Chevrolet: Car performance: Engine and Transmission related, newport beach california, ss 396

Question
Dear Roger,

Thank you in adavance for your help.

I have 1969 Impala convertible. My grandfather bought it 1970  in Newport Beach california. It was white with a black top, had a 396 under the hood, and he loved it.

He drove it all over Canada and the U.S., replaced the 396 with a 402 and never ever put the top down. He took very good care of it until he no longer could, and then it sat in his yard for six years.

In 2001, my father and I restored it and painted red with a white top. Rebored the engine, rebuilt the transmission, put in a four-barrel carb, and added dual exhaust.

My problem: The accelration is lousy and it won't peel out. It won't burn rubber. By all rights and from what everyone tells me, it certainly should: a big giant engine should be able to spin the wheels no problem and then shoot up to sixty pretty darn quick

So here's the question: Why won't it? I gave you the history to let you know that it is an old, well used car. Could it just be that it's saggy and old?

Is it just too heavy? The car is a cruiser, it's not exactly meant to race.

Could the problem be in the transmission or an old torque converter?

I do know there is an exhaust leak in one of the manifolds. Could it be a problem in back pressure?

Also, how does the convertible nature affect things? It should make the frame more stiff, correct?

Brake against the torque converter, floor the gas, wait for the RPMs to go up and let off the gas. That should do it, right?

What would you reccomend to: improve accelration, top-speed, and burn-out ability.

Thank you so much for your time, any tips or suggestions would be much apreciated.

Peter Granath

Answer
HI Peter
 I had a 69 ss 396 conv. that I re-built the motor in back in 1971 and all it would do was spin the tires and the front tires would come off the ground when I pop the clutch. First off is there a lot of miles on it ?. Than I would do a super tune up on it and also take a comp. test. and re adj. the valves. and timeing, adj the carb. etc. as you stated it should run better than it is doing now .I would just check all items.