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I posted a bit ago with pics of the drag car I picked up recently. I'd love to get to the track next year, and was curious how many guys have used 'junk yard' motors to get the feel of the car as well as racing in general. I have run street cars hard but haven't made a pass before.

Here's what I have to work with, 69 barracuda that has been cut to pieces, has a 14pt cage, all lexan windows, stock floor and its all steel minus the hood and front bumper. The chassis is a cut up k-frame set up for a motor plate, stock front end, 9in rear end with 4.56's and a spool. Has leafs in the rear with a hard welded ladder bar set up between the leafs and slicks. The car is set up for a BB/727, 2 fabbed driveshafts, old Hooker SC huge primary fenderwell headers, the rear tires are 32 x 16.5's and skinnies on the front. The 440 short block was built by Roth racing, it has fresh 452 heads with triple springs and big valves, Harland Sharpe rockers, domed pistons, was supposedly running the 850 thermoquad I got with it, 8.5" converter, what I was told is a built 727 with RMVB. I have no idea what the car weighs but I can push it around the garage without much effort, and I moved it against the wall using a pair of tractor supply ATV dollies under the front wheels.

My idea is to run a stock motor with the 727 I have, but I'm not sure about the RPM's it would be turning, I don't want to get in over my head by putting in a built motor without more experience driving. Any advice, or thoughts? I know it will cost money to get a running motor, and the converter will have to be milder but I'm sure the car will be plenty quick to get it dialed in and some seat time to get comfortable. Thanks in advance, TC.

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Do you know how fast the car was before with that set up in it? If slower than ten flat I would say run it with the parts you listed, you can adjust the throttle cable so you don't get full throttle (so you go slower at first ) and later readjust it to go faster I started of driving a very slow car(17.20 ET at or slower than the speed of most voices ) at the drags first, my current car will run low 9 at 143 MPH in the 1/4 I ran a Duster in NHRA S/ST one year that started off running a Holley 4776 600 CFM double pumper carb, that carb. wasn't fast enough for the class So I ended up switching to a bunch of different sizes and part number Holley carbs that year to run fast enough That car picked up .8 ET and around 10 MPH in the 1/4 mile by swapping those carbs. Lots of ways to slow cars down Good luck, be safe and stay safe In other words do what you think is best for you

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The NHRA six pass agenda for a license is designed to make sure new guys don't mess up, and wind up competent to drive a sub 10.00 car after six passes. Set your first outing up based on that.
If I were the crewchief, I would put the car together as you plan to race it. The first order of business is to get a mindset in place of when to lift. That time is the exact instant the car is making a move other than perfectly straight down the track under your control. Grow nerves in your posterior, and let them dictate your moves , not your logical mind. Once you fully understand and accept the fact that ANY odd movement makes the run junk, then it becomes easier, and the tendency to stay in it too long is greatly diminished. I can't emphasize that enough. If you get that permanently planted in your mind, then you are ready to start the educational part of driving, the experience. Remember, it is a lot easier and cheaper to fuel up for another pass and wait in line than to fix the car after it hits the wall or worse.
Start by foot braking at first, low rpm launches, and half throttle. Run it out 200 feet, lift some, drive it the rest of the track and get a solid feel for the way it handles and brakes. Add more launch rpm and throttle, and distance , leaving extra room before the mph lights for braking till you are confident in yourself and the car. Plan your next pass, then stick to it. You should be comfortable and ready after four or five passes. Never forget rule #1- if it makes an odd move, lift instantly. Whether it is a time trial, or the finals. Races almost never pay enough to the winner to fix a bent car.

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Invaluable advice right there.