Pontiac Pavement Pounders Shootout Part 1: Canadian Thunder
Owner Bio: Tony DeCoensel
Simcoe, Ontario, resident ,Tony DeCoensel, is not one to sit on the sidelines and let the younger guys have all the fun. At 63, Tony is a semi-retired trout farmer who owned a new '65 GTO and raced it for three years. He purchased this one, only his second Pontiac, in 1986 and built it up like his old one. He then started taking it to the track and to local car shows. In addition to numerous car show trophies, Tony has been very successful at the Ames Performance Pontiac Nationals. In 2001, he placed 6th in the stock class and took home the gold in 2002's Sunday race. | | STRIP SPECS | | Model: | '65 GTO hardtop | | Race Weight: | 3,652 lbs | | Curb Weight: | 3,477 lbs | | Engine: | '65 389, code WS | | Cubic inches before/after: | 389/400 | | Compression Ratio: | 10:1 | | Built By: | Answer Engine Works, London, Ontario | | Fuel: | 92 octane | | Carburetors: | GTO Tri-Power, three Rochesters, .066 jets | | Intake Manifold: | '65 cast-iron Pontiac Tri-Power | | Fuel pump: | Stock mechanical | | Heads: | Unported '65 # 77, 1.92/1.66 Pontiac valves | | Pistons: | 4.12-inch TRW forged, chrome moly rings | | Rods: | Cast #541000 | | Crankshaft: | '65 389 Armasteel | | Rotating Assembly Balanced?: | Yes | | Camshaft: | Tri-Power, 288*/302* adv. duration. (212*/235* at .050), .447/.447 lift with 1.65:1 stamped steel rockers, 116* centerline | | Camshaft Installed Position: | Straight up | | Ignition: | Stock points | | Total Timing: | 32* at 3,000 rpm | | Exhaust: | Owner-built headers, 1 3/4-inch primaries, 3-inch collectors, 2 1/2-inch pipes, no crossover, off-brand stock OE replacement mufflers | | Power Adder: | None | | Transmission: | Muncie M-20 wide-ratio 4-speed | | Clutch: | Stock GM 10.4-inch | | Shifter: | Hurst Stock 3.90:1 GM Safe-T-Track | | Brakes, Front: | GM Disc '71 GTO, 10.9 inch | | Brakes, Rear: | GM 9.5-inch drum | | Wheels, Front: | Hurst 14x6-inch, street | | Wheels, Rear: | Chevy 15x8-inch steel, strip | | Tires, Front: | F70x14 Firestone Redline, 35 psi | | Tires, Rear: | 26x10.5x15 M/T, 15 psi | | Suspension, Front: | Stock, 7/8-inch stabilizer bar, 90/10 shocks | | Suspension, Rear: | Stock, gas shocks and airbags 16 psi right, 5 psi on left | | Exterior Modifications: | None | | Interior Modifications: | None | | Safety Equipment: | Factory '65 seat belts, driveshaft safety loop | | Launch Technique: | Leave at 1,800 rpm | | Best ET/MPH prior to event (1/4 Mile): | 13.20/105 miles per hour | | STRIP TUNING LOG | | RUN | TUNING | LAUNCH RPM | SHIFT POINT | 60-FT | ET/MPH | 1
| Tires 15 psi, timing 12* | 1,800 | 5,900 | 2.00 | 13.30/105.48 | | 2 | Same | 1,800 | 5,900 | 1.96 | 13.17/105.84 | | 3 | Tires 13 psi, timing 12* | 1,800 | 5,900 | 1.93 | 13.30/103.33 | | 4 | Tires 15 psi, timing 14* | 1,800 | 5,900 | 2.01 | 13.46/105.37 | Owner Bio: Frank Balbar
Frank Balbar is a 39-year-old St. Catharines, Ontario resident who hadn't been on a drag strip for five years, but nonetheless gave a very good showing with his '69 Firebird. He had originally been looking for a '69 or '70 LeMans but landed on the Bird 19 years ago and hasn't looked back. In his spare time, Frank likes to build custom engine parts and his expertise at fabrication is quite evident with the beautiful job he did with his custom intake manifold, built by welding the back halves of two Edelbrock Torkers together. The workmanship is astonishing, Frank was even able to replicate the grain of the aluminum casting in the welded areas. Balbar has owned a variety of Canadian and American-spec Pontiacs, including a '70 Strato Chief, two '70 Bonnevilles, a '70 Catalina, an '81 LeMans, an '81 Grand LeMans Safari wagon, an '82 Grand LeMans, and six Firebird parts cars. His Firebird appeared on Hot Rod TV (now known as Horse Power TV) in the spring of '97 in the "Viewers Rides" segment, making it the first Canadian and first true Pontiac to be featured. | STRIP SPECS | | Model: | '69 Firebird 400 coupe | | Race Weight: | 3,800 lbs | | Curb Weight: | 3,660 lbs | | Engine: | '74 455 block, Code YW, with '71 HO 4-bolt caps | | Cubic inches before/after: | 455/435 | | Compression Ratio: | 11.5:1 | | Built By: | Mike Voycey | | Fuel: | 100 + from Delta Sonic, Real Lead + octane booster | | Carburetors: | Holley 950 HP, #78 primary / #86 secondary jets, 1-inch spacer plate | | Intake Manifold: | Owner-built, two back halves of Edelbrock Torkers welded together | | Fuel pump: | Mallory 140 electric, 2 regulators, 1/2-inch line | | Heads: | Ported '69 Ram Air IV # 722, 2.11/1.77 Manley one-piece stainless valves | | Pistons: | 4.16-inch, forged TRW (0.040-inch over 428), Speed-Pro rings | | Crankshaft: | '67 428 Armasteel | | Rotating Assembly Balanced?: | Yes, within 2 grams | | Camshaft: | Comp Cams Solid-lifter, 255*/266* duration at .050, .594/.587 lift with 1.65:1 Crower roller rockers, 106* centerline | | Camshaft Installed Position: | Straight up | | Ignition: | Mallory Uni-Lite with vacuum advance, MSD 6AL | | Total Timing: | 35* at 3,200 rpm | | Exhaust: | Hedman Hustler Hedders, 1 7/8-inch primaries, 3 1/2-inch collectors, 2 1/2-inch pipes, 2-inch crossover, 2-chamber Flowmaster mufflers | | Transmission: | Turbo 400, reverse manual valvebody, deep B&M pan | | Torque Converter: | Coan 10-inch, 3,800 stall | | Rear: | '69 GTO converted to leaf spring, nodular case with heavy-duty axles, 4-pinion, posi. 3.90:1 gears | | Brakes, Front: | Stock-type 10.9-inch front disc | | Brakes, Rear: | Aluminum 9.5-inch rear drums | | Wheels, Front: | 15x 7, Rally IIs | | Wheels, Rear: | 15x 7, Rally IIs | | Tires, Front: | Michelin P185/75x15 red lines, 33 psi | | Tires, Rear: | Hallmark/Goodyear P255/60-R15's, 33 psi | | Suspension, Front: | Stock, 7/8-inch stabilizer bar, Gabriel OE replacement shocks | | Suspension, Rear: | Stock multi-leaf, Lakewood J-bolt track bars, Monroe OE replacement shocks | | Chassis Modifications: | Homemade subframe connectors, channeled through floors and welded in | | Exterior Modifications: | Reproduction '69 Trans Am side scoops, hood scoops opened up | | Interior Modifications: | Stock except for shifter and Auto Meter gauges | | Safety Equipment: | OE seat belts, 3.5-inch custom driveshaft | | Launch Technique: | 1,500 rpm off the foot brake |
| STRIP TUNING LOG | | RUN | TUNING | LAUNCH RPM | SHIFT POINT | 60-FT | ET/MPH | 1
| Street tires | 1,500 | 6,000 | 2.57 | 14.51/92.74 | | 2 | M/T soft compound 17 psi | 1,500 | 6,200 | 1.81 | 12.15/113.06 | | 3 | M/T soft compound 15 psi | 2,000 | 6,200 | 2.02 | 12.42/113.40 | | 4 | M/T slicks 11 psi | 1,500 | 6,000 | 1.83 | 12.47/109.11 | | 5 | M/T slicks 10 psi | 1,500 | 6,200 | N/A | Run aborted | | 6 | M/T soft compound 15 psi | 1,500 | 6,200 | 1.87 | 12.50/111.17 |
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