No stranger to racing, Mark at 47 years old has 24 years of experience. He has won an NMCA championship and has taken class at the GTOAA three times in his '67 GTO. But, he says, "I always wanted a Pontiac race car that would run in the 9s. The Trans Ams were a favorite as I had owned several street versions. With this one, my most memorable moment behind the wheel was that first 9-second pass at Norwalk in 2002." Mark's '78 T/A not only does well on the dragstrip, having runnered-up in the 1st Annual Southeast Pontiac Nationals drag race in 2003, but it also performs at the shows, taking a First Place at the '02 S.T.A.R.S. show in Pro Street, Best of Show Modified at a BOP event in 2001, and Best Modified at the same event in 2002. Wouldn't we all like to have an A-body and an F-body that show as well as they race?
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '78 Trans Am |
| Race Weight: | 3,050 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 2,850 lbs |
| Fuel Level: | Full fuel cell |
| Type of Fuel: | 110-octane |
| Engine: | '72 YC-code 455 |
| Cubic Inches Before/After: | 455/462 |
| Built By: | Gonzalo Gonzales (previous owner) |
| Carburetor: | 9370, 1,050 cfm Dominator, jets No. 94 square |
| Spacer Plate: | 1-in aluminum, 1-in phenolic, open |
| Intake Manifold: | Warrior |
| Fuel System: | BG 400 pump and four-port reg. set to 8.5 psi, -10 from pump to reg, -8 from reg to carb |
| Heads: | '70 614 R/A-IV, 2.11/1.77 Manley stainless valves |
| Ported: | Crane Eng. |
| Flow Numbers: | N/A |
| Pistons/Rings: | Ross forged, flat-top, 0.030-over / N/A |
| Rods: | Childs & Albert, aluminum, stock 6.625-in length |
| Compression Ratio: | 12:1 |
| Crankshaft: | Factory 455 nodular iron 4.210 stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft: | Comp Cams, solid, roller, 284/284-deg dur. at 0.050, 0.649/0.649 lift with 1.50:1 rocker arms, 108-deg LSA |
| Installed Position: | Straight up |
| Rocker Arms: | Crane roller 1.50:1 |
| Ignition: | MSD Pro Billet, 6AL, two-step, Blaster 2 coil, ACCEL 8.8 wires, Autolite AP 85 platinum plugs |
| Total Timing: | 33 deg, locked |
| Exhaust: | Hooker Super Comp headers, 2-in primaries, 3.5-in collectors, open |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Transmission: | JW Turbo 400, performance build, transbrake |
| Converter: | JW, 8-in, 4,500 stall |
| Shifter: | Cheetah |
| Rear: | Moser 12-bolt, 4.10:1 gears, Strange spool and axles |
| Brakes F/R: | Aerospace disc / stock 9.5-in drum |
| Wheels F/R: | Weld 15x3.5 / Weld 15x14 |
| Tires F/R: | Firestone 26x4.5x15 / Firestone slicks 33.5x15x15 |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 40 psi/11 psi |
| Suspension Fr: | Stock, Moroso springs, Koni adj. shocks set to middle |
| Suspension Rr: | CE four-link backhalf, AVO coilovers 11-clicks from zero for rebound, LPW 12-bolt brace |
| Chassis Mods: | CE 12-point cage and subframe connectors |
| Interior Mods: | Summit fiberglass racing seats, Auto Meter gauges, custom trans tunnel and wheel tubs, rear seat removed |
| Exterior Mods: | Fiberglass hood, bumpers, decklid, Lexan windshield and rear windows, stock side windows |
| Safety Mods: | Rollcage, driveshaft loop, SFI-approved drivetrain parts, RJS five-point harness, window net, meets all other NHRA requirements |
| Paint: | Red |
| Launch Technique: | Footbrake--stage, flash converter as high as footbrake will hold, Transbrake--stage, floor it, release button hang on |
| Best 1/4-mile ET, MPH Prior to Event: | 9.91 at 135 |
| STRIP TUNING LOG |
Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH |
| 1. | Footbrake launch 33 deg timing, tires 11 psi hot | 2,500 | 6,200 | 1.44 | 6.35/108.63 | 9.98/135.06 |
| 2. | Same Transbrake launch | 3,600 | 6,200 | 1.35 | N/A | 9.88/135.00 |
| 3. | Same, timing retard 4 deg in high gear | 3,600 | 6,200 | 1.35 | 6.28/107.75 | 9.94/133.49 |
| 4. | Removed 15-deg start retard locked, timing still 33 deg | 3,600 | 6,200 | 1.35 | 6.26/108.61 | 9.88/135.17 |
| 5. | Timing 35 deg | 3,600 | 6,200 | 1.35 | 6.27/108.20 | 9.90/134.64 |
| Run Notes: 1) Shakedown run, air temp 82 deg, humidity 28 percent; 2) Air temp 86 deg, humidity 28 percent; 3) Lost 1.5 mph, 1/8-mile same as before, air temp 88 deg, humidity 28 percent; 4) Better throttle response, ran cooler; 5) Car ran a little cooler down return road with more timing, air temp 88- deg, humidity 25 percent |