"The rest of the car" a lot of times is overlooked in the quest for a fast/quick drag car. I knew a guy when I worked at the local Chevy dealer. Had a STONE STOCK 270 HP 350 in a 70 Nova. He's gone now, but he was a super cool old school racer and was still doing it and enjoying it with his 2 grown sons. That car was dead consistent in the mid 12s from what I remember. I think it may have even gotten some 12.30s. The car itself was set up right and yet it sounded like grandmaw's grocery getter. He said it was the most consistent car he had ever raced. He was always winning, too.