When flipping through the pages of your favorite automotive enthusiast magazine, which should be Super Chevy, you'll often find race coverage and results from venues across the country. Being the street-oriented person that you are, you come to find that vehicles equipped with DOT (street legal) tires are running in the high 7-second and low 8-second range in the quarter-mile. This can be very discouraging for you, the average Joe, who is considering future involvement. You begin dreaming of becoming a participant until the little man on your shoulder says: "How the heck are you supposed to compete with these guys?"
Well, put down the chips, get your butt off the couch and we'll show you how. As Ben Stiller says in the movie "Starsky and Hutch": "Do it ... Do it!"
If a supercharger is your...
If a supercharger is your weapon of choice, Procharger has all the ammunition needed. Pictured here is the P1SC unit, which has a self-contained oiling. The P1SC is available for many fuel-injected and carbureted applications. Intercooler kits are also available.
The Super Chevy/Tremec True Street Challenge will be presented at 10 Super Chevy Shows in 2007 and, if the response warrants it, there will be even more on the schedule in 2008. The idea of a class for registered and insured street machines isn't a new one, but the True Street Challenge, which has its contestants go on a 30-mile road tour before making their drag strip passes, not only separates the racecars from the street warriors, it also rewards those who don't have a Bow Tie that runs in the single-digit zone.
If you're planning on coming out to play, the first thing you need to do is research the event schedule for times and places where events will be held. Are you going to one? Two? All 10? Be sure to map out a game plan for the season.
Next, review the rules to ensure that your current vehicle, or the one you are building, will fit into the True Street class. The worst thing you can do is travel far away from home and be rejected for failing to pass technical inspection.
Moser Engineering manufactures...
Moser Engineering manufactures custom alloy axles, which can be special ordered with any spline, length, and bolt pattern. Complete custom rears can be ordered to fit your needs.
Remember, all track sanctioning body safety rules will be in effect, and you must present proof of car insurance, vehicle registration (dealer tags are not permitted) and have a valid driver's license and the proper competition license if your car runs 9s or quicker. All operational, DOT-mandated safety equipment for the particular model year must be operational. These items include, but are not limited to: headlights, taillights, turn signals, wipers, horn, and brake lights. It would be pretty upsetting to be turned away for an inoperative horn.
As we mentioned earlier, you don't have to build a killer 8-, 9-, or 10-second car. Plan on building a car within your budget. The True Street events will not only give an award to the overall winner, but to the cars with the lowest three-run average elapsed time for the 10-, 11-, 12- and 13-second zone. For example, your daily driven Camaro with a cold-air intake and exhaust system has a shot at a trophy.
Aeromotive offers an extensive...
Aeromotive offers an extensive line of fuel pumps, regulators and complete fuel systems (as pictured).
The Super Chevy/Tremec True Street rules indicate that you must have a Chevrolet or Chevrolet-powered product. Corporate powered vehicles, such as the LS1-powered Pontiac Firebirds, GTOs, and Chevy-powered street rods are eligible, along with Chevy-powered kit cars. Any Chevrolet engine is permitted, along with any style cylinder head. Any type of induction is permitted, and any form of power adder is allowed. OK, so the rules are pretty wide open.
We cannot stress enough to do your homework. Ask yourself: Is a constant 200hp shot of nitrous going to be reliable on a stock engine with a stock fuel system? Is a $2,500 turbo system going to work with a $3,000 budget? Is 22 pounds of supercharged fury going to live in my 120,000-mile engine? The answer to these questions is probably no, no, and no! There is more to building a street/strip terror than throwing on some go-fast goodies. One must find a balance of speed, reliability, and consistency.
Tremec Transmissions specializes...
Tremec Transmissions specializes in manual transmissions with a wide array of options. Each component is stringently tested for quality and durability. Whether it's an 18-speed big rig, or 10-second Nova, Tremec can handle your needs.
When building a quarter-mile killer, many often start with the engine and work their way back. Well, from past experience, don't make this mistake. Always start in the rear and work your way forward. You'll need to have some idea what kind of horsepower you're going to have, but what good is blowing your entire budget on a killer engine with a stock transmission, and stock rear. First pass out: kaboom! Now you have an oversized engine stand with four wheels and a hood.
Start by determining how fast you want to go. Lets say you have a 3,200-pound car and want to run in the 11- to 12-second range. You would need approximately 370 hp at the rear wheels. (This is just a starting point and represents approximate values based on the use of an automatic transmission.)
Knowing this information, you can now call upon a quality manufacturer, such as Moser or Currie Enterprises, to determine what rear axles, differential, and gears will be needed to best optimize your performance. Also consider which type of rear control arms, torque-arm, springs, etc., will best fit your needs. Once that's decided upon, fuel supply and transmission are next.
Whether you're running a carbureted or fuel-injected engine, you'll need optimal fuel supply (aka volume). Don't purchase a fuel pump based on your needs alone. Purchase a pump that exceeds the demand of your combination. You can always tame a lion, but cannot make a beast out of a kitten. A call to Aeromotive, Barry Grant, Holley, etc., will point you in the right direction. These companies manufacture a wide array of fuel supply products. Another tip when building a street/strip car is to build something you can grow into. In other words, you may want to buy the stronger transmission, better fuel system, bulletproof rearend, and aftermarket engine block. Let's say a year or so from now you decide to upgrade your ride from an 11-second terror to a 9-second killer. You will already have the part/s you need, rather than having to go back and purchase the same category of part/s twice.