Gimme the corn!
I have an 11.7:1 naturally aspirated 383-inch small-block built very similar to the engine you put into the Super Nova. [The Nova was former Editor Matt King's 11-second project.] I think it would be cool if the Super Nova was still around to knock the compression up closer to 11.5:1 or so, leave the solid flat-tappet cam, and install the Quick Fuel E85 carb. I would love to see how it performs on the street cruising around town and how it does on the strip. It would also be interesting to compare fuel mileage. If all I have to do is spend $625 on a carb and start running $2.80 a gallon E85, according to my math the carb would pay for itself in about 17 fill-ups-that's even with using 30 percent more fuel.
-Marshall, Fort Hill, SC
We'd love to try some street testing of E85, but alas, you can't get it in California .yet. We've heard rumors of a pump that will soon begin to operate nearby. For a state that preaches environmental responsi-bility, we're pretty late to the party.
You wouldn't think Vitamin C Orange would look good on a car built after 1972. It's better than brown, anyway.>
VITAMIN C WHAT?
Who: Andrew Thompson
What: '74 Plymouth Road Runner
Where: Leland, NC
Why: Andrew bought this car twice. The first time it was brown with a tan interior and had a 400-inch engine with a four-speed. Andrew changed the exterior to Vitamin C Orange, the interior to black, and dropped in a 383 along with an 831/44-inch packin' 3.91:1 gears. He finished the car and sold it in 2001. Six years later he had the opportunity to buy the car back, so he sold whatever he could to raise the money.
We Say: We never get a shot at getting a car back, unless we don't want it.
Remember the Cheap Street Chevelle? We do too.>
GARAGE SCENE
Who: Ken Robison
What: '70 Chevelle project car
Where: Whitehall, MI
Why: During the last five years, Ken has been pouring every penny into the restoration of this Chevelle SS. His plan is to finish the rotisserie job and compete in the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags in Stanton, Michigan.