Cars > Challenges > “Drag car” Vs “Bad Aspen”
1978 Chevrolet Camaro
“Drag car”
1977 Dodge Aspen R/T Superpak
“Bad Aspen”
Head to Head
About “Drag car”
-78 Camaro body
-Fiberglass One piece front end
-Fiberglass doors
-Fiberglass trunk lid
-All Windows Lexan
Chassis
-Cage NHRA Certified to 8.50
-Backhalf Chassis, stock front end
-Motor set back past crossmember
-Ladder Bar Rear with Coilovers
-New Strange Single Adjustable Shocks
-Ford 9” Rear with 5.29 gears
-Strange Aluminum Case
-Morser axles
-1350 U-Joints
-Wheelie Bars
-Moroso Springs in front with Comp 90/10 Shocks
-Fits 32/14.5 Slick (Toyos and M/T)
-15 x 15 rear Welds
-15 x 3.5 Front Welds
Engine
-383 SBC
-Burns Pump Gas 10:1
-Solid Lifter Cam, Around the .575 Range
-Dart 200 cc Straight Plugs
-K Motion Valve Springs
-2.02, 1.60 Stainless Valves
-Crane Aluminum Roller Rockers 1.6 Ratio 7/16” Stud
-Keith Black Hyperutectic Pistions
-X Rods
-Scat Cast Crank
-4 Bolt Main Block
-Hurricane Single Plane Intake
-750 Quick Fuel Carb New
-Electric Water Pump
-7 Quart Oil Pan
-Schoenfeld Headers
-Transmission
-1.76 First Gear Powerglide
-BTE Transbrake
-JW Ultrabell
-Hurst Quarterstick Shifter, with elec. Solenoid
-Electric Fan Transmission Cooler
-5200 Stall BTE Converter
Ignition
MSD 6
3 step
It runs a 6.89 @ 102 MPH in the 1/8 mile
About “Bad Aspen”
This vehicle was purchased in 1977 from Guptills Dodge in Horicon, WI. The previous owner took very good care of it. He traded it in for a mini van. I am the second owner. I bought this car after I was out of High School.
The only flaw was a broken flare on the front spoiler. I upgraded the tires, ignition wires and radio (still have the original). I kept the Stewart Warner tach that came with the car too. It seemed to fit the car.
Every weekend I would clean the car and go cruising. If the scene died down in my home town, I would go to Fond Du Lac or Madison. The girls loved it and had a few street races in it. That fun lasted for about 7 years. Then an ex-girlfriend tried to "scare" me. She drove her vehicle in my direction while I was sitting in it. She turned at the last second. She was going pretty fast and slid into my rear quarter panel.
That started a rebuild that has lasted 13 years. I had to put the project on hold now and again. It has been rewarding and difficult. Parts have been hard to find but I fired the engine up recently. I finally can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Specs for “Drag car”
Body
-78 Camaro body
-Fiberglass One piece front end
-Fiberglass doors
-Fiberglass trunk lid
-All Windows Lexan
Chassis
-Cage NHRA Certified to 8.50
-Backhalf Chassis, stock front end
-Motor set back past crossmember
-Ladder Bar Rear with Coilovers
-New Strange Single Adjustable Shocks
-Ford 9” Rear with 4.71 gears
-Strange Aluminum Case
-1350 U-Joints
-Wheelie Bars
-Moroso Springs in front with Comp 90/10 Shocks
-Fits 32/14.5 Slick (Toyos on now with good life left)
-15 x 15 rear Welds
-15 x 3.5 Front Welds
-Setup for BBC and SBC (BBC Plate and Headers inc.)
Engine
-383 SBC
-Burns Pump Gas 10:1
-Solid Lifter Cam, Around the .575 Range
-Dart 200 cc Straight Plugs
-K Motion Valve Springs
-2.02, 1.60 Stainless Valves
-Crane Aluminum Roller Rockers 1.6 Ratio 7/16” Stud
-Keith Black Hyperutectic Pistions
-X Rods
-Scat Cast Crank
-4 Bolt Main Block
-Hurricane Single Plane Intake
-750 Quick Fuel Carb New 6/08
-Electric Water Pump 6/08
-7 Quart Oil Pan
-Schoenfeld Headers
Transmission
-1.76 First Gear Powerglide
-BTE Transbrake
-JW Ultrabell
-Hurst Quarterstick Shifter, with elec. Solenoid
-Electric Fan Transmission Cooler
-5200 Stall BTE Converter (2 Years old)
Ignition
-MSD 6AL Box
-RPM Activated Switch
-RPM Dial for Launch
-3 step
-2 Red Top Optima Batteries
-Alternator (14.2 volts when running)
-Mallory Unilite Dist
Specs for “Bad Aspen”
The car started out with a 318-2bbl. It has an A833 4 speed OD transmission. The rear end is a 8 1/4 SureGrip with 3.23 gears. In original form, the car had approximatley 180hp. Ouput is now about 325hp with the modifications done to the engine.
Factory Options for “Drag car”
No factory options listed.
Factory Options for “Bad Aspen”
This car wasn't ordered with a lot of extras. It came with rally wheels and the Superpak option. The Superpak option had the car come in Black Sunfire metallic paint with a red/orange stripe. Also with the package was a blacked out grill, three piece front spoiler, wheel flares, quarter window louvers, and a one piece rear spoiler.
Mods for “Drag car”
Car runs a 6.990 in the 1/8
60' 1.576
330 4.533
1/8 6.990
MPH 98.12
Mods for “Bad Aspen”
I started with going.030 over with the block. One of the cylinder walls had some damage. I'm still using the stock crankshaft, had the rods reconditioned and bought forged pistons.
For the cylinder heads, I am using a set from a '88 Dodge Ram. They now have 2.02/1.60 stainless valves and heavy duty springs.
I chose a Crane camshaft, a little hotter than stock. Lift is .467/.494 and duration is 278/290 degree. The intake is an open plane Weiand, topped with 750 cfm Holley. I rebuilt the stock electronic distributor. The ignition wires are 8mm MSD's and the ignition coil is an Accel Super Stock.
I left the transmission and the differential pretty much stock. Just freshened them up with a rebuild.
Vote This challenge has ended!
| Points for Drag car | Total Votes | Points for Bad Aspen |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 21 | 40 |
Top 10 Ranking (December)
| rank | member | wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wing_Nut_OOA | 4 |
| 2 | ASSMAN | 3 |
| - | tdi52479 | 3 |
| 4 | 3fan4ever | 2 |
| - | CorvairJim | 2 |
| 6 | superduty455 | 1 |
| - | mustangfan | 1 |
| - | TUNEMAN | 1 |
| - | STREETRACER | 1 |
| - | skrapmetal | 1 |
Cars > Challenges > “Drag car” Vs “Bad Aspen”
