"My parents bought me a '66 GTO for $1,500 when I graduated high school in 1969," Jim says. "I still remember driving it home; it was the closest thing to heaven." Ever since he sold that Pontiac, this electrical contractor has wanted another '66. So five years ago he bought this GTO as a rusty hulk with no motor or trans. Jim PHS'ed it AFTER he bought it and found that it was a real "XS" Ram Air GTO with a four-speed and 4.33 gears. Since the drivetrain was already gone, Jim "built this GTO the way I thought it should be, with a Tri-Power, Ram Air and a four-speed." He drag raced back in the '60s and '70s and then gave it up, but his GTO project has brought this Pontiac lover back to the track. If this Goat wasn't enough, there is also a '78 Grand Am waiting in the wings that Jim says is "begging for a 455."
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '66 Ram Air GTO |
| Race Weight: | 3,780 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 3,530 lbs |
| Fuel Level: | 1/2 tank |
| Type of Fuel: | 93 octane |
| Engine: | '73 455 |
| Cubic Inches Before / After: | 455/463 |
| Built By: | Owner |
| Carburetor: | '66 3x2-barrel Rochesters, jets 0.067 center 0.080 ends |
| Spacer Plate: | None |
| Intake Manifold: | Aluminum Performance Years Tri-Power, ported by Jim Lehart at C.V.M.S |
| Fuel System: | -8 lines, Holley reg, set at 4.75 psi, Holley Blue electric pump with Moroso spring 140 gph |
| Heads: | '77 6X-4, 2.11/1.77 Ferrea SS valves, ported by KRE |
| Flow Numbers: | 256/205 cfm at 0.550 lift at 28 in of pressure |
| Pistons / Rings: | 0.035-over SRP forged flat-top / file-fit |
| Rods: | Scat 4340 forged steel, H-beam |
| Compression Ratio: | 9.9:1 |
| Crankshaft: | Stock nodular iron, cut 0.010 / 0.010 |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft: | Ultradyne solid, 247/251-deg dur. at 0.050, 0.555/ 0.560 with 1.65:1 rockers and 0.022 lash, 110 LSA |
| Installed Position: | 4-deg adv |
| Rocker Arms: | Scorpion aluminum roller, 1.65:1 |
| Ignition: | MSD Pro-Billet dist, MSD coil, MSD 6AL, Moroso Ultra 40 wires, AC R45TSX plugs |
| Total Timing: | 34 deg all in by 2,500 rpm |
| Exhaust: | Hooker Super Comp headers, 1.75-in primaries, 3-inch collectors, 3-in Pypes X-pipe, 3-in Xlerator mufflers |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Transmission: | Muncie M22 |
| Clutch: | Ram HD |
| Shifter: | Hurst Comp Plus with Pit Pak |
| Rear: | '70 12-bolt Posi, 4.10 gears, Moser axles |
| Brakes F/R: | Stock 9.5-in drum |
| Wheels F/R: | Weld 15x6 / Weld 15x8 |
| Tires F/R: | M/T Sportsman 26x7.50x15 / Hoosier QT Pro 27x10.5x15 |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 35 psi / 18 psi |
| Suspension Fr: | Stock, stabilizer bar removed, Lakewood 90/10 shocks |
| Suspension Rr: | H-O Racing 13/8-in stabilizer bar, Air Lift airbags (8 psi left, 12 psi right) Lakewood no-hop bars, BMR adj. UCAs, boxed LCAs |
| Chassis Mods: | None |
| Interior Mods: | None |
| Exterior Mods: | Royal Bobcat fender decals, dealer decal, license plate surround |
| Safety Mods: | Driveshaft loop |
| Paint: | Starlight Black |
| Launch Technique: | 4,000 rpm, slip the clutch and roll into the gas |
| Best 1/4-mile ET, MPH Prior to Event: | 12.85 at 111 |
| 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, 20 psi in tires | 3,500 | 5,500 | 2.16 | 8.20/89.57 | 12.57/111 |
| 2. | 18 psi in tires | 4,000 | 5,700 | 2.03 | 8.10/89 | 12.46/113 |
| 3. | 16 psi in tires | 4,500 | 5,700 | 1.83 | 7.98/89 | 12.36/112 |
| Best Corrected Pass | 7.60/93.38 | 11.78/117.52 |
| 4. | Same | 4,500 | 5,500 | 1.88 | 8.06/87 | 12.54/109 |
| 5. | Same | 4,500 | 5,700 | 1.86 | 8.00/86 | 12.52/109 |
| The five most important runs are listed in the order that they occurred. |
| Run Notes: 1) Bog off the line; 2) Better; 3) Good run; 4) Slowed down due to lower shift point; 5) Removed ram air pan, slowed down |