Right on.
When I first started running my truck, I was running mid to high 17's. Of course, that was with the stock aircleaner, points ignition, and a stock engine aside from having a slightly hotter cam. It probably could've used a tuneup. (Engine is a 350 Chevy, tranny at the time was a THM400)
With some relatively minor stuff here and there (tuneups, ignition adjustments, launch technique and a nice huge open-element K&N) I got it down to about 16.5-16.6 in the quarter.
The biggest single improvement I did was switch it to HEI...I started running 16.2's and got a 2MPG increase. 83mph trap speeds, about a 4200lb as-ran weight; good for roughly 220hp.
Recently, I swapped out the THM400 for a 700R4, and redid the entire top end of the engine - new Vortec heads, Edelbrock Performer intake. I estimate I'm pushing about 250hp, with another nearly 30hp ready to be opened up when I dump the manifolds and the cheapo dual exhaust (according to Desktop Dyno).
With the 700R4 and Vortecs, I'm now running 15.9's at 85.5mph...and that's with screwed up shiftpoints. I can get the shifter into L2 so I can make the 2-3 shift at about 5200RPM where the cam falls on its face, but I haven't fiddled with it enough yet to get it into L1; the rather crucial 1-2 shift happens at about 4300RPM. It doesn't quite fall on its face when it hits 2nd (the torque curve is nice and wide on this engine) but I know it'd be doing a lot better if I could really wind it out in first. I figure I've got a 15.5 in this thing as it sits if I get the shifter issue straightened out.
What're your targets and what's your current setup?
Here's my setup...
Stock 1970 350 bottom end
Comp Cams 260H camshaft
GM Vortec L31 heads
Edelbrock Performer Vortec intake
Edelbrock #1901 Quadrajet 750CFM
Nameless aftermarket HEI
BIG open-element K&N
700R4 transmission with a mild-to-medium shiftkit, stock converter
3.73 open-style rearend
Yokohama Avid S/T 275/60TR15 rear tires