How many "Hot rods" used as Daily Drivers?

[Tx79chevy]

How many out there have a truck with around 350hp+ and drive them everyday? Have any problems and also what engine do you have and how many mpg?

[68GMCCustom]

well....mine is my driver...tho its not daily as I don't do a 9-5 (or 11-7 for that matter) any more. When I need to go...its what I drive.

I like this shot:


street trim:


track trim...tho I I'm thinking on getting a smaller set of tires


Combo is supposed to be good for 500+/- hp at the crank. No problems but then everything is either new or rebuilt. This is no economy vehicle and mpg numbers haven't been taken. It does have an overdrive trans to drop the rpm's on the highway. If I was concerned about using it as a daily...I'd have left the efi on the 6.0L.

Install a late model efi motor (4.8, 5.3, etc) and add an overdrive trans...and as long as everything in your truck is solid... it'd be as dependable as a new truck is.

[oldblue1968chevy]

I DD mine (dunno if its 350 hp lol)

[domeier]

71 K-10, Crate 350/330 hp, th350, 11 mpg

I die keeping the old girl full of gas, but I try to relieve the pain by thinking about all those car payments I don't have to make. Other than the engine, it's not really a hot rod. Skinny tars and no lift.

[N2TRUX]

I think you need to up your HP requirements before you consider it a "Hot Rod". These days, 350 is below standard on late model trucks and SUV's. My wifes 07 Denali has 385hp, and the new Jeep SRT8 will have 490hp

[Tx79chevy]

Well call it whatever you want, Hot Rod or not, I think everyone understands the question. I originally posted this in the 73-87 forum and then it was moved to here. It was originally intended for vehicles that arent as new as the ones you named.

[special-K]

I've been driving my '72 daily for a month now. It was all I had for three months last year and the same the year before. It's very reliable but hurts my pocket for sure at the pump. But,that's the crazy cost of gas,not the truck's fault. It costs too much to drive anything. My Harley costs $17.50 to fill up! (5 gal)

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I think you need to up your HP requirements before you consider it a "Hot Rod". These days, 350 is below standard on late model trucks and SUV's. My wifes 07 Denali has 385hp, and the new Jeep SRT8 will have 490hp

Nothing made "these days" is a "Hot Rod",as mentioned in the title. Those would be "factory",no matter how hot. Even putting chips and such in newer stuff doesn't constitute a hot rod. Plenty of "true" hot rods actually had/have under 350 hp.

[jitteryguy]

I concider a HotRod any vehicle that has been heavely modified .
I aint got no idea what the HP but this is my most modified vehicle besides the MonteCarlo but it dont see any street time.
have'n 8 vehicles kinda change's the daily driver thing. Moma's Jimmy get driven every day, the MonteCarlo every friday night.
the other 6 get there share of raod time, when I'm home I drive each one to work as odten as I can.
I should drive my '88 S10 the most (21mpg) but I dont, I enjoy em all to much.
thats when I'm home, for the last 2 yrs Moma's been driven some of em and 3 of I aint never seen cept for picture's !
now if I can stop buy'n em and finish one or six I'd be good.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by special-K

Nothing made "these days" is a "Hot Rod",as mentioned in the title. Those would be "factory",no matter how hot. Even putting chips and such in newer stuff doesn't constitute a hot rod. Plenty of "true" hot rods actually had/have under 350 hp.

I guess it depends on what you classify as a "hot rod". Myself I see it has anything that has enough HP/TQ to allow it to accelerate excessively quick or way above average.

With that said, I totally disagree that there is nothing made "these days" is a "Hot Rod". There are cars and trucks that roll of the line daily that have over 400 HP and many close to 500HP. They will out perform the hot rods of the past in ever way. They run quicker in the quarter, handle better in the turns, get better mpg, and do it with the factory 1000 watt sound system blasting out tunes.

[CG]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I guess it depends on what you classify as a "hot rod". Myself I see it has anything that has enough HP/TQ to allow it to accelerate excessively quick or way above average.

With that said, I totally disagree that there is nothing made "these days" is a "Hot Rod". There are cars and trucks that roll of the line daily that have over 400 HP and many close to 500HP. They will out perform the hot rods of the past in ever way. They run quicker in the quarter, handle better in the turns, get better mpg, and do it with the factory 1000 watt sound system blasting out tunes.

I agree with you that any performance car built today will kick butt on any factory cars from the past, and probably most "hot rodded" cars from back in the day (what ever hot rodded means lol).

[Brad]

Here's my dd in the winter. In the summer I mostly ride my motorcycles, but pull my Camaro out a bit too.

[grancuda]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I think you need to up your HP requirements before you consider it a "Hot Rod". These days, 350 is below standard on late model trucks and SUV's. My wifes 07 Denali has 385hp, and the new Jeep SRT8 will have 490hp

07 Denali has 385hp and is 5610lbs and runs a 15.0 in the quarter, that is hardly a hot rod or even a real performer.
12 SRT8 Jeep has 465hp and is 5223 but it does run a 13.3 but with all-wheeldrive the fun factor is not in there at all plus it looks like a hopped up Caravan.

If you actually compare apples to apples and compare curb weight vs hp you will find that these 2 are using a lot of motor to push around an extra 2000lbs.

My ’72 Stepside is 3640lbs with a 290hp small block with manual trans and 3.73 gears
The ’07 Denali is 5610lbs with a 385hp LS motor with auto and 3.42 gears

If you compare weights/hp your 5610lbs Denali would have to have 450hp to have the same power to weight ratio as my 290hp truck. Plus once you make that power, your going through a heavy automatic that sucks power away and your going to have to turn those heavy 18” wheels with big tires which inturn your not going to get the feel of the power at all.

If you compare the weights/hp of the Jeep at 5223lbs with its 465hp, I would have to increase my power to 325hp to equal the jeeps power/weight ratio. Plus the jeep is all-wheel drive and not a fun driver to actually “hot rod”.

A 350hp small block in a standard shift shortbed with a good rear gear ratio is going to be way more fun than any newer overweight suv, hands down, no contest.

[Tx79chevy]

Right on grancuda!

[N2TRUX]

I understand your question and your intent. These days your topic needs specify if you intend to run a carb or injection. With a carb, much more than 400hp is limited in street function. With EFI, a 500HP streeter is become average with the LSx powered crowd.

[Tx79chevy]

Ok I meant with a CARB.

[grancuda]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I understand your question and your intent. These days your topic needs specify if you intend to run a carb or injection. With a carb, much more than 400hp is limited in street function. With EFI, a 500HP streeter is become average with the LSx powered crowd.

I guess if you can’t tune a carb this may be the case but if your building a hot rod then you would have to tune the injection as well for whatever your setup is. Not sure where people come up with this stuff. Injection only helps when the temps vary wildly and elevations are different, that’s it, they don’t increase mileage or horsepower….. if you properly tune them both.

I'm running a 600hp big block in my '69 and I can go out there and fire it up and it runs good anytime.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by grancuda

.....
I'm running a 600hp big block in my '69 and I can go out there and fire it up and it runs good anytime.

600hp carbed and and "it runs good anytime" on pump gas? Show me some dyno results please...

[grancuda]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

600hp carbed and and "it runs good anytime" on pump gas? Show me some dyno results please...

I didn't say pump gas, 104 race gas or better, right now I have 110 in it.

No dyno results, just built to what Direct Connection recommends for 600hp &11.00-11.99 1/4 mi.

It's not a GM bigblock, it's a 440 w/ported/polished 906 heads, 11.5:1 compression, .600 lift/314 solid lifter, 850 dp Holley, Hooker Super Comp headers.

It's not a daily driver but it is carb'd and I can easily fire it up if it's 20 deg or 100 deg out and once it gets to temp it runs great.

Here is the car that motor is in


Here is the daily driven '72 carb'd tow rig

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

600hp carbed and and "it runs good anytime" on pump gas? Show me some dyno results please...

I know it's an older thread but there are plenty of engines being built that make this kind of power and run on pump gas 91 octane min. I have no problems as a few stations sell 93 non ethanol high test locally. Mark Jones does all of my big blocks. I have the 517 hp 467 and the 570hp 467 . Only change I made was roller hyd cams.

http://www.vortecpro454.com

I use this most of the summer . Changed it up last summer bought a glass stinger hood for it. Still needs paint

[Indian113]

I drive this as much as possible! It's got a 327 with roller cam and 150 shot of Nos.
Problems-trying to drive with caution and keeping an eye out for the Police
Cons-lopey cam,high stall and loud exhaust
Pros-it is fun to drive,gets around nice,attracts attention everywhere I go
Gas Mileage-YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME,you don't drive something with a Carb and HP and expect decent mileage they don't MIX

Especially the way I drive but then I put the pedal to the metal
If I replace my motor I'm going with a LS1 then I'll worry about mileage

[Tx79chevy]

Sweet truck Indian, Yeah I know that a truck like this will get terrible gas mileage. I was just curious as to what other people actually got.

[Indian113]

Originally Posted by Tx79chevy

I know that a truck like this will get terrible gas mileage. I was just curious as to what other people actually got.

I would guess that a lot of carbed Hot Rod Trucks get between 5-12 miles per gallon. I wasn't trying to be a smart Azz when we decide to build em up most of us don't worry about mileage.

With the thought of going FAST we lower our gear ratio down. I'm running a 4:10 not really a cruise gear.

It's easier to put gas in because I'm not making payments on it.

[CoggedBelt75]

Even tho I'm not running carbs on my little 383, this is what gets me around. My only problem was way back when I ran biased ply tires on the back and it would start raining. Glad they came up with radials in my size. In town it is kind'a hard to measure mpg but I do get around 1 1/2 tpw (tanks per week). Good for 10 mpg on the highway.

[Indian113]

CoggedBelt 75,That is a nice set up you have there!! That polish job is a lot of work isn't it? Is there any lag on take off with a blower?

[Tx79chevy]

You are exactly right Indian. NO PAYMENTS makes it not hurt so bad. Lol