The mid 60's is when small block GM engines triggered my interest. Note that in those days there were alot of older cars still around. Many folks kept their cars alot longer compared to these days.
My older brother's friend had a "newer" 1965 or 1966 Beaumont convertible. I still wonder how he got the money to afford this. Blue exterior, white interior-327 4-speed, ..wouldn't have known the rear gears. The driver had my brother sit in front, I was in the back..the top was down. I was about 9 yrs old and had limited exposure to this car "stuff".
We were cruizing around for awhile and then turned onto a straight rural road. He stopped the car.. and then let 'er loose. Lots of rubber and engine. He went through the gears like he meant to win a ¼ mile race. I've never travelled that fast on land in my life, at the time, and was somewhat hearing impaired for several minutes afterwards due to the noise of the engine and the rush of open air in the back seat. (seatbelts were not mandatory).
We were suitably impressed. My older brother had a mild 170hp - 283-powerglide, in a full size car, so this was pretty much a "warp speed" experience for us.
Well...I was hooked on these beautiful cars ever since.
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1962 Impala SS 409 (2X4 bbl) 4-speed 1967 Parisienne 327 (Gone) 1965 Pontiac Sport 283 (Gone) 1971 Pontiac Ventura (Gone)
1969 Mr friend Ken Phelan, was driving a 396 66 Pontiac Pariesenne HT It would squeel the H78-14 bias ply tires for 800 ft.. One morning, he pulled up to my house (in the trailer park-Clinton) and I opened the door to a Rallye Green 1969 Z28 Camaro!! Black interior, woodgrain console, chrome stick , car sitting, gurgling,rumbling He pulled out onto # 4 Highway, and ran the sucker up to 6500 in each gear, and weaved in and out of traffic, until we reached C.F.B. Clinton.. We had travelled over 100mph and I can still smell the new car, and hear the wailing Holley... Car was a rocket!! We later learned how to set the valves, and points, and saw it run down the highway, with the speedo at the "hi beam indicator" Check THAT out.... I later had my own orange 69 with white stripes.....
I can remember those 1968-1969 Z28s and you didn't want to run up against one of those things. I was running a 1968 Stratochief 427-385hrs. at the time and those characters ran E-Stock, the same as me. We also ran against 440 Superbees and Roadrunners however those were not a problem, however, those Z28s were a different story. You certainly did not want to lose against a small block. Doug.
1974 I wanted another Corvette Was going to Hamilton to buy a 67 427-390 for $4500.00 Was with Dave Jervis (bought 10 corvettes from him) He says, I know a guy in Brantford, at the Country Kitchen Drive In that has a 66 for sale.. Lets check it out!! We drive around the Country Kitchen, to the house behind There is a 1966 Corvette Coupe, Orange with 8 inch rallies, and correct side pipes.. Fellow says it for sale for $5200.00.. We ask to see it . He says only if we are serious. I pull out the $4500.00 cash .. He opens up the car, and takes me for a drive!! Car has Teak wheel, leather... Car had new GM long block, with rebuilt trans, rear end, shocks, body mounts etc... No rattles... He drives out in country and stops and says! Want to see what it will do? I say yup.. Well,this 427-425 goes ballastic!! Noise! Noise! tires! 2nd gear sideways, straighten out, shifts at the top of 2nd, to third at 85, runs up to 115 in 3rd, and shuts it down!!! I am in LOVE I buy it borrow 400.00 from Dave, stop in Paris to get it changed over.. We had a safety slip with us..lol Car was the fastest thing I ever drove Slow down to 60 mph, double clutch, drop in 2nd and pass old ladies with car squeeling tires sideways.. Car had 3.55's and would shut down at 5500 in each gear Checked gas mileage to Seaforth and back 9 miles there and 9 miles back at 110MPH = 4 mpg Engine was clearanced and used 1 quart per 1000 Car was extremely hot inside in summer Sold it in FALL FOR 6000.00 Made 800.00 cash What a rush!!!!!!!!
dad bought a 67 charger.Big maroon colored fastback with E.T. mags, a 426 hemi, headers, and dual exhaust. I was only about 9 or 10 and i was in the back window because we were taking kids home from my birthday party and all seats were taken. We lived two houses from the corner and as soon as we turn the corner he steps on it and i go flying back and hit the window....thats all i remember. I woke up and i geuss I must have been knocked out. Had a pretty good goose-egg from what i remember. I was going to fix that car up (even though my dad blew up the hemi, now a very stout 383) but i came home from highschool one day and he sold it. i had no idea he was even thinking of it!! I will never and to this day forgive my dad for that!! He says the frame was rotten and twisted but i think he just dident want me at 16 to kill myself with a car like that. Oh well, bought a 79 t.a. and now im hooked on pontiacs!!
I can remember those 1968-1969 Z28s and you didn't want to run up against one of those things. I was running a 1968 Stratochief 427-385hrs. at the time and those characters ran E-Stock, the same as me. We also ran against 440 Superbees and Roadrunners however those were not a problem, however, those Z28s were a different story. You certainly did not want to lose against a small block. Doug.
So the General rated these Z/28's at 290 HP, any idea what the 302 really put out?
I've heard different estimates, going as much as 400 hp, but I think it was around 325 myself. I had a dark green with white stripes, dk green int, 69 Z28, and there was no torque to speak of, but you could row that thing through the gears, and that little 302 could sing like no other engine. I worked at the Pepsi bottling plant on Boundary Road in Vancouver when I owned that car, and got off shift at 1:00 AM. I would often drive out to Squamish after work on that nice winding highway, and would have the road to myself in those days. It was stolen in Dec. 74 from in front of my house, and not much was recovered. Great car!
late 70's going down carling ave on a friday evening, riding shotgun in my neighbour trucks. 76 dodge powerwagon 4x4 lifted on 35's with a 440 bored out with dual stacks and a tow rig on the back. he would line up against motorcyles and smoke them with all 4 tires spinning.
While I went to university after high school my brother decided to get out in the real world and work for a few years in the mid 70's. One of the benefits of that was cash to buy your own set of wheels. Believe it or not the first car he bought was a 69 Acadian 4 door sedan! Frost green, 6 banger powerglide, reliable and great for going to work but not too much fun. That was cured by car #2, 69 Cougar Eliminator with a 428 Cobra Jet - holy crap, I don't think I ever really knew what G forces were until I rode in that car. You sat really low in those Cougars so that just added to the sensation of speed. Eventually the CJ gave way to a 351 windsor which was a lot more practical as a commuting car. I'm not a big Ford fan but I would love to have that car back in the family!
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
69 Cougar Eliminator with a 428 Cobra Jet - holy crap, I don't think I ever really knew what G forces were until I rode in that car. You sat really low in those Cougars so that just added to the sensation of speed. I'm not a big Ford fan but I would love to have that car back in the family!
friend in school, his dad had one, Dad and the kids restored the car, yellow on black, first day out in about 80, Dad lost control of the car in Langley, ended up in a deep ditch that was full, lost his son, had the car crushed into a square.
Ouch! not a good story.. What do you think of that? I can understand the car crushing, but a Car, is like a gun It doesn't kill the driver, or shooter does... probably not a easy answer...
69 Cougar Eliminator with a 428 Cobra Jet - holy crap, I don't think I ever really knew what G forces were until I rode in that car. You sat really low in those Cougars so that just added to the sensation of speed. I'm not a big Ford fan but I would love to have that car back in the family!
428 Cobra Jet's gotta get one someday
I was the 3rd owner of a '69 428CJ Mustang in 1971. What a car .... red with red guts, typical black hood, shaker, 4 speed, 3.55's, Geez would it ever go. I have tried (unsuccessfully) to locate it a couple of times. If I had the opportunity I'd buy another one tomorrow.
My neighbour had a 70 428CJ Cougar Eliminator 4 speed car that was loaded. His Dad owned the local Lincoln Mercury dealership in town. Even though Rick's Cougar had 3.91's, oil cooler, rev limiter etc, I always managed to beat him by a couple of car lengths. I believe the Cougar was heavier than the Mustang.
Ahh, the good old days.....
-- Edited by ZAPPER68 at 02:33, 2009-01-09
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1949 Pro Street Meteor Coupe, 468 BBC, 4L80E, Narrowed 9" 3.50 posi
1966 Biscayne post, 427 L72, M21, 4.11's 16600 original miles
1966 Hemi Satellite 4 gear 59K original miles 1968 Z28 302MO, M21, 3.73's, cowl plenum induction
Was going to Hamilton to buy a 67 427-390 for $4500.00
Car has Teak wheel, leather... Car had new GM long block, with rebuilt trans, rear end, shocks, body mounts etc... No rattles... He drives out in country and stops and says! Want to see what it will do? I say yup.. 
Well,this 427-425 goes ballastic!! Noise! Noise! tires! 2nd gear sideways, straighten out, shifts at the top of 2nd, to third at 85, runs up to 115 in 3rd, and shuts it down!!! I am in LOVE 
gotta get one someday
