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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.
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Then why didn't ya say so!
Seriously, you're absolutely right...the quicker cars aren't indicative of what I'd call "showroom stock". Now, I did take our Camaro, build the engine as Chevrolet did back in '69 (10.2:1 compression), and with only a set of spring clamps it went
12.79@108. But that's another story for another day...
I think tuning is a lost art, and has been for some time...I mean, most people take the easy way out and throw on a set of headers and a big carb on their car, and pick up 5 tenths...what they don't know is that they could play with the jetting/timing and all the other tuning stuff and very possibly make up that 5 tenths, without the headers. Now, I'm not saying headers aren't ultimately gonna make more power, but the potential these old sleds have from the factory is there, "if" you can get it out.
As for tearing down the short block, I often wonder too, but short of an oil pan with an inspection cover, I guess we'll have to take their word for it. And weight..oh, don't get me started on weight! Pete currently has a ZL-1 engine in his COPO car, thus he saved 200+ pounds...but like you said, if I could shed some pounds, I'd be in the hunt. But I really hate to do that to a 30,000 mile original car!