Pa. Could of been a Relative of yours?????
Dave

[Old Goat Racer]

Originally Posted by Andre

I would imagine that most of these high hp machines were handicapped by the woeful bias ply tires of the day. I asked around some guys about whether they were street racing from a standing stop, rolling start etc. I never can get a straight answer.

Having "been there, done that" I can tell you that most planned street races were from a 20mph roll.