took the beast for first test drive today
 

Today was the first time I actually drove the '82 since I rebuilt the 351 for it.
I only drove it 2 blocks or so because it's not inspected or has tags.
Starting out is almost like your're on ice....no ****. I eased on the throttle up until about 25mph or so and mashed the throttle to feel how hard it pulled and the rear tires went up in a cloud of smoke!! I about crapped my pants!!
I got paranoid about the cops so I turned around and went back home and never got a chance to hit 2nd or 3rd gear.
This is going to one wicked car!! Traction is going to be a big problem I see already.
I think this can be an easy 12 second car once I get the traction problem solved.
I must admit, this engine turned out to be much more powerful than I expected. I'm happy though and plus it my first engine I ever built.

Your making me want a 351 now:D an efi setup though, yea i bet you got a:) on your face after taking a ride, let us know what kind of times you pull out of that thing.

82GT, thats great!!!!
I know what its like to have a something you built yourself actually work better than you imagined it would. That feeling is fantastic.

Get some suspension and some really good tires and go run some 12's!! You'll love it when you get your first slip from the ET shack, I know I did.

Awesome, always feels good when you get more then what you expected let us know how things go and what soultions you come up with to keep them tires from burnin.

Man, Brian, I'm really happy to hear things are going well with the car. Please keep me updated, here or via PMs. Careful for the cops. ;) Are you gonna get BFG drag radials for the car?

Not to cut into your post or anything but what are some good street legal rubbers to put on the rear and or suspension upgrades that will give me soon to be 347 daily driver some good traction when I want to race but also let me have a decent car to drive to work and around?

Re: took the beast for first test drive today
 

You gotta know with the similaritys between your motor and the one I'm putting together, I'm jazzed big time !! :D :D :D :D :D :D

I don't know but I'm going to ask Foxbody how those BFG drag radials that he has work.
I'm also going to look into aftermarket upper/lower rear control arms later on.
Foxbody , so, how do those BFG drag radials work for you.....LOL

That would be a good thread to post: WHAT ARE GOOD SUSPENSION MODS FOR 12 SEC CARS.

Re: Re: took the beast for first test drive today
 

I noticed in your signature that your "tires & gears" will be announced soon.
A few words of advice for you:

1) You are going to have major(and I meanmajor traction issues)

2) 245/60/14 rear tires(like mine) will be totally useless.
3) You won't need to go too crazy on gears because you will have all the low end torque you will possibly need.

Oh...and you better wear a diaper when you take your first test drive because I had to come home and change my underwear..
:D :D

Scrapla, for your car, in your driving habits (everyday to and from work) I'd suggest Nitto 555Rs, not the BFGs. The Nittos have MUCH better wet traction and will last significantly longer (Even if you take it to the drag strip every once in a while). The BFGs will give you a little better dragstrip traction. So, 82 GT, that's why I'm suggesting the BFGs for you.

BTW, I have the Nittos on the car, but when those FINALLY wear out (hopefully some day in the next 10 YEARSS!!!!! :D), I'm getting the BFGs. I got the Nittos 'cause at the time, that was my only car (work, school, church, etc.)

Yeah, and I agree, with you 82 GT about the street tires, behind a car with a lot of torque, those things would be close to useless on the dragstrip. I am so anti street tire on dragstrip cause I remember the traction problems I use to have: couldn't get lower than 14.1s then switched to DRs, than BAM! 13.6..... Hmmmfffh!

Oh, BTW, Brian, I hope you're breaking the motor in b4 you beat her too much! ;)

Jamal , the beast won't be street worthy until spring time. I'm just working out all the small bugs now so that's it all ready to roll come spring time. I'll be doing odds & ends to it all during winter so she's ready to raise hell in the spring/summer.
These ricers won't know what the hell hit them:D :D

Ha ha! Good to hear, man. :)

......Just don't get crazy and ALMOST wreck it like I did mine (a few months after I broke in the motor), flooring it while going around a corner :rolleyes: at about 30 mph then fishtailing and sliding sideways across the road into the oncoming traffic lane and almost going into the ditch. LOL! :D :eek: :D

i felt the exact same way when i took mine out the first time....and i also thought to my self "what did i get my self into!!"

of course i thought the same thing the first time i started it to....and i also thought "OMG! what have i done" LOL