Drove it for the first time today.
First driving impressions, a little freeway and my twisty mountain roads. 1st and 2nd
gear, I don't even bother to see what it will do, but did later in the test drive. The engine isn't happy below 2000 rpm, unlike the 383 which loved low rpm. Above 2000 though, smooth, strong
power. Above 3000 rpm, still in 3rd, pulling like crazy, very impressed. Above 4000 rpm still in 3rd, now were talking, tach seems spring loaded, going for redline, speedo same thing, going from 80 mph to pegged in no time.
Skid plate was used 6 times already.
Driving the mountain roads, if in 5th
gear engine not happy like it was with the 383, 4th gear engine happy but even with the slightest pressure of resting my foot on the throttle will creep up to 80 mph.
Passing 3 cars up a steep hill after the hairpin 15 mph posted curve on hwy 49 in 2nd gear, good thing I don't have posi, stayed where I pointed it with one tire spinning but still accelerating at a crazy rate. I would guess those 3 drivers have never been passed on that part of the road, or passed as fast.
Can't wait for a drive up to Tahoe on 2 lane hwy 50, with its few passing lanes, should be a lot of fun.
Am I happy with the engine, yes, for the 40 miles I've driven it. Do I still think it should get 20 mpg on the highway, no I don't think so, and the 383 broke 30 mpg a couple of times but my guess is 12~14 mpg.
Traction, only because our rides are so light, is always good. My blown 427 '55 Ford at it's portly weight
lost traction pretty easy and when it did, rate of acceleration dropped noticeably. When I
lost traction on the 3 car pass up a steep hill, it continued to pull strong and since I don't have posi-traction, it stayed
tracking straight as an arrow.