"I bought this Astre in 2003 because it was a well-built, lightweight, reasonably priced roller, and I already had a motor and trans for it," says John, the 45-year-old mechanic/owner of Precision Wheel Alignment. "This is my first full-tilt race car, and it's super consistent," he explains. "The most fun I've had yet in the car was going to the final round of the gamblers race at the first Pontiacs in the Park. I lost-but what a rush! Those were the first rounds of competition I had ever won."
Though he has been racing for just three years, John has always been a Pontiac man. "I had a '67 GTO in high school that ran 12.62 at 110 mph-not bad for 1979-1980. I currently own a '70 Grand Prix with 71,000 orginal miles that my mom purchased new."
| Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH |
| 1. #88 jets, 36-deg timing | 2,800 | 6,000 | 1.37 | 6.22/108.21 | 9.84/135.14 |
| 2. Same, 34-deg timing | 2,800 | 6,000 | 1.4 | 6.25/108.16 | 9.87/135.05 |
| 3. Same, 38-deg timing | 2,800 | 6,000 | 1.38 | 6.24/108.32 | 9.86/135.20 |
| 4. Same | 2,600 | N/A | 1.5 | Aborted | Aborted |
| 5. 8.5 psi to 8 psi in slicks | 2,800 | 6,000 | 1.38 | 6.21/109.07 | 9.81/135.44 |
| BEST PASS CORRECTED | 6.04/112.15 | 9.54/139.27 |
| Run Notes: 1) Good traction on starting line, wind a factor in high gear; 2) Didn't like timing reduction; 3) Changed timing-not much difference, wind a big factor; 4) Aborted pass, broke traction; 5) Best time of the day, seemed to like higher shift point. |
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '77 Astre |
| Race Weight With Driver: | 2,535 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 2,320 lbs |
| Fuel Level When Weighed: | 90-percent full, 5-gallon cell |
| Fuel: | Sunoco 110-octane |
| Engine Size: | '73 455 |
| Cubic Inches Before/After: | 455/462 |
| Engine Built By: | Owner and Rick Bryant |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Induction System |
| Air Cleaner: | None |
| Carburetor: | Holley 1050 Dominator |
| Jets: | #86 square |
| Spacer Plate: | Moroso Dominator adapter, 2-inch |
| Intake Manifold: | Edlebrock Torker |
| Fuel System |
| Pump: | BG 400 |
| Lines: | Braided 10an |
| Regulator: | Holley, set to 8 psi |
| Heads |
| Casting: | Iron D-port, #16 |
| Head Porting: | Yes, don't know by whom, purchased used |
| Flow Numbers: | N/A |
| Valves: | SS 2.11/1.77, 0.100 longer than stock |
| Bottom End |
| Pistons: | TRW, forged flat-top, +0.030 |
| Rings: | Speed-Pro file-fit |
| Rods: | Eagle H-beam, 6.625-in, L19 bolts |
| Compression Ratio: | Approx. 11.75:1 |
| Crankshaft: | Nodular-iron 455, 4.210 stroke, cut 0.010/0.010 |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft |
| Brand: | Lunati, solid flat-tappet |
| Duration at 0.050: | 276/286-deg |
| Duration Advertised: | 302/312 |
| Lift With Specified Rocker Arms: | 0.576/0.586 |
| Lobe-Separation Angle: | 108-deg |
| Installed Position: | 106-deg |
| Rocker Arms: | Comp Cams, 1.5:1 roller |
| Ignition |
| Distributor: | HEI and MSD |
| Amplifier: | MSD 7AL-2 |
| Coil: | MSD Pro Power |
| Wires: | MSD 8.5mm |
| Spark Plugs: | ACCEL race |
| Total Timing: | 34-deg |
| RPM Total Timing is Reached: | Idle |
| Exhaust |
| Headers: | Hedman Hustler |
| Primaries: | 1.875-inch |
| Collectors: | 3.5-inch |
| Exhaust Pipes: | None |
| Mufflers: | None |
| Crossover: | None |
| Drivetrain |
| Transmission: | Turbo-400, performance rebuild, reverse-manual valvebody |
| Converter: | BTE, 8-inch, 4,500-stall |
| Shifter: | Turbo-Action Cheetah |
| Rear: | Dana-60 |
| Rear-Gear Ratio: | 4.10:1 |
| Spool: | Strange |
| Axles: | Strange |
| Chassis and Suspension |
| Brakes F/R: | Wilwood lightweight disc/Strange 4-piston caliper disc |
| Wheels F/R: | Weld Pro-Star 15x4/15x14 |
| Tires F/R: | Hoosier 26x4.5x15 / Hoosier 14x31x15 slicks |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 32 psi/8.5 psi |
| Suspension Front | |
| Struts: | Strange |
| Stabilizer Bar: | None |
| Other Features: | Rack-and-pinion steering |
| Suspension Rear | |
| Four-link: | Possibly Art Morrison (bought used) |
| Stabilizer Bar: | None |
| Coilovers: | Koni, double-adjustable, not sure where set |
| Chassis Mods: | 2x3-inch rectangle tube frame, 14-point rollcage |
| The Rest |
| Interior Mods: | Alum. panels, racing-seat gauges |
| Exterior Mods: | Hoodscoop, alum. wing |
| Safety Mods: | 5-point harness, window net, SFI-approved drivetrain parts, Simpson chute |
| Paint: | Solid white |
| Launch Technique: | Footbrake to 3,000 rpm |
| Best 1/8-mile ET, MPH Prior to Event: | 6.04/113.06 |
| Best 1/4-mile: | 9.54/138.73 |