OWNER BIO: JEREMY BENSON
"I love cruising with my kids with the top down," Jeremy says about his LeMans. "When I blip the throttle, they scream with joy and shout, 'Do it again, Daddy.'" At 35, Jeremy has been racing for a year but has owned the LeMans for nine, buying it for $1,800 in 1997. Since its purchase, the Pontiac has been restored and modified to its current street/strip/show status. "It has won numerous Second-Place trophies at local shows," Jeremy says. Currently, a '66 GTO and a '69 Bonne wagon are in the garage as well, while a few other Pontiacs have come and gone. But Jeremy says, "I'll keep this one forever!"
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '69 LeMans |
| Race Weight: | 4,075 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 3,860 lbs |
| Fuel Level: | 1/2 tank |
| Type of Fuel: | 93/110-octane mix |
| Engine: | '70 YH-code 455 bored 0.030-over |
| Cubic Inches Before/After: | 455 / 462 |
| Built By: | Owner |
| Carburetor: | Q-Jet, built by Cliff Ruggles, jets N/A |
| Spacer Plate: | None |
| Intake Manifold: | Stock '69 cast iron |
| Fuel System: | Stock |
| Heads: | '71 No. 96- D-port, stock 2.11/1.77 valves, milled to get 88cc chambers |
| Flow Numbers: | Not ported |
| Pistons/Rings: | Speed-Pro forged flat-top / Sealed Power |
| Rods: | Eagle H-beam forged steel, 6.625 in |
| Compression Ratio: | 10:1 |
| Crankshaft: | Stock nodular iron, 4.210-in stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft: | Summit hyd., 224/234-deg dur. at 0.050, 0.465/0.488 lift with 1.50:1 rockers, 114-deg LSA |
| Installed Position: | Straight up |
| Rocker Arms: | Scorpion roller 1.50:1 |
| Ignition: | MSD Pro-Billet, Delco coil, generic wires, AC plugs |
| Total Timing: | 36 deg all in by 2,800 rpm |
| Exhaust: | Stock log manifolds, 2.5-in Pypes system with X-pipe, 2.5-in Pypes Street Pro mufflers |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Transmission: | Turbo 400, B&M Trans Pak and shift kit |
| Converter: | Hughes GM25 2,500-stall |
| Shifter: | Stock |
| Rear: | 10-bolt, 3.08:1 gears, Powertrax Locker |
| Brakes F/R: | Stock disc / drum |
| Wheels F/R: | Rally II 14x7 / Rally II 15x7 |
| Tires F/R: | BFG Radial TA 225/70R14 / M/T ET Street Radial 235/60R15 |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 32 psi / 18 psi |
| Suspension Fr: | 1.25-in stabilizer bar, PST bushings, stock repl. springs, Gabriel gas shocks |
| Suspension Rr: | Boxed lower control arms, 0.875-in stabilizer bar, Gabriel gas shocks, polyurethane lower bushings, rubber upper bushings |
| Chassis Mods: | None |
| Interior Mods: | Gauges added |
| Exterior Mods: | None |
| Safety Mods: | Driveshaft loop |
| Paint: | Limelight Green |
| Launch Technique: | Footbrake to 1,500 rpm |
| Best 1/4-mile ET, MPH Prior to Event: | 13.301 at 101.82 |
| STRIP TUNING LOG |
Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH |
| 1. | 34-deg timing, no vac adv, 25 psi in tires | 1,500 | 5,200 | 1.91 | 8.61/80.50 | 13.49/100.11 |
| 2. | 36-deg timing, 20 psi in tires | 1,800 | 5,200 | 1.96 | 8.72/79.89 | 13.66/98.67 |
| 3. | Same, 38-deg timing | 1,800 | 5,200 | 1.99 | 8.65/81.35 | 13.50/100.17 |
| 4. | Same, 39-deg timing | 1,500 | 5,200 | 1.95 | 8.61/80.97 | 13.48/99.63 |
| 9. | Same, 38-deg timing | 1,800 | 5,500 | 1.95 | 8.52/82.56 | 13.27/102.73 |
| The five most important runs are listed in the order they occurred. |
| Run Notes: 1) Good, easy first run; 3) None; 4) Getting better; 5) None; 9) Motor cooled over lunch--best e.t./mph ever! |