The purpose of this Impala Page is document a dream of mine, which is coming true.
Recent Updates:
9/9/08- I had some problems in 2004 and couldn't race. The car cut out at high end after sitting a while and I suspected something was wrong with it and didn't want to fool with it. It turned out to be just bad gas. I got some new slicks and new gasket for top of fuel cell. I'd suggest checking your fuel cell gaskets. It was rotted badly. It runs strong and I've had great fun with it lately. I'm not sure if I'm going to race again or not. I may sell the car, or just drive it around and to car shows. I added a few pictures to the final modifications page at the top to show the engine compartment. The guys at White Racing did a great job cleaning stuff up. Floyd's Hodrods did a bunch of the initial cleanup and Grashel Fabrication helped tackle a few other minor issues. If I plan to race I'll update page.
1/24/03- Just got motivated enough to update page since runs at track at Mid Michigan Raceway near Lansing, MI, and National Trails Raceway near Columbus, OH. At both tracks 10.12x times and 134 MPH were noted on best runs. My best time at MI was 10.125 at 134.06 and the best time at OH was 10.127. This was with 29.5x10.5x15 slicks with 11.2" of tread and a 3.08 rear gear. Check out the April Super Chevy Magazine, you will see a car with my license plate on the cover and in it. WOW! I put a few new pictures in the pictures at track section. The burnouts you see are not part of a burnout contest, just normal spin the tires for a second until you see smoke, then let go of line lock button burnouts. There is a very nice picture someone took of me at line with one wheel just coming off of ground. At the MI track, I was told I was pulling the front wheels up past the 60' line. I can't believe the way the car runs. Thanks go out to White Racing, The Smith Brothers, and Floyd's Hot Rods for getting my car in order. I have one of the timeslips scanned in and the other is around somewhere. When I find them I will post them too. 1/8 mile was 6.464 at 107.90 and 60' time was 1.466. I figured with the magazine coming I might get a few hits, so I finally got to work on this.
8/29/02- Added pictures to my Final mods page of motor. Injectors changed from 72 to 83psi, shiny valve covers new, wiring and underhood cleaned up much, a northstar system coilpack and no more optispark unit, billet manual steering, and two new pistons ouch. Hoping my big debut will be at Nation Trails for Super Chevy in two weeks. Sometimes this dream of mine seems like a nightmare.
5/30/02- Currently my car is at Grashel Fabrication getting my 6 point roll bar modified into a NHRA certified 10-point cage, having the window net installed, and having a cracked windshield replaced. My heads should be at White Racing tomorrow, and will be sent to have receiver grooves cut and valve guide clearances increased. If all goes well I will have my car safety equipment installed and car to White Racing by 6/7. If all goes well there getting motor installed and tuned, I'll see you at the I2K2 in St. Louis and will be racing up a storm on 6/16 hopefully making a run requiring my new safety equipment. Two many variables make the trip to I2K2 doubtful. I'm looking into ladder bars or possible suspension mods, but I'm out of money. Please send money!
4/27/02- On 4/13, my car ran a 10.59 at Milan Raceway in Milan, MI at 14.5-15 PSI boost with leaky header gaskets, and two year old slicks. Chris White drove the car. The timeslip didn't print right, and the only ledgible parts were the 60' of 1.70 and 1/8 MPH of 106.(smudge), and 10.59. I have an 8 MB video file of run. email me if you'd like a copy and how you'd like me to send it to you (email/ftp). Normally my 60' times are around 1.5x. This would have probably been close to a 10.30 time with good slicks. On 4/17 at Milan with new slicks, about 15 PSI boost, and leaky header gaskets, I took the car out and from a rolling start was going 104.88 at the 1/8 with a 4.25 60' time and a 9.409 1/8 mile time. No I was having fun making smoke clouds. My car rolled over line and I got confused and it took me a minute to decide F*** it and I nailed the gas. It felt great and went straight and hard. A little over half way down the track I saw some smoke from rear, but wasn't concerned because the power was there and during the previous run my tires rubbed due to not having the air bags inflated enough. About 3/4 of the way down the track, I lost power and tried to hit the brakes and started to slide. Luckily I did not wreck, because it was like stopping on ice. It was soon apparent that I blew a head gasket. It was later found I blew a hole through one of the heads, probably from not letting of gas soon enough. The machine shop said the head was repairable, but shouldn't be used on a highly boosted car. I was sick. For $2020 the AFR #1057 seemed to have the solution to my head problems. The AFR casting has a 3/4" minimum thickness deck, so the grooving of heads won't make water passage walls so thin, which appears to be the initial point of head failure. The heads are supposed to flow 30 CFM more than my old ones, with 2.08 intake valves rather than 2.02. Maybe the 645 RR HP at 15 PSI will increase to 670 with the additional 12% of CFM. My HP goal is still between 750-800 at the rear with 22-25 PSI boost. My racing goals are high 9's and 140+ MPH, which will require more/heavier safety equipment and some cage modifications, not to mention cage certification, NHRA license, physical, and any other jumping through hoops required by NHRA or IHRA. I might just get my time/speed goal up in Michigan at a track I don't normally race at, then turn down boost to run low 10's, so I can bypass additional safety stuff until next year. I added some pictures to the final modification page at the top showing the mostly finished custom exhaust work. I'm hoping to have car back to track by the middle of June.
3/5/02- Going to Detroit, MI to see Dan White tune in my car with custom exhaust built by Ken and Gordy Smith of Battlecreek, MI. Dan believes we will see 750+ RR HP. I am so ready to race. I have a Coan Racing transmission sitting at Dan's and will soon be getting a new torque converter. My last mod before racing season is going distributerless via Dan and MSD, and possibly some Northstar Cadillac ignition parts. I will update site soon with dyno numbers and finished exhaust pictures. I've revised modifications page and added some preliminary pictures of my new exhaust in an unfinished state to the final modifications page.
Car at Englishtown, NJ: