I'm not a bser and people on here can vouch for me I'm sure...............

I agree safety first. Take it from me as I never thought I would roll my 11.90 Dart and get banged up pretty good. I was glad I had a rollbar and the good safety harness in the car.
You really have to go with what you really want and can afford. I can tell you I have alot of fun just running mid to high 10's but its all I wanted since its a street car and its about all my budget will allow anyway. If you think you will be happy with 10's and your budget will be good I would go for it because as others said you can always go faster later if you want. Good luck what ever you decide. Ron

I agree. I have built mine with safety coming first. It is certified to go 7.50's but I don't care if it only goes 9's or 10's at first on motor. I can keep stepping it up from there.

Actually, you are a little late to be setting goals. That being said, Here is how it usually works. You start with a 12 second car. You don't break much. You can get lots of runs in. It isn't too costly. You are having fun. Then you want to go faster - more fun, bragging rights, what ever. As you step in the 11's, 10's, 9's, the costs go up ( pretty steep curve )and the # of runs you can make go down. Eventually, the cost curve ( going up ) meets the fun curve ( going down ). Forget about everyone jumping on the safety issue. Everyone has their own comfort level here, but at minimum, you have to follow the safety rules, which is just a part of the cost thing. So, my suggestion is to be realistic with your financial situation. Stick within your budget. This will help keep you in the fun range. The only other thing that may take you out of your fun range will be time behind the wheel.

I would without a doubt put it together as is now, especially if you have all of the parts to do it.

If you’re still buying some stuff, you can always plan ahead for more power later by doing things like buying a killer fuel pump, plumbing ½” fuel lines, buying 5/8” axles/wheels, etc…

But if you already have a lot of that stuff purchased, no way would I go backwards from where you’re at.

8.50 is way more than just chassis cert type stuff.

Do you have a short block to hold 8.50 power? Do you have a trans to hold and axle that will hold 8.50 power? Are you ready to buy big dollar shocks for a 8.50 small tire car to work? Etc…

I have contemplated the same thing… mine is basically a R3 block, Crank, cam, and fuel pump away from being an 8.50 (or better) car. I just don’t see the reason to spend that kind of money to make the jump. It’s plenty fun what it runs now, and is great to drive on the street with even a 10.50 tuneup in it.

So most of what I have is built to take the HP (Dart block, 35 spline, ect.) I don't have shocks, fuel system, and a few other components yet.

I think at this point, I'm going to put the car together to run N/A. Some of the stuff I have currently may be overkill for it, but at least I can grow into a quicker car down the road.

Well I think your doing the right thing. I would keep in mind that you want to at some point go faster and buy the necessary parts to make that happen. No use in doing it twice. I for one am slowing my car down. I think I had more fun at 10.50s.. Is not like work there for me.. But have fun non the less..

That's what I and many others have done...........I went from 13's in my dart w/a 360 small block then stepped that up to run a best of 11.88@114 w/the usual mods. Then went 470 BB stroker w/906 heads and a .590-605 solid cam and went 10.40's but that wasn't enuff so I went W/home ported rpm's, solid roller dominator etc. 9.79 @ 135.59 @3200+ lbs. and have yet to hit a 1/4 mile since then. Last summer I went 6.15 @ 109 in the 1/8th letting off before the finish at around 3050 lbs. the whole time being a street car...........enjoy and work w/what you have and step up when you can...........