Here's what it takes to run 13s,12s,11s......

People talk all the time about 1/4 mile times, but I think a lot of them don't understand what is required to run these times. I thought I'd break it down a little and clarify some things. # 1. 14 second Cars. Typical 14 second rides include 5.0 Mustangs, Tuned Port Injected 'Vettes and F-bodies, '70's 4-speed T/A's or automatics with an axle-ratio change, and stock Buick Gran Nationals. This would also include "entry level" classic muscle like 340 Dusters, 383 Road Runners, 389 GTOs, 396 Chevelles, etc. Their fun to drive, and you can live with them everyday-the engines idle smoothly, the seats are comfortable and the suspension doesn't rattle your fillings loose.  # 2. 13 second cars. These are great, fun hot rods. Your typical 13 second ride has either a mildly hopped up small block in a relatively light car with a little extra mechanical advantage-i.e. a Nova with a warmed-over 350 and a 4-speed and 3.73 gears, or an automatic with a higher-than-stock stall converter, or a medium weight car with a mild big-block-i.e.-440 Road Runners, 454 Chevelles, 455 GTOs and 442s. They are still reliable enough to be driven on a daily basis if you want to, but increased fuel consumption and louder exhaust -( from headers ) and decreased idle quality-( From bigger cam ) don't make them attractive for extended driving.  # 3. 12 second cars. Nitrous can yank a 13 second car into the 12s, but the real glory is to run it "On the Motor" which means "Off the Bottle."  To run 12s without chemical assistance you need at least 425-450 hp, which means a stout small-block or a warmed over big-block. Further, you'll need to put all that power to the ground, which means a posi rear end, larger tires, and some kind of traction aiding device-pinion snubber, traction bars, ladder bars, etc. You'll also need some stiff gears-3.73 or 4.11s at least. These cars are definitely still streetable, but the drag-race oriented suspension and the motor buzzing at 3,500 rpm on the freeway aren't the usual qualities of a daily driver.  # 4. 11 second cars. Barring something exceptionally light-like a 2,400 pound Datsun 240Z with a Small-block Chevy- to go this fast you need at least 500 hp. This is why you rarely see an 11 second street machine without a blue bottle in the trunk. If you do, it's usually a car with a strong big block. Besides the previously mentioned drivetrtain, gearing and suspension compromises, most strips require any car that runs the 1/4 in under 12 seconds ( although some are 11.50 ) to have an 8-point roll cage. This means your seriously gutting the interior of the car, and making a serious committment to speed. Daily driver? Uh-uh. Sure you can drive it to the grocery store, but clambering around the roll cage every time you get in or out of the car gets old real quick. # 5. 10 second cars. "Fast and Furious" movies notwithstanding, now your basically building a race car with liscence plates. What would you call a car with an 8 or 10 point cage, a 600 hp engine, a 5 grand converter and a trans brake and nitrous?  Seriously-this kind of speed means a stout small-block with a ton of nitrous or a blower, or a Stompin' big block-think the 720 hp GMPP 572.  And to control that kind of power-chances are you'll need an upgraded drivetrain-i.e.-a T-5 or 200R4 won't hold up-you'll need a Turbo 400 or 727 Torqueflite, and an upgraded rear end-a Dana 60 or a GM 12 bolt or a Ford 9 inch.  Like I said- a race car with liscence plates.  Might cause some people to rethink what they want to build.  Mastermind