Pontiac Pavement Pounders Shootout in Virginia, Part II
Owner Bio: Jeff Verdi
Jeff told HPP that he bought this Bird from a good friend who used to race against him. "I think the '67-'68 Firebirds are the best-looking cars in the Firebird lineup," Jeff says. It would seem this Firebird likes Jeff as well, as the 34-year-old has put his 16 years of racing experience to good use winning two back-to-back races at VMP in 2004, the Pontiacs at the Grove race in the same year, and the Summit World Championship at Richmond in 2003. In 2002, he won 23 straight rounds covering three races at Richmond Dragway. If that's not enough, Jeff has also owned a ton of other desirable Pontiacs in the past, including three '66 GTOs. | Strip Specs | | Year/Model: | '68 Firebird | | Race Weight: | 3,085 lbs | | Curb Weight: | 2,845 lbs | | Fuel Level: | Full 5-gal cell | | Type of Fuel: | Sunoco 112-octane | | Engine: | '73 455 | | Cubic Inches Before/After: | 455/474 | | Built By: | Jerry Loan | | Carburetor: | Holley 1050 Dominator, jets No. 94 square | | Spacer Plate: | 1-in aluminum, open | | Intake Manifold: | Victor | | Fuel System: | Holley Volumax 250 pump, Holley 4-port reg set to 8 psi, -10 fuel line | | Heads: | Edelbrock 72cc aluminum, ported by Butler Performance, 2.19/1.77 Ferrea stainless valves | | Flow Numbers: | 340 cfm intake at 28 in of pressure | | Pistons/Rings: | Ross forged flat-top 0.060 over/ Speed-Pro moly | | Rods: | Eagle forged steel 6.800-in length | | Compression Ratio: | 13:1 | | Crankshaft: | Eagle cast steel 4.25-in stroke | | Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes | | Camshaft: | Comp solid roller, 270/270 deg at 0.050, 0.686/0.686 lift with 1.65:1 rockers, LSA 108-deg | | Installed Position: | Straight up | | Rocker Arms: | Harland Sharp roller 1.65 ratio | | Ignition: | MSD crank trigger, 7AL-2 box, Pro-Power coil, ACCEL 8.8 wires, Autolite AR3932 plugs | | Total Timing: | 30 deg, locked | | Exhaust: | Indian Adventures headers 2-in pri, 3.5-in collectors, 3.5-in pipes, 3.5-in Bullet mufflers | | Power Adder: | NOS plate system, 180-shot, NOT USED DURING SHOOTOUT | | Transmission: | Powerglide, 1.80 straight cut First gear, transbrake | | Converter: | ATI 8-in, 5,000 stall | | Shifter: | Hurst Quarter Stick | | Rear: | Ford 9-in, 4.10:1 gears, Strange spool, 32-spline Strange axles | | Brakes F/R: | Wilwood disc / Wilwood disc | | Wheels F/R: | Weld 15x3.5 / Weld 15x14 | | Tires F/R: | Moroso 28x4.5x15 / Goodyear slicks 32x14.5x15 | | Tire Pressure F/R: | 32 psi / 8 psi | | Suspension Fr: | Moroso trick springs, Koni shocks, stabilizer bar removed | | Suspension Rr: | Ladder bar, Koni coilovers | | Chassis Mods: | Subframe connectors, 12-point rollcage, back-halved by Gary Nuckols and Al Burkett using Chassis Engineering components | | Interior Mods: | Aluminum dash and door panels, wheel tubs, Biondo delay box, Auto Meter gauges, RCI racing seat | | Exterior Mods: | Glasstek fiberglass hood, scoop, and trunk lid, Ed Quay rear spoiler | | Safety Mods: | Rollcage, driveshaft safety loop, SFI-approved drivetrain parts, five-point harness | | Paint: | Dark blue | | Launch Technique: | Transbrake with two-step at 3,800 rpm | | Best 1/4-mile ET, MPH Prior to Event: | 9.28 at 143 (half nitrous pass | | STRIP TUNING LOG | | Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH | | 1. | No. 94 jets, 30 deg timing, 8 psi in tires | 3,000 | 6,400 | 1.41 | 6.23/110.61 | 9.78/137.29 | | 2. | Same | 4,000 | 6,400 | 1.39 | 6.22/110.26 | 9.79/136.46 | | 3. | Same | 3,800 | 6,600 | 1.40 | 6.23/110.43 | 9.81/136.19 | | 4. | 32 deg timing | 4,000 | 6,400 | 1.40 | 6.25/110.24 | 9.81/136.77 | | 5. | 36 deg timing | 3,800 | 6,600 | 1.40 | 6.21/110.74 | 9.77/137.08 | | Run Notes: 1) Good, clean pass; 2) Hard launch; 3) Spun slightly; 4) Spun; 5) No spin. Good, clean pass. The car liked the timing |
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