Rob, I think we missed 4th gear in this discussion!
I wasn't ragging on any of the Pure Stock Certified guys, a lot of work went into those cars. I said that the way the cars run TODAY do not reflect how they ran back THEN.
Today, maximizing them through matching the chamber cc's, shimming valve springs, jetting the carb, ignition curve kits, leaf spring clamps, loosening up the sway bar bolts, factory appearing front shocks that are soft (90/10), filling your spare tire with water (my personal favorite) for more traction, high flow mufflers, 2.5" exhaust, X-pipes, K&N filters, etc., are all ways to make an old car run faster, and shows the
potential of that car, but not representative of how they ran when new. I believe all of these things are legal under Certified Stock.
Since the shortblocks aren't torn down, it makes you wonder if anyone is running aluminum connecting rods, lightweight race cranks, and lightened wrist pins?
As for dyno time, I have read in several posts both here an on the Buick V8 site where people have said "they're hitting the dyno to test their new combo." Not exactly backyard mechanics, but if you have the means, you may as well use it!
But (and that's a big butt) I definately ain't arguing! As you know, I am a huge fan of "stealth" technology, and I think the Pure Stocks are great! My point is that the et's and speeds being generated by the Pure Stock cars today (or Certified Stock) are not representative of what these cars ran when they were new, or heck, even what these cars ran in the Pure Stocks 5 years ago!
Could you imagine a car magazine back in 1970 taking a brand new LS6 Chevelle from Chevrolet, and running 12.40's? On stock rubber? With factory closed exhaust? Or how about explaining to another car magazine that the 1970 Oldsmobile W-31 that they tested last month, which ran impressive 14.60's, somehow managed to run 12.8's today, and embarrass a whole slew of 426 Hemi cars?
I noticed, when reviewing the Pure Stock results, that the top two cars ran over 116 mph, and no one below them even ran 115, or 114 mph! These guys are making some serious power. But I also noticed your Yenko is 200 pounds heavier than Pete Simpson's COPO. Both cars are automatics, so how does Pete shave that much weight off a 69 Camaro? If your Yenko weighed what his car weighed, you'd be fightin' for the #1 spot!
If we should move this discussion to another thread, please let me know.
