OWNER BIO: Tim Simpson
"Back in 2001, I started shopping for a musclecar to keep!" Tim remembered. After finding this '66 GTO in New Jersey, he yanked the original Tri-Power 389 and stored it. He and friend George Ulmer installed a fresh 455 and rebuilt the rest of the drivetrain and suspension at home. The 46-year-old physician then went drag racing. His favorite moment from the driver's seat? "Anytime I'm behind the wheel," he said. Tim recalled the funniest story since getting the GTO: "Launching the car in Reverse the first time at the track. I never did that again ... until the day of the Shootout. I was a little nervous!" This is the first GTO and the first Pontiac for the good doctor who has seemingly ignored the fact that historically doctors drove Buicks ... didn't they?
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '66 GTO |
| Race Weight: | 3,910 lbs. |
| Curb Weight: | 3,700 lbs. |
| Fuel Level: | 1/2 tank |
| Type of Fuel: | 93 octane |
| Engine: | '74 455 |
| Cubic Inches Before/After: | 455/462 |
| Built By: | Ken Keefer |
| Carburetor: | Holley-780 cfm, jets #74/#80, airhorn smoothed and choke removed |
| Spacer Plate: | 1/2-inch aluminum, 4-hole |
| Intake Manifold: | Edelbrock Performer |
| Fuel System: | Mallory elec. pump, Mallory reg. set to 5.5 psi, -8 lines |
| Heads: | 6X-4, 2.11/1.77, Ferrea stainless valves, ported |
| Flow Numbers: | Approximately 250-cfm intake at 28 inches of pressure |
| Pistons/Rings: | TRW 4.180 forged flat-top/Hastings-Moly |
| Rods: | Stock cast, 6.625-in, ARP bolts |
| Compression Ratio: | 9.3:1 |
| Crankshaft: | Stock nodular-iron 4.21 stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft: | Melling hyd 231/240-deg dur. at .050, .517/.517 lift, LSA N/A |
| Installed Position: | Straight up |
| Rocker Arms/Ratio: | Crane roller/1.65:1 |
| Ignition: | Davis Small Body HEI, ACCEL coil, ACCEL 8.8mm wires, R45 ACDelco plugs |
| Total Timing: | 35-deg, all in by 2,500 rpm |
| Exhaust: | R.A.R.E. manifolds, 2.5-in pipes, Dr. Gas x style crossover, Dynomax mufflers |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Transmission: | Muncie M20 |
| Clutch: | 11-inch Centerforce Dual-Friction |
| Shifter: | Original Hurst |
| Rear: | Original 8.2-in, 3.55:1 gears, Auburn Pro Series posi |
| Brakes F/R: | Manual 10.9-in disc from a '71 Nova/9.5-in drum |
| Wheels F/R: | Rally I 14x6/Repro. Wheel Vintiques Rally I 15x8 |
| Tires F/R: | Uniroyal 205/75R14 / M/T 275/60-15 Drags Radials |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 36 psi/19 psi |
| Suspension Fr: | Stock springs and stabilizer bar, KYB gas shocks |
| Suspension Rr: | 1-in stabilizer bar, stock springs, boxed lower control arms, BMR adj. upper control arms, KYB gas shocks, air bags 16 psi right, 6 psi left |
| Chassis Mods: | Hurst Line-Loc |
| Interior Mods: | None |
| Exterior Mods: | None |
| Safety Mods: | Original seatbelts |
| Paint: | Montero Red |
| Launch Technique: | Stage, engage Line-Loc, rev to 2,500 rpm, drop the clutch, and punch the accelerator |
| Best 1/8-mile ET, MPH prior to event: | 8.45 at 83.04 |
| STRIP TUNING LOG |
Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH |
| 1 | 39 deg. timing, 24 psi in tires | 2,200 | 5,300 | 2.08 | 8.77/82.19 | 13.57/102.89 |
| 3 | Loosened front sway bar | 3,100 | 5,500 | 2.05 | 8.62/82.79 | 13.41/102.62 |
| BEST PASS CORRECTED | 8.22/86.87 | 12.78/107.67 |
| 4 | 35 deg. timing, 19.5 psi in tires | 3,000 | 5,400 | 2.19 | 8.93/81.97 | 13.75/102.33 |
| 5 | Change jets #80/#85, 40 deg. timing | 3,000 | 5,400 | 2.08 | 8.90/80.37 | 13.82/100.53 |
| 7 | 36 deg. timing | 3,500 | 5,300 | 2.02 | 9.21/77.61 | 14.33/96.41 |
| The five most important runs are listed in the order they occurred. |
| Run Notes: 1) Bogged at launch, 3) Slight spin at launch, 4) No spin; bogged at launch, 5) Bogged, 7) Hot; track going away. |