Grudge race

[Kahuna]

Two very good friends of mine are going to have a friendly grudge race early next year.
Thought you guys might provide some input:

Here's the background on both of the cars--

1st car
1939 Ford coupe. A very nice, well put together car.
Weighs about 2900# with driver
351C Ford engine with a 280 degree cam, single 4 carb., headers.
All other engine details unknown at this time.
4 speed toploader trans (wide ratio, 2.78 1st gear).
3.55 rear Ford 9". He May change to a 3.89.
I think a 27" tire, might use slicks?
Owner limits rpm to 5500.

2nd car
1964 Ford Fairlane coupe. Another very nice car.
Probably about 3100# with driver
351C, now 392 CI. BIG cam (unknown to me at this time).
Single 4 bbl Edelbrock carb (600, I think. Might be bigger).
Car has run on a chassis dyno, showed 304 HP (unknown rpm).
C4 Trans with a shift kit, 2400 Stall.
Spool Ford 9" with 4.10 gears, will run 27" slicks.

That's all the info I have. Thought it might be fun to have you
guys here take a guess as to who/whom has the better
combination. And pick a winner.
This is just gonna be a for fun race
Thanks
Jim

Oh, And Merry Christmas everyone

[lefty o]

i pick the chevy for the win!

[91stang]

These are obviously not dedicated track cars. Money is on the automatic.

[Casper393W]

It also depends on the driver..... Without more details the first car kinda hard to tell.... I am going out on a limb a say car 2.... Although a Big cam in a Cleveland and only a 2400 stall isn't the hot ticket!

[novadude]

The Fairlane has more ci, more gear, only a 200 lb weight disadvantage, and will run slicks. The automatic will help too, unless Ronnie Sox is driving the '39.

My money is on the Fairlane.

[BigBlocksOnTop2]

Fairlane

[1972ho]

Unless that 39 has some trick suspension parts under it the fairlane will dust him off.

[Kahuna]

I also picked the Fairlane. We'll have to wait & see
Thanks
jIM

[DCal]

There is no fun grudge races. Somebody has money on it-probably YOU, Please put a couple hundred on the Fairlane for me.

[Kahuna]

No, DCal
No money by me, but I'm real sure the Fairlane is much faster

[CharlieB53]

I'm gonna go against the Fairlane crowd and side with the '39.

In this case the 4 speed may have the slight advantage with a higher RPM launch, though 'usually' limiting RPM to only 5500 doesn't mean he will in any serious Grudge race. I expect he already knows how much RPM and power he really has once that 351 winds up running through those gears.

[Ericnova]

I take it neither of these cars has 4V heads on it(judged by the RPM limits)??

The Fairlane seems to have every advantage but weight, so that's my pick.

[Kahuna]

Hi Eric
I have no idea about the heads on either car.
The guy with the 39 is very conserative with the car

[Ericnova]

Hi Eric
I have no idea about the heads on either car.
The guy with the 39 is very conserative with the car

I ask because with the Cleveland there is a HUUUUGE difference between 2V(Factory 2 barrel) and 4V(factory 4 barrel) heads.

With 4V heads a 5500 rpm limit isnot going to get you anywhere, the head has just started to come into it's own at that point and needs to rev to 7500+ RPM to really shine. That''s and the low power given for the Fairlane made me guess both engines have 2V heads on them

[Sparksalot]

Where in Northern CA? Gotta see this, two cars not at all set up for drag racing doing just that. I live in Sparks, NV and see it year after year at Hot August Nights.