I am 15 years old, not a lot of money, but I have a 350 chevy small block, powerglide transmission, and a dream.

that is a great car to use for racing. Easy to get parts for (both engine and body ) and you can get a lot of power out of that small block. But I would sell that powerglide and opt out for a turbo 350 or 400. Also a 12 bolt rear with c-clip eliminators.

P.S. That powerglide is a rare tranny selling it would help you fund most of parts for a good engine build

I would go with the 1982 and later Camaro, which is the third gen car. Sure, they are ugly, but they are the lightest Camaros ever made, which makes them the best for drag racing. The 1981 won't be bad though.

it is a good starting point... the rear end is the next thing you will want to change

There kind of heavy. But they make lots of fiberglass. I have seen some fast ones. It's not cheap but it can be done.I believe you have to be 18 to race at the drag strip so you have time.

Not bad. It wasn't all that good of a muscle car in stock trim, but so were all the other cars of the day.

But the good points are:

It will accept any Chevy V8, small or big block.

It is relatively light for a V8 car..

Lots of aftermarket parts for the Chevy

Lots of salvage parts for a Chevy. The same basic block was first produced in 1955 and can still be purchased new from GM Performance Parts. So there are a lot of parts from different motors that will fit.

Chevy's are one of the cheapest cars to modify so you get a lot of bang for your buck.

[EagleAutosports]

Everyone hit the target on this one. And yes, you have to be 18 to take it down the track so you have time.