Newb member, my project car: 1987 Beretta

[TN_Mark]

Hello y'all.

Yes I'm from down south, lol...east Tennessee to be exact. Thought I'd share my project and explain a bit of the background.

I used to drag race in NHRA Super Gas and Super Comp. It was fun for a while, but major sponsors started showing up on competitors cars and it started to be a lot less fun and a lot more expensive.

I decided to get out, but being an old school hot rodder my hope was to one day have a pro street car, a cross between race car and street car but something I could drive on the street and enjoy.

Now I realize that Beretta's don't grow on trees and many consider them classics. Before you hang me, the car I bought was already highly modified including a grafted S10 front end, square tube chassis and narrowed 9" Ford rear end.

The original builder did a beautiful job and his workmanship was top notch. Sadly the car was sold a couple of times and those owners were hacks to say the least.

I have quite a ways to go but it's running again and drivable, YAY!!! If anyone is interested I'd be happy to share drivetrain details, but top level is 434 sbc, 800hp + 250hp shot nitrous.

On a different note, I am not very familiar with the site but if there is a 'parts for sale' board I have a number of items available. Thank you for letting me join you here!

Mark

[woody90gtz]

Sweet car! Most of the group aren't originality types, no worries there. What does it run? 1/8 or 1/4?
I see it's a real steel Beretta, and not one of the stretched fiberglass bodies. Little M or SHP block? I'm assuming it's a powerglide or other auto. How do you like the manual steering on the street? haha
Over the last couple years I built a RWD Beretta also. It's more street than race, being a summer daily driver. But I'm aiming for 12sec 1/4 mile and 30mpg highway with the LS 6spd. It's not super far off so it might be doable...13.4@104 and 26mpg and improving.

[TN_Mark]

Hey Woody. Good eye lol, yeh all steel except the scoop. I haven't run it yet cause I still have a couple of things to wrap up, will share the numbers when I do. As you know it's gonna take a few passes and some tuning but it should end up in the 8.20 range @ about 165 in the 1/4 mile. I have a 5.0 ring gear so I'll have watch the rpm thru the traps.
Lack of power steering kinda sucks tbh! Not to mention the headers limit the turning radius, but I'm ok with all that I knew what I was getting, lol
Your spot on the block! Dart little m, afr245 heads, je pistons, Manley crank and rods - 14.5:1 cr. Valve train is comp except the rockers cause the 245 need shaft rockers so we used td. Trans is ATI fuel comp t400 + ATI 8" mech. diode converter. 9" Ford, Moser 35 spline, Detroit locker, 5.0 gear.
I'm gonna go hunting for pics of your cars, super cool and I'm anxious to check them out.

[woody90gtz]

How tall is the tire? I wouldn't think a 5.0 gear would even get to 165mph without overdrive! What kind of RPM does it turn? 14.5:1 doesn't sound pump friendly, street driving going to amount to ice cream shop runs? haha

I've got a milder small block build for my Camaro...not in the car yet but it should be pretty good. Forged 11.1:1 383 with AFR 195s and 238/.585 roller with 1000cfm port injected Holley EFI. Should be somewhere around 550hp, and prob right at the edge of pump gas, but I can do water injection if needed. Goal is 11.51s and 20mpg with the T56 trans. And I'll probably end up spraying it...the Holley has progressive nitrous control built in. But that also means 6pt rollbar, 5pt harness, and all the other safety stuff I don't want to do for a street car. I doubt the Moser 10-bolt would live long either. haha