OWNER BIO: Kyle Vieira
At just 13 years old, Kyle got hooked on Firebirds after helping a neighbor restore his '67. He says that when he reached driving age, "Everybody had a Camaro, and I wanted something different." He has owned six Firebirds since then and says, "I love the look of a '68 Bird. I built this '68 convertible, which produced 390 horses to the rear wheels on the dyno to have the best of both worlds--a fun convertible and a rip-roaring musclecar for those days when I want to run down the strip." To that end, his favorite moment with his Bird thus far was "toasting a pesky 4.6-liter Mustang that needed a lesson." The 40-year-old export sales manager is new to the strip, racing for just two years, but says he enjoys the adrenaline rush it provides, so he will continue.
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '68 Firebird conv. |
| Race Weight: | 3,655 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 3,465 lbs |
| Fuel Level: | 1/4 tank |
| Type of Fuel: | 93 octane |
| Engine: | '72 400 bored 0.030 and stroked to 455 |
| Cubic Inches Before/After: | 400/455 |
| Built By: | Dale Etheridge Performance Automotive, tuned by owner and Sol Danzig |
| Carburetor: | 850 Mighty Demon, jets No. 86 / No. 89 |
| Spacer Plate: | None |
| Intake Manifold: | Performer RPM |
| Fuel System: | Carter electric 110 gph, 8 AN line, Carter regulator set at 7 psi |
| Heads: | Edelbrock aluminum, not ported, 87cc chambers, 2.11 / 1.66 valves stainless |
| Flow Numbers: | As delivered from Edelbrock |
| Pistons/Rings: | TRW forged flat-top / TRW |
| Rods: | Stock refurbished, 6.625-in length |
| Compression Ratio: | 10:1 |
| Crankshaft: | CAT, 4.210-stroke, cast iron, 3.00-in mains |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft: | Crane hyd, 240/246-deg dur. at 0.050, 0.507 / 0.510 lift with 1.50:1 rockers, 110-deg LSA |
| Installed Position: | Straight up |
| Rocker Arms: | Harland Sharp 1.50:1 roller |
| Ignition: | MSD Pro Billet dist., ACCEL coil, MSD 6AL, ACCEL 8.5 mm wires, Autolite plugs |
| Total Timing: | 34 deg, all in by 2,500 rpm |
| Exhaust: | Hooker Super Comp 1.75-in primary headers, 3-in collectors, 2.5-in H-pipe, 2.5-in Flowmaster mufflers |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Transmission: | Super T10 four-speed, NASCAR synchros |
| Converter: | 11-in Centerforce Dual-Friction |
| Shifter: | Hurst |
| Rear: | 12-bolt, Eaton posi, 4.11:1 gears, stock axles |
| Brakes F/R: | Disc / drum |
| Wheels F/R: | ARE Torque Thrust II 17x7 / Weld 15x10 |
| Tires F/R: | BFG KDW 245/45ZR17 / 275/60-15 BFG drag radials |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 34 psi / 20 psi |
| Suspension Fr: | Hotchkis 2-in lowering springs, Monroe shocks, stock stabilizer bar |
| Suspension Rr: | 2-in lowering blocks, stock multileaf springs, Monroe shocks, Southside bars |
| Chassis Mods: | Jegs subframe connectors |
| Interior Mods: | Hurst Roll Control |
| Exterior Mods: | 400 hood, H.O. stripes |
| Safety Mods: | Driveshaft loop |
| Paint: | Victory Red, paint and body by Rich Evon, Beacon Falls, CT |
| Launch Technique: | 3,200 rpm slipping the clutch |
| Best 1/4-mile ET, MPH Prior to Event: | 13.00 at 104, Holley carb, street tires, no traction |
| STRIP TUNING LOG |
Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH |
| 1 | 20 psi in tires | 2,700 | 5,500 | 1.98 | 8.15/87.47 | 12.64/108.12 |
| 2 | 16 psi in tires | 2,700 | 5,000 | 1.98 | 8.23/87.15 | 12.74/108.89 |
| 3 | Same | 2,500 | 5,500 | 1.95 | 8.18/87.14 | 12.73/107.47 |
| 4 | Same | 3,000 | 5,500 | 1.87 | 8.12/87.63 | 12.60/108.08 |
| 5 | Same | 3,200 | 5,500 | 1.84 | 7.9488.11 | 12.40/108.18 |
| Best Corrected Pass | | | | | 7.57/92.45 | 11.82/113.51 |
| The five most important runs are listed in the order they occurred. |
| Run Notes: 1) Spun, hit rev limiter at the traps with 5,600 chip; 2) Installed 6,000 chip, lost 0.10 in the eighth-mile with same 60-ft.; 3) Reinstalled 5,600 chip, lost mph, engine getting too hot; 4) Good launch, 3,000 rpm, slipped clutch; 5) Best 60 ft. yet, best e.t. done. |