Think I bit off a touch more than I can chew...

So I'm finishing packing up right now, bout to go to the airport. Yay for spring break. I'll be driving my mom's car (unless my dad gets a new one, then I'll drive that), so hopefully I'll get some races, and I'll tell ya about them. However, last night, I think I bit off more than I can chew.

One of the guys inour house has a mint condition 57 T-Bird. Beautifull car, but big as hell. Its an awesome cruisin car, sounds mean as hell. Anyways, he was doing DD work last night, and I called him to have him pick me up from the bar. I'm riding in it, and commenting on how quick it feels for such a big car. He says its probably faster than mine, and me being
A)Cocky
B)Drunk
C)A Pridefull Mother Fucker-

I accepted the challenge. So anyways, we decide to go from a dig and a roll when I get back next week, and just to give me a taste, he punches it when pulling into the parking lot, and I don't know whether it was the booze or the car or a combo of both, but I got slammed back in my seat pretty hard. So yeah, this looks to be fun. I was just wondering, I dont know to much about them old Fords, what do ya'll think I'm looking at? Decent loss, total rapage, or maybe a suprising win?

Decent Loss. He wont totally rape you because of the weight difference. And if you happen to win, it will be a struggle for sure. But im still going to say a decent loss.

the original engines they had in those cars were pigs. Not much power for the size. If he has swapped a motor in there you are def in for some trouble. if i had to guess with a swapped motor and some work he is probably in the mid 14s. But i honestly don't know what i am talken about at all so just take what i say with a grain of salt.

Also if anyone knows more then i do about this (wich i am absolutely sure of) plz correct/own me.

the original ford 312 in the car had around 215 to 225 hp. still not a bad number, but it had a whopping 324ft-lbs of torque, im sure with a little modification that sucker could put out some pretty good numbers, oh yeah that car weighed about 3300lbs new.

Yeah, but weren't those numbers SAE net and way lower by todays standards? Andwho, It sounds modded...If you loose, let him enjoy his car, if you win..Gloat :grinno: jk...

Yeah, but weren't those numbers SAE net and way lower by todays standards? Andwho, It sounds modded...If you loose, let him enjoy his car, if you win..Gloat :grinno: jk...


then it might have a motor swap b/c CassiesMan said it threw him back pretty good. Just wondering about how fast is your car Mr. CassiesMan?

yeaa i would love to race an old muscle car.. when i get my srt-4 i wanna race my grandpas 67' vette 327.. anyone knows what that runs?stock

yeah, dont forget, these cars came with an optional factory supercharger...there's a reason why they set a world speed record in 57....

to bad it isnt a 1967 vette with a 427 fulie. You wouldnt be able to touch that! 327 would be a good race

well it weights like what 3200 lbs or maybe a lil more and it puts out about 300 hp and its a 4 spd manual.so i figure it runs high 13s easy.

classic rods never loose. he may have been last, but he was coasting in style :grinno:

He said it was totally stock, just a rebuilt motor, but no mods on it at all, and not built up for boost or anything, just because it had well into the two range of hundred thousand miles. RedLightning, my car does a 15.4 stock, and I doubt anything less than a 15.2 or 15.3 with the CAI. Im sure hes gonna take me from a dig, but its the roll I think I'll win...I dunno if his car can break the 115 barrier, and if I bring it up to 125-130...Oh well. I have a week to ponder this death, so I guess its good for me.

Ehh, you'll be fine up in a high speed roll...anything from a low or mid speed you might need to worry about.

racing over 100 mph is retarded if u ask me, its not very practical, and that turns into a whole new game then, then its about aerodynamics and not power.

yeaa i would love to race an old muscle car.. when i get my srt-4 i wanna race my grandpas 67' vette 327.. anyone knows what that runs?stock

I own a 69 Big Block Vette. My father owns a 62,63,71, and 76 vette.

If your granspa's Vette is a fuel injected 327, expect a 0-60 time in the mid to low 5's and a high 14 second 1/4 mile time.

As far as the T-bird. If its stock, you should kick his ass. However, there are a few rare 57 t-birds that came with superchargers (yes, in 1957) that put out over 300 horsepower. The car might be stock, but if its "stockly supercharged" you may be in for a rude awakening.

Either way if he is stock i give the nod to you, but if he is stock supercharged, I'd call it a driver's race with the lean going to him.


Rob

Quoted from the "Encyclopedia of American Cars"

1957 Ford Thunderbird, 2 Dr Convertable 2 Passenger.

Weight: 3145 Pounds

Standard Engine (With 3 Speeed Manual) V8 292 CID 212 HP

Standard Engine (With Overdrive Automatic) V8 312 CID 245 HP

Optional Engine (With 3 Speed Manual) V8 312 CID 270/285 HP

Optional Engine (With Overdrive Automatic and a few OD 3 Speeds) V8 Supercharged 312 CID 300/340 HP

you loose because you were drunk.

bad man.

my car does a 15.4 stock, and I doubt anything less than a 15.2 or 15.3 with the CAI.

I highly doubt a CAI would make that much a difference on your car, unless you had some sort of forced induction.

Most CAI will actually make you lose power, depending upon where they are mounted at, or whether the engine is cold. You have to consider the fact that the engine is hot, and pulling in hot air isn't going to help out performance. Anyways, as far as the race goes. I predict you'll win. The odds of this dude having the supercharged version are almost non existant. I predict a close race with you inching him out.

umm i think everyone seems to forget that the t-bird was direct competion for the vette in the 50's (thats the reason it was released), then something happened in the 60s, 70s that the vette became near a super car as it progessed and the t-bird got all gayed up as that progessed. plus i think he has the weight advantage on you and from a dig or slow roll he will cream you.

I don't think it is a matter of the air being hot or cold as it is removing the extremely restrictive stock airbox...I think that's where the power gain happens.