Owner Bio: Rick Underwood
"I had a '71 GTO in high school, and it has been a longtime favorite, especially since I grew up in Chevy country," explains Rick, a 52-year-old retired army officer.
Over his 22-year army career, he spent some of his rare free time racing. He also owned a host of other desirable Pontiacs during that period, which have since been sold, so this lone '71 is waving the Pontiac banner at the Underwood residence. Rick recalls, "I remember when my wife and I first test drove the LeMans. A brake line broke causing quite a bit of excitement!" But that didn't deter him from buying the Pontiac and building it into a fun street car and weekend racer.
| Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH |
| 1. Timing 32-deg, closed exhaust, 10 psi in airbag, 72/77 jets | 1,800 | 5,200 | 1.96 | 8.45/81.94 | 13.29/100.50 |
| 2. Same, open exhaust | 1,800 | 5,200 | 1.88 | 8.42/80.85 | 13.31/99.80 |
| 3. Same, 34-deg timing,closed exhaust | 1,800 | 5,400 | 1.9 | 8.38/81.58 | 13.24/100.04 |
| 4. Same | 1,800 | 5,400 | 1.93 | 8.41/81.92 | 13.25/100.50 |
| 5. Same, 34-deg, 74/77 jets | 1,800 | 5,500 | 1.99 | 8.40/83.10 | 13.17/102.28 |
| BEST PASS CORRECTED | 8.17/85.45 | 12.81/105.17 |
| Five most important runs are listed in the order they occurred. |
| Run notes: 1) None, 2-3; 4) Felt doggy; 5) Tire spin. |
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '71 LeMans Sport (GTO nose and trim added) |
| Race Weight With Driver: | 4,070 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 3,875 lbs |
| Fuel Level When Weighed: | Full tank |
| Fuel: | 93-octane |
| Engine: | '69 400 |
| Cubic Inches Before/After: | 400/408 |
| Engine Built By: | Owner |
| Power Adder: | Nitrous, Edelbrock 100 shot (not used) |
| Induction System |
| Air Cleaner: | Ram Air system |
| Carburetor: | Proform 750 DP |
| Jets: | #74/77 |
| Spacer Plate: | 1/2-inch aluminum, open |
| Intake Manifold: | Painted Performer RPM |
| Fuel System |
| Pump: | Holley Blue electric, 110-gph |
| Lines: | 1/2-in |
| Regulator: | Holley, set at 6 psi |
| Heads |
| Brand: | KRE aluminum, 65cc chambers |
| Head Porting: | None |
| Flow Numbers: | N/A |
| Valves: | Ferrera SS, 2.11/1.66 |
| Bottom End |
| Pistons: | Cast flat-top, +0.040 |
| Rings: | Standard |
| Rods: | Stock cast, 6.625-in |
| Compression Ratio: | 10.5:1 |
| Crankshaft: | Stock 400, 3.75-inch stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft |
| Brand: | Summit K2802, hyd. flat-tappet |
| Duration at 0.050: | 224/234-deg |
| Duration Advertised: | N/A |
| Lift With Specified Rocker Arms: | 0.512/0.537-inch |
| Lobe-Separation Angle: | 114-deg |
| Installed Position: | Straight up |
| Rocker Arms: | Harland Sharp, 1.65:1 roller |
| Ignition |
| Distributor: | MSD Pro-Billet |
| Amplifier: | MSD 6A |
| Coil: | MSD Blaster 2 |
| Wires: | Moroso 8mm |
| Spark Plugs: | Autolite AR 3924 |
| Total Timing: | 34-deg |
| RPM Total Timing is Reached: | 2,800 |
| Exhaust |
| Headers: | Flowtech |
| Primaries: | 151/48-inch |
| Collectors: | 3-inch |
| Exhaust Pipes: | 2.5-inch |
| Mufflers: | Pro V |
| Crossover: | Pypes w/electric dumps |
| Drivetrain |
| Transmission: | TCI Turbo 350 Competition |
| Converter: | TCI 10-inch, 3,500-stall |
| Shifter: | Hurst Dual/Gate |
| Rear: | 10-bolt |
| Rear-Gear Ratio: | 3.55:1 |
| Posi: | Auburn |
| Axles: | Stock |
| Chassis and Suspension |
| Brakes F/R: | Stock disc/drum |
| Wheels F/R: | Rally II 15x7/15x8 |
| Tires F/R: | Dunlop 235/70-15 / M/T 275/60-15 drag radials |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 35 psi/19 psi |
| Suspension Front |
| Springs: | Stock |
| Control Arms: | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar: | 1.25-inch |
| Shocks: | Monroe |
| Suspension Rear |
| Springs: | Stock |
| Control Arms: | Edelbrock adjustable lowers, stock uppers |
| Stabilizer Bar: | 1-inch |
| Shocks: | Monroe |
| Other features: | Edelbrock traction bars |
| Chassis Mods: | 6-point rollbar |
| The Rest |
| Interior Mods: | ARP seats |
| Exterior Mods: | GTO nose, rear spoiler, hood tach |
| Safety Mods: | Driveshaft safety loop, rollbar, 5-point harness |
| Paint: | White |
| Launch Technique: | Footbrake to 1,800 rpm |
| Best 1/4-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: | 13.15/103.9 |