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Owner Bio: Michael Leech
"I bought this original 400 H.O. Firebird in 1990 in San Diego while stationed there in the U.S. Navy," explains Michael, pictured here with wife, Debbie, and sons, Mike Jr. and Aaron. "For years, I street-raced it in SoCal. I eventually drove it back to Michigan where I street-raced it more, until a brush with the law curtailed my activities. My fun continued but only on the track. The car as it is now is a labor of love--the chassis, cage, and driveline were built in my garage by me. Not to sound boastful, it's just that I take a lot of pride in that." Despite 19 years of racing on the street and on the track, this 36-year-old contractor says, "The most fun I ever had in this Firebird was driving from SoCal to Michigan with my brother riding shotgun and Fred the cat on the console. We even raced a Mustang in Nebraska and whipped 'em." Previously in the Leech stable was a '68 GTO, but it was stolen. Currently, he has an '02 WS6 T/A. | STRIP SPECS | | Year/Model: | '68 Firebird 400 H.O. | | Race Weight: | 3,240 lbs | | Curb Weight: | 2,970 lbs | | Type of Fuel: | VP C14 | | Engine: | IA II block | | Cubic Inches: | 489 | | Built By: | Owner | | Carburetor: | Pro Systems 1,180-cfm Dominator, #88, #92 jets | | Spacer Plate: | 9/16-inch, phenolic, cloverleaf, ported with intake | | Intake Manifold: | Victor Dominator | | Fuel System: | BG 400 electric pump, BG six-port reg. set to 9 psi, 3/4-in line from cell to pump, 5/8-in from pump to reg, 1/2-in from reg to carb | | Heads: | Edelbrock 72cc milled to 58cc, ported by John Marcella at ET Performance | | Flow Numbers: | 368 cfm at 0.700 intake, 272 cfm at 0.700 exhaust at 28-in of pressure | | Valves: | Ferrea stainless 2.18/1.72 | | Pistons/Rings: | CP Pistons, flat-tappet, 4.350-in, spec'd by Straightline Performance/CP file-fit, back-cut, low-tension 0.043, 0.043, 3/16 | | Rods: | GRP aluminum 6.53-in | | Compression Ratio: | 14:01 | | Crankshaft: | Early aftermarket forging, 4.12 stroke | | Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes | | Camshaft: | Straightline Performance solid roller | | Camshaft Specs: | 272/284-deg at 0.050, 0.704/0.723 lift | | Camshaft LSA: | N/A | | Camshaft Centerline: | N/A | | Installed Position: | Straight up | | Rocker Arms: | T&D shaft system, 1.75:1 | | Ignition: | MSD Pro-Billet dist, MSD Digital-7, MSD coil, 10mm wires, NGK R5671A-7 plugs | | Total Timing: | 35-deg locked-out advance | | Exhaust: | 2-in/2.125-in/2.25-in step headers by owner, 4-in pipes, Straightline Performance mufflers | | Power Adder: | None | | Transmission: | Turbo 400 by Joe Cicalo, performance built, transbrake, and more | | Converter: | PTC 10-in, 5,800-rpm stall | | Shifter: | B&M Quicksilver | | Rear: | Dana 60, 4.10 gears, Strange spool, Moser 35-spline axles | | Brakes F/R: | Wilwood 10-in disc | | Wheels F/R: | Weld Promagnum 5x4/15x10 | | Tires F/R: | Goodyear 27x4x15 / M/T 29.5 x 10.5w x 15 slicks | | Tire Pressure F/R: | 40 psi/12 psi | | Suspension Fr: | CE/QA1 adj. strut set to medium, CE rack & pinion steering | | Suspension Rr: | CE Top Gun four-link with wishbone, Strange single-adj. coilovers set to 3 clicks from soft | | Chassis Mods: | 12-point rollcage, backhalfed | | Interior Mods: | Kirkey seats | | Exterior Mods: | Fiberglass hood from Spotts Performance | | Safety Mods: | Rollcage, RJS 5-point harness, window net, driveshaft loop, SFI-approved drivetrain parts | | Paint: | Nightshade Green | | Launch Technique: | 4,500 rpm on the brake | | Best ET/MPH Prior to Event (1/4-Mile): | 9.15 at 150 mph | | Best ET/MPH Prior to Event (1/8-Mile): | 5.88 at 118.5 mph |
| Strip Tuning Log | | Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH | | 1 | Off the trailer, rear shocks set to 6 | 4,000 | 7,400 | 1.34 | 5.93/117.69 | 9.29/145.42 | | BEST PASS CORRECTED | 8.84/152.79 | | 3 | Shocks set to 2 | 3,500 | 7,400 | 1.36 | 5.98/117.13 | 9.35/145.08 | | 4 | Moved front lower bar up 1 hole | 3,000 | 7,400 | 1.4 | 6.04,117.39 | 9.40/145.85 | | 5 | Shocks set to 6, stepped down one jet size in pri/sec | 3,200 | 7,400 | 1.4 | 6.03/117.45 | 9.39/145.88 | | 6 | Shocks set to 8 | 4,200 | 7,400 | 1.41 | 6.02/117.24 | 9.38/145.88 | | The five most important runs are listed in the order they occurred. | | Run Notes: 1) Spun 10 feet out; 3) Small spin, short shifted; 4) Spun; 5) Spun; 6) Spun. |
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