Big Foot

A model I made in 1965 of what my 57 would look like if I had one. I was 8 years old at the time. "Mutiple STP stickers".

June 11 2005

Today I was able to go to my second DACC meeting. We meet at Speedtek in Haltom City, Texas. We had a meeting and then put our cars on the dyno at Speedtek. Here are my stats:
(Run conditions: 92.86 degrees F, 29.48 in=Hg, Humidity 18%, SAE 1.02)

Run 1 Max power = 222.63, Max Torque = 279.51
Run 1 Max power = 222.36, Max = 275.74
Run 1 Max power = 220.55, Max Torque = 276.80

My horse power stats were a little disappointing. I thought I would be more at the top end of the 200s. I used my Gtech pro and ran a best of 13.9 at 109. By using a house power calculator at this web site: Link text I had calculated 300 horse power at the wheels and 380 at the wheels. Almost an 80 horse power difference.

My dyno sheet

I guess really not to bad. On the top end you can see a flutter because of week valve springs. I have a positive curve in horse power which is good. I am a little rich on fuel mixture at the top end. It was recommended that I change smaller one size in the secondary jets and 2 on the pump jet.

Who ever built this motor did a good job. I was 20 horses over the guys with 350s. (My motor is a 383)

June 13, 2005

Today I pulled off the rear wheels and brake drums. In my view I have a sever pull to the left under hard breaking. After inspecting the breaks I could see the right rear brake had a lot of grease from a leaking axle seal. I also replaced a broken stud on the same wheel. I am worried about the stud holding. Ran out of time and had to just put it together. I left that stud just snug to keep from spinning the stud if I have a flat. Not good!! Braking is better. There is still a slight pull to the left. I am going to pull the front drums to check them.

June 15, 2005

Today I put a coolant catch can on my car. I plan on going to the drags and it has to have one. I had been using a beer can for a catch can. Only 12 oz. Have to have a 32 oz can. I had been worried that she had been running hot. Well I put 4 quarts of water in her. Maybe she will run cooler now. On the way home from work in 95 degree heat she ran at 190 on the road and 200 at a stop light. I don�t know if that is good or bad?

I also rigged up a battery hold down.

June 17, 2005

Last night and this morning I fixed my left side header. When I bought the car that header had been smashed. A combination of a lowered front end, low profile tires and bad shocks made the header drag when I hit a bump. I replaced the shocks and the dragging stopped. I was told when I had my car at the dyno that some of the horse power flutter at the top end could be due to a restricted exhaust system. Well, on the left header one tube was � smashed shut and another tube was � smashed shut.

To fix the problem I drilled 3/32 inch holes and used my dent puller to pull the tube back to about 90 percent open. Not perfect but a lot better. To close the holes I tack welded them shut with my MIG welder. Not very pretty but it�s under the car. Some times function over rules looks.

I also adjusted the left front brake a � a turn in. I hope that helps the pulling to the left under breaking.

June 17 2005
Today I went to a DACC club meeting at the Denton, Texas Drag strip. This was my first time. Below are my times.

Date*** Run time** RT** 60 ft** 330 ft** ET** MPH
-------------------------------------------------------------
6.17.05*9:05 PM* 0.842 2.9776*7.6431*11.111* 71.11
6.17.05*11:23 PM* 1.27 *2.842 *7.1133*10.4902*73.08 Best MPH
6.17.05*11:33 PM* 1.0883*2.894* 7.2693*10.7188* 71.8
6.17.05*11:42 PM *0.8613*2.829* 7.2582*10.7777* 70.58
6.17.05*12:07 AM *1.1452*2.5611*6.7417* 10.1692*72.34
6.17.05*12:10 AM *0.7566*2.448* 6.6579* 10.081* 72.52 Best ET
6.17.05*12.17 AM *0.7524*2.6293*7.315* 10.9164*69.52 Best RT

AVG*********** 0.9594* 2.7401* 7.1426* 10.6091* 71.56

I don't know why this thing does not see spaces :?

My best et of 10.08 would be 15.70 in the quarter.

Horsepower Results - 1/4 Mile Method
My 57 chevy weighs about 4000 pounds and can it completed a 1/4 mile in about 15.70 seconds. That means that I've got about 204.29 HP at the wheels, and about 265.58 HP at the flywheel. Dyno was 222 hp.

For the math I used this web site.

[url]http://www.race-cars.net/calculators/horsepower_calculator.html[/url]