I have been wheeling & dealing in Olds a "while." As like most Olds guys, I was in love with the Big Block Olds. I "use" to sell cheap/give/even scrapped a few small blocks. Finally after seeing a few strong running S/B's at a Mondello meet at Norwalk back in the early 90's I desided to throw a S/B car together. I found a $200 83 Regal. I had a lot of "parts" laying around so I "cobbled" it together. The rear-end is only an 7.5" 3:73 posi with "stock" axles. Ya, I always worried about breaking it but never had a problem, yet! She has had 3 Olds engines in her. From a re-ringed 1969 Olds 350, (13:60's@97mph) to the engine that is presently in it. I picked up a project car with a 403 short block that had the machine work done and included the pistons. 403 plus 0.030, I did put a "halo" Gridle from J&S machine, just because I had heard how weak the 403 is. My opinion now is that they ARE pretty strong. Used Lanauti cam .496/.512, stock one angle valve job #5 heads with the bumps grounded down, good springs, HS roller rockers, Holley street dominantor intake, Quadra-jet car, Sat-nite special converter. Dyno-max headers. All stuff I had laying around. The 350 stock turbo with a shift-kit that is in it has 200/300 runs on it and it still squaks third gear. My combo is all wrong. The heads are holding it back. I could never get it "rich" enough. I always had to run a air filter and shift around 5300 rpm's because if I went higher it would "break-up' because the heads couldn't flow enough. This engine really wanted to rev after 4000 rpm's because of the intake. Came throught the traps at 5150 rpm's. It's best was 12:96 @ 104.95 with 1.8's @ 60'. I needed more stall in the conveter but I was always afraid of breaking the rear-end/axles. With better heads/converter/gear this car would have been low 12's. Very fun car with little money in it. She is "sleeping" now along with my two other race cars. I probably will canibalize her in the near future and put her drive-train in my first race car, a caged 83 Grand-prix. This pic is at the Miller Olds meet 3 or 4 years ago. When anyone asked about the engine, I always told them it was out of a Taxi-cab. Ken [/IMG]http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/Kennybill/3-14-2007-50.jpg[/IMG]

 

Hmmmm, pic did post,3-14-2007-50.jpg

 

Cool story, I am like you, I love the BBO's but acknowledge the strength of the SBO's as well.