1st time out, very pleased, but there’s more in it!

I’ve owned my Demon since I was 15 years old (54 now)
Bracket raced it quite a bit back in the 80’s to the early 90’s with a low compression 360 and a .484 purple shaft cam to consistent 12.30’s - 12.40’s
The car became an afterthought when family needed to come first....in a stable part of my life with too much time, enough money, the energy level is lower and body pains become more prevalent.
I’ve spent the last 5 years doing a full rotisserie restoration and building it the way I’ve wanted to for years!
During the build my painter had a massive heart attack and almost died…..he thankfully recovered.
Then back in June I suffered a stroke which I’m 90% recovered from…..it’s been one heck of a journey.
I’ve definitely learned technology has come a long way since the days of the Purple Shaft Cams and B&M Super Holeshot Converter!
Car is all steel with US Cartool frame connectors, a fiberglass six pack scoop (hood isn’t painted yet) stock glass/interior.
Front end is pretty much stock w/QA-1 90/10 shocks - front runner tires.
Rear end is 8 3/4, S/S springs moved in to frame rails, 4.30:1 gear, Mopar long shocks for S/S Springs and M/T 275/60-15 Drag radials.
Engine is a .30 over 360 with a Rod Bloomer 4.125 crank/kit to equal 420 cubic inches.
Compression is near 10.5:1 eddy heads gasket matched and some bowl blending/Hughes roller rockers.
Bullet hydraulic roller cam .573 lift around 250 @50 duration. Eddy Super Victor intake with a Holley 750HP that flows 820.
Trans is a well built 904 with 2.76 low gear set, T/A manual valve body and a PTC converter that flash stalls right about 4000 rpm.
MSD 6AL ignition and an aeromotive A2000 fuel pump.
Went to the track Sunday, it was about 65 degrees, slight tail wind, perfect conditions!
Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised!!!
I have many people to thank that have helped….
There’s many here that I've asked questions, gotten advice, and have read a lot to build this car as it sits today.
For that, I am very grateful.
Enough of my boring story....time for the good stuff!
Sunday morning I woke up at 4am….like a kid on Christmas morning….I just grabbed coffee and went to the garage.
Hooked up the car about 8am, got to the track about 9.
Waited til they opened the lanes at 10:30 - warmed up the drivetrain with a few laps around the pits and jumped in line.
I was hoping I didn’t forget how to do all this….did a decent burnout, staged and decided to make an easy pass.
Had a good launch from about 1200 rpm, shifted early and lifted - ran a 12.35! Ok Wow! That was easy.
Next pass…..it’s game on.
Did a good burnout, launched at 1500…..and the pics will tell the rest of the story.
The 4:30 is a bit steep, the engine wasn’t pulling as it should have through the lights, I let off just before the 1st mph light when the engine was singing up around 6500.
Going to look into a 4:10, maybe 3:91 - looking for suggestions???

Thanks for listening and definitely thanks for all the help gang!!

Wally.

Awesome!

Sounds like a great day!!

If we assume it would have gone around 119-120 if you hadn’t let off, with a 4.30 and a 28” tire....... it would indicate you have about 10% converter slip.
For that type of combo, I’d put that at the high end of the acceptable limit.

If the plan is for the car to see some street duty, I’d go with the 3.91’s.

If the track is a higher priority, then 4.10’s....... and maybe send the converter back for a tweak.

Launch looks real good and especially on ss springs with non adjustable shocks out back . Your killing it ! You should be very proud. There is definitely more in it ! Now the fun starts!

Really a great story, and puts things into perspective as I've really got to keep moving on my projects, so thanks for the post.

I'd think 3.91 and a tighter converter might be OK if you drive it on the street much, and I'd take a guess it should be good for 118-120(?)
Should be interesting to see what folks say.

Wally, congrats on your outing and your recovery, I hope you make it back to 100%.

I went from a 3.91 to a 4.30 and only picked up .06 and that was in 60'. I don't know what effect going the opposite way would have. Good luck and have fun!

Congratulations Wally!

Thanks guys!,
I’m beyond words happy with it.
I will drive it on the street for sure, probably a little more than on the strip.
I suppose that would possibly favor the 3:91???
Then if rpm is too low at the top end I could always pop in a 4:10??
Forgive my ignorance when it comes to the converter, if I want it a little tighter, is that more stall?
I appreciate the kind words. I’m hoping to get my health back to 95%, not sure I’ve ever been 100%! 😂
The pics I’ve attached are my dad and I in ‘85 after we won High school drag night at Great Lakes Dragaway.
He loaned me $900 when we bought the cat in ‘83, we paid $1800 for it. He passed away in 2003, I definitely do this in his honor.
The other is me with the car with and the trophy from the year long High School drags Champion.
I’ve kept the trophies and recently bought a Led Zeppelin shirt so I can recreate that pic but with a lot less hair and a little more a$$……
It sure is fun stuff!!

Congrats...what a great feeling it is having the car back on the road after so many years!!!


My coupe is 90% street, 8% driveway and 2% race (lol, if you can count two season outings a "race"). Point being, I went from a 3.91 to a 4.10 gear and for my combo (360 motor, 238/244 @0.050" HFT cam, 727, 4K converter, 27.75" tire, so close enough to a 28") that was the one change that made for a perfect street combo!!!

So if the 4.30 gear is pushing the motor hard at the line, this being a stroker to top it off, I would try a 4.10 move first, especially given the cam dur @0.050" before giving the 3.91 a try. Than again...stroker has gobs of torque right? LOL


"tighter" normally means that the converter will stall lower, having said that, I've been told you can build a high-stall converter that is on a "tighter" side, thus giving you better street manners.

My 9.5" Dynamic 4k converter feels pretty good on the street: car drives fine, but step into it a little deeper and the RPMs flash real fast. When I ordered that converter I emphasized the desire to avoid the car going from idle to 2k when I need to start moving at the stop light, the gentlemen at Dynamic told me "...alright, we'll build it a little tighter...".

What size fuel line from the tank to the pump and what size fuel pickup in the tank? Is there a fuel filter between the tank and pump? If so what micron rating is it?
I learned long ago you can never have too much fuel delivery, unlike not quite having enough
If you can fatten the carb up enough to slow the MPH down in the 1/4 mile you have enough fuel delivery, if you can't, you don't

Filter is an Aeromotive, filters to 100 microns.
Pickup is 1/2”, I have -8 from the tank to the regulator, -6 from regulator to carb.
It feel good, like the fuel supply is good.
Here’s a video a friend took

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P5JYNVZ0hXI

Thanks for the clarification!
When I spoke with the tech from PTC, he asked me a lot of questions about the car from top to bottom.
He did tell me since I’ll be driving it on the street, it will have good manners for street driving, but still work well on the track.
Fortunately for me, he spoke directly to the tech at Bullet Cams about my camshaft which I’m sure helped a lot!
I’m torn on the 3:91/4:10, but I may just purchase both which would give me more reason to go to the track!

Nice and congrats on getting out there with your car. Been a long haul!

Too close to that “10 sec” street car threshold to stop now! Very cool ride! It appears to be where I kind wished our Duster was…. right before we ruined it and fell into the “race car” abyss.

My 8" Coan flashes 5600 and works great on the street.

Congrats! So nice to see you stay with it , all that work etc pays off .

Nice street car for sure !

Wally,
Great job, car looks like it is running pretty good!
Sorry to hear about your stroke, I hope you recover 100%.
Mark J

Nice! Thanks for sharing, keep on keepin on and it'll get faster.

Great job! Thats rockin for the parts, cam etc. The great thing is, you have a killer combo now. There may be more in it, but at the level you have started at, gains will be tougher to come by. All in all, a great place to be. Again, GREAT BUILD👍👍

Thanks Mark!
Hope to see you at the track with your project soon!

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and advice to help hit the 10’s.
I think I can get there.

If I had one goal, it would be to go faster than my dad.
His ‘64 Hemi Dodge ran 10.82 in 1965.

Some day……