2000 Pontiac Firebird Formula - Navy Destroyer

A mammoth custom cam spins inside the engine and was sourced from Steve's 427-cube Formula. "It has 256/251 degrees of duration at 0.050 and 0.656/0.661-inch lift on a 111-degree lobe separation. People think that I'm crazy when I tell them the cam specs, but it works."

At the time of the build, there weren't any options for aftermarket intakes on the LS3's unique rectangle port heads, so Joe decided to go with the well-proven, big-bore AFR 225 V2 cathedral-port heads that flow over 320 cfm at 0.600 lift. The 62cc chambers bring compression to 11.88:1, and he says he gets away with 93-octane with 28 degrees of timing.

A Racetronix hotwire-boosted Walbro 255-lph pump provides the fuel to the FAST fuel rails, from which the Ford Racing 42-pound injectors and nitrous system are fed.

Providing the air is an SLP lid and a FAST 90mm intake and throttle body. Adding some spice is a Nitrous Outlet 90mm-plate wet system, providing approximately 100 hp.

The monster exhales through ceramic-coated 1.875-inch Hooker headers, with 3-inch collectors that feed a 3.5-inch Y-pipe and a 3.5-inch single-outlet Flowmaster.

Back At The Track
After Joe and Steve picked the engine up from TEC and installed it into the Bird, Carlos Yanes plugged in his laptop and tuned the LS3 with HP Tuners software. Then Joe began to hit the track.

His hard work paid off. Though not nearly NHRA-legal to run this quick, Joe's Formula nailed a 10.38 at 128 mph on motor and went 9.96 at 135 mph with a 100-shot of nitrous. This was at a race weight of 3,675 pounds with 19 psi in the rear tires. Joe footbraked to 2,800 rpm; his best 60-foot was a 1.39; he shifted at 7,200 rpm; and went through the traps at 6,700 rpm.

This performance was enough for him to win the local King of the Track title on Need2speeD.com, an Internet car forum, and he is a member of the LSX Mafia, a South Florida car club. The competition was set up for reformed street racers, and to keep the friendly competition off the South Florida streets and on the track.

Outlaw On The Street
Though it has a lot of stall speed in the converter and the Formula is not emissions compliant, Joe relates, "I drive the car two to three times a week on the street and try to go to the track twice a week." His favorite thing about his Formula is taking his wife out in it and watching her expression. "The car drives around town great in my opinion; Carlos really nailed the driveability, even with the A/C on." Trust us; that A/C is on full-time in south Florida.

Looking Ahead
Future plans for the Formula include stepping up to the larger and taller 325/60R15 drag radials, a bigger shot of nitrous, and 2-inch headers with 4-inch collectors.

"I also plan to get the car 9.99 safety-certified, and I have all the parts to do it. I haven't had the time to get them in just yet. I would really like to hit 9s on motor now. I think 9s in a street car is pretty darn good," he says.

Joe would like to thank his wife for being extremely patient through the long, expensive process of building this bad-boy toy, and Steve. "He really guided me through the build; he really knows his stuff about the LS motors."

Joe has put together a Navy Blue destroyer and enjoys the hell out of it.

Editor's note: Though this Formula performs very well, it's not NHRA- or IHRA-legal for drag racing regarding the required safety equipment. Should any reader desire to duplicate this powertrain combination for his Pontiac, HPP strongly recommends adding the required safety equipment and going through NHRA or IHRA tech prior to racing the vehicle at any venue.