Help me outrun an AMC Gremlin

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Shamrock--WV2NC

Shamrock--WV2NC

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Ok. I bought a 72 Dart swinger with a 318 from my brother. I pick it up during Mopar Nats weekend. I got a guy here at work with an old gremlin he's building. He is shooting for 350 hp. I am on a budget so I can't go too crazy and I want my dart to be streetable. What can I do to outrun this dude? I was thinking cam, heads, intake, carb, and headers on a la360 but I'm not sure it will be enough. Would a stroker motor be the way to go? Any help would be appreciated
 
match his HP rating, as close as you can, with what ever you build (350 out of a warmed up 360 should be no challenge) - add a stouter rear gear ratio and do what you can to lighten the car.. you'll "tree" him off the line every time..
 
What's in the Gremlin?
343,360,390?
390 Gremlin is go-like-stink.
Better know what gear he has in back, or look out.
"Where's the rest of your car, toots?"
 
you state your on a budget, what's the budget?
 
I'm curious as to what's in the gremlin also! Those cars are light as hell and if he has a 401 which is unlikely but who knows or 390 as mentioned **** hell idk about you beating him.
 
He can beat him...... 350 hp isn't unbeatable, regardless of the cubes that the 350 hp is coming from
 
Yup. He's sandbaggin. Better be careful. AMC motors have some of the best stock heads there are.
 
That Gremmy is also 5-800 pounds lighter. My wifes....

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Wow. A lot of replies. Ok. He's got a 360 in his gremlin. It has dual quad 400 carbs on it. He's a buddy so he's not sandbagging just smack talking. He said he'd be happy with a high 13,low 14 second car. So I'm thinking if I can make high 12s, or low 13s. I'll get him. Lol. I'd be happy in the 12s even if he's faster. That's my ultimate goal. Until I hit 12s and then my goal will be 11s. Hahahaha
 
If he has an AMC 360 with two carburetors, he's a sandbaggin *** talkin about "just" 350 HP. Those things will make some power. In a Gremlin it will haul ***. You've been warned.
 
You're on the right track with the 360, just make sure the gears and converter are right for the engine.
 
High twelves are easy. This is just over 100 mph; requiring about 11 pounds per horsepower. So say 3400 pounds/11 =309 hp. Throw in a half second for street suspension adds another 10 or 15 hp, so ballpark is 325 hp. A hi-comp 340-6bbl was factored 325 back in the day, so for a 360 this is child's play.You can almost do it with bolt-ons and slapper bars.

I gotta warn you though, a Gremlin at 2800 and 350 is 8pounds per horsepower, and you ain't gonna touch it.With an auto that's looking like a possible 116 mph, and that may be in the 11s. But say the Gremlin scales 3000, that would be 8.6 pounds per hp,which might hit 113mphwhich with really crappy suspension will still be tickling 11s, or very low 12s
To compete with him, at a raceweight of 3400(car and driver), and to hit 8.0 pounds per hp, you are gonna need 425hp. That is pushing the envelope for streetability. And of course the budget is G-o-n-e. By the time you got that installed and the chassis tuned you may have chewed through over $8000Us.Probably more.......
Back to post #9

But hold on there! What if he is sandbagging and actually builds 380. 2800/380 =7.37#/hp, and now he is pushing 120 mph, and sneaking up on low 11s, and you are needing 460 hp just to keep up!. You see how this is gonna end, right?
He has a street car. You are gonna need a race-car,Or supercharging..........Or you are gonna have to strip your car down to the bare essentials.OOps that would again make it a race-car.And........back to post #9
I hope you didn't smack-talk him or make any bets..........
 
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i wouldn't just worry about the engine and how much overall HP , think about the package , get it to breath if the engine cant get enough fuel and then get rid of the burnt fuel it wont roar...., a decent stall in the trans with a good shift kit , and be able to put the power to the ground , if you just spin the tires you will go no where.... you gotta think about the whole package ..... balance out the budget with the entire package ....
 
I always hated them
Even the sixers were fast.
But I hated that they could easily out run my 70-Swinger 340/4-spd/3.55s, back in 71/72.
And I hated those ugly V8s.
And they were so boxy! I hated that boxy look.
And oh those AMC interiors. I hated those.
And when they beat me with skinny tires.I hated that.
And the noses were like bricks; I hated that too.
And the tails were like,missing! So ugly; I hated that.
About the only thing Uglier was those fishbowl Pacers. Or the Hornets. I hated all those cars.
But ............If I had one today, with my 420hp in there,She would be the sweetest thing to me.
Lessee; 3000/420 =7.14#/hp. So looks like 121mph and tickling 10s. One more cam size, and solidly in the 10s.And still very streetable. Lessee how can my 68 Barracuda lose 850 pounds, and still be streetable? Oh that's right, it can't!
 
We already have the wager set. A Golden Corral dinner. Hahahaha. It's all for fun but I don't wanna look at the rear end of that gremlin and darn sure don't wanna hear about it for 12 hours a day
 
AJ/FormS said:
I always hated them
Even the sixers were fast.
But I hated that they could easily out run my 70-Swinger 340/4-spd/3.55s, back in 71/72.
And I hated those ugly V8s.
And they were so boxy! I hated that boxy look.
And oh those AMC interiors. I hated those.
And when they beat me with skinny tires.I hated that.
And the noses were like bricks; I hated that too.
And the tails were like,missing! So ugly; I hated that.
About the only thing Uglier was those fishbowl Pacers. Or the Hornets. I hated all those cars.
But ............If I had one today, with my 420hp in there,She would be the sweetest thing to me.
Lessee; 3000/420 =7.14#/hp. So looks like 121mph and tickling 10s. One more cam size, and solidly in the 10s.And still very streetable. Lessee how can my 68 Barracuda lose 850 pounds, and still be streetable? Oh that's right, it can't!
Click to expand...

Just do what AMC did, chop about a foot of the Barracuda's length out from the middle and get rid of the back seat lol
 
A stock 360 magnum with a cam, intake, 750 holley and headers will make over 350 hp real easy.
 
AJ/FormS said:
Well if you Nos it, you could just use the teener you got
Click to expand...
Thats what I would do , get the teener tuned to it's 68-69 spec 260hp and throw a 250 -300 plate kit on her , add some Nittos to get the power to the pavement and an 8 3/4 suregrip and he's toast . After dinner sell the plate kit to your local fart pipe hero and your only out the tires and diff that you really want anyway .
 
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