Hello all as I posted in the newb forums I'm pickin up my new to me 79 Camaro with a 454/TH400 tomorrow. I was wondering if I could get a few pointers on how to turn this thing into an 11 second car on roughly a 3K budget. I know I haven't included much info but that's because I havent laid eyes on the car yet. I know it's a stock 76 454 from a truck and assuming the same for the trans. The only things done as I was told is it has an intake and a holley 750 on it. Not sure what kind of intake. Any help is much appreciated and I will get you all some more info tomorrow and the following days

 

Pick up a set of heads from CL. Get something that works with your intake and then a cam and headers. Toss a shift kit and a posi in it. A set of slicks may snap an axle. So I would baby it out of the hole. Done!

 

With some engine work, and a good drivetrain you can hit high 11 sec. in the 1/4. Back when I drag raced my '71 in the 70's-80's I ran low 12's and occasionally dipped into high 11's.
I would probably determine compression ratio first on the 454 before starting any upgrades, as that will determine what will work, or not work. If it's one of the low HP smog motors, then you're starting with CR around 8:1 or 8.5:1, and you'll need to get it up around 10:1 to make any performance changes work well.
On a $3k budget I'd rebuild the engine with 10:1 pistons, and then add the right cam, and dump the smog heads for a old pair of oval port closed chamber heads with some good sized SS valves swapped in. Of course this will require you can do most the assembly or disassembly, or you'll eat up your $3k budget in just the engine.
If the trans is good I'd get the competition shift kit, and install that. I'd also see what the rear gears are, and if it's a posi. If it's something around 3.50 to 3.73 I'd stay with it. If not you need to decide if you're going to fully build the rear, or swap in something bigger or stronger.
You can save some money on tires by finding some good used slicks and rims on the local ads, so you can just put them on when you're running at the strip. I ran good used slicks for years, and bought them from other guys at the strip for under $50 a pair all the time. I'd find a lot of guys changed them out way before they were down to the wear holes, and I could get a season out of what was left easily.

 

spray it

 

Nitrous will get you there cheaper than anything, but would not be my choice for longevity. I doubt you'd race a car 16 yrs. with nitrous and not rebuild the engine several times. I did so with my 427 Camaro, and never had the engine apart for any repairs all those years.