Bench Racing '71: RT383 vs SS396 vs Formula400

[Flatdad]

(Its winter here, I'm bored)

Its 1971, you and couple of buddies line up at a stoplight, you're driving your spankin' new (Cuda/Challenger R/T) with a standard 383-4BBL. Fool to the left is sporting a shiny new Camaro SS 396, Joker to the right is in a new Firebird Formula 400. All three are rated at 300hp @ 4800 rpm. When the light flashes green, all three of you hit the gas. A quarter mile up the road is a mailbox, who passes it first?

Camaro: Lightest curb weight, best heads, but crippled by a small cam, 3.42:1 gears available, 8.5:1 compression, 780cfm holley, 4.125 x 3.76 = 402ci

Firebird: Medium curb weight, average heads, cam has most duration, 3.42:1 gears available, 8.2:1 compression, 650cfm quadrajet, 4.121 x 3.76 = 400ci

Mopar: Near firebird weight, Dodge is more, Cuda is less. small heads, cam has most lift, 3.91:1 gears available, 8.5:1 compression, 600cfm holley, 4.25 x 3.375 = 383ci

[RUNCHARGER]

Good question actually: Those 71 383's weren't as strong as the 68-70 for sure. The lopo 396's weren't all that strong but in this case would probably prevail. The 400 Pontiac had good bottom end grunt though. Like you say if the Challenger had 3.91 Sure grip that could bring it ahead. A toss up I think and it might depend on where each driver shifted at and how well they brought it off the line.