V8 Vega wagon

I began building this 1974 V8 Vega GT wagon in 1989.
Jump to 4:23 mark to listen to it with open headers, and 5:50 for a series of 0 to 60 runs. The very last run is the quickest at about 5 seconds to 70 and less than 4 seconds to 60 with two in the car - no prep and rolling on the throttle because of all the dirt on the road. With just me in the car, heating the tires and power breaking would easily reduce that by a half second...

Some details.
Chevy small block (note there are three "freeze" plugs in the block) was bored 0.030 over for a 406 Cubic inch displacement. A Holly 780 Cfm 4 Bbl carb on an Offenhauser dual port dual plane manifold bolted to the rebuilt (surfaced and a 3 angle seat) 1.94 heads. A Crane reproduction of the 350 hp 327 cam #3863151. Specs of 222 duration at 0.050 and a .447 lift on both the intake and exhaust - if I remember correctly. 1.52 to 1 roller tip rockers and sealed power flat tappet lifters. Competition Engineering 1 5/8 primary equal length chrome headers 3 1/2 inch collectors out through a pair of 2 1/2 inch stainless mufflers (in and out). Transmission was a turbo 350 with a B&M stage 2 shift kit and a B&M Vertical gate "Mega shifter" spinning a 2500 Rpm stall converter to harness that low end torque. If you were not aware of stock 400 SBC speck's; they were factory rated as high as 265 HP and 400+ ft lbs from 1800 to 4000 Rpm. This was with a very mild camshaft and breathing through the very restrictive low rise iron intake and iron exhaust manifolds "Y'd" together into a single small diameter exhaust. Configured like this they would "fall on their face" past 4000 Rpm. (Which was perfect for a big car or a Pick up truck) So its not far fetched to estimate my motor at 425+ Ft Lbs and near 400 Hp at 5500 Rpm. (That said I would shift it at 5 to better use that stump pulling torque) But we will never know for sure, It was never on a dyno... The rear meats were MT 295 50 x 14 on 10 inch rims and a narrowed 3.55:1 Chrysler 8 3/4 limited slip diff. The suspension was Art Morrison 4 link and adjustable coil overs and Koni gas filled on the front.

I eventually pulled the engine and transmission with the intent to swap into a 1977 Monza 2+2 that had a 305/turbo 350. Ended up selling all the toys and property with the shop to move closer to work.

Now I just watch Cleetus and think of my younger days driving my Vega ...