Owner Bio: Mario Dimonte
Mario DiMonte, age 42, and Bruno's business partner, found his Second-Gen Trans Am in 2002. He bought it from its original owner and he says the T/A was well-cared for. Mario has always loved the body style of the '70-'73 Firebirds and currently owns a '72 Trans Am 455 H.O. and a '63 Grand Prix with a 389 Tri-Power and a four-speed. He enjoys racing his Trans Am at events, and showing it, too. "I love to see mint, restored cars being used the way they were supposed to be regardless of the dollar value," he says. At right, Mario poses with his son, Daniel.
Strip Tuning Log
|
| Run/Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Pt. | 60-ft. | 1/8-mile | 1/4-mile |
| 1. | 38-deg total, | 1,500 | 5,800 | 2.34 | 9.15/81.38 | 13.93/103.14 |
| | 50 psi (front) |
| | 40 psi (rear) |
| 2. | Same | 2,500 | 5,800 | 2.30 | 9.15/80.06 | 14.23/101.74 |
| 3. | Same | 2,500 | 5,800 | 2.35 | 9.05/83.05 | 13.77/104.29 |
| Best Pass Corrected | | | | | 13.51/106.37 |
| 4. | Same | 3,000 | 5,800 | 2.60 | 9.93/77.25 | 14.93/99.33 |
| 5. | Same | 2,000 | 5,800 | 2.32 | 9.06/82.60 | 13.88/104.19 |
Run Notes: 1) Left too soft, bogged motor; 2) Bogged going into Third; 3) Everything felt good, hit all the gears; 4) Smoked tires, lost traction; 5) Felt good, the car may need 3.73 or 3.90 gears to improve 60-ft and e.t.
Strip Specs
|
| Year/Model | ’701/2 Trans Am |
| Race Weight With Driver | 3,880 lbs |
| Curb Weight | 3,680 lbs |
| Fuel Level When Weighed | 1/2-tank |
| Fuel | 103-octane |
| Engine | ’70, 400 code WS |
| Cubic Inches Before/After | 400/400 |
| Engine Built By | Fioravanti Custom Engines |
Induction System
|
| Air Cleaner | Factory functional Ram Air |
| Carburetor | Quadrajet, 750-cfm, No. 7040273 |
| Primary Jets | 0.073-in |
| Primary Metering Rods | N/A |
| Secondary Metering Rods | CC (0.053-in) |
| Seconday Metering Rod Hanger | F |
| Spacer Plate | None |
| Intake Manifold | Stock cast-iron, dual-plane |
Fuel System
|
| Pump | Stock mechanical |
| Lines | Stainless 3/8-in |
| Regulator | None |
Heads
|
| Casting | ’70, No. 12 |
| Head Porting | No |
| Flow Numbers | Stock |
| Valves | 2.11/1.77-in Ferrea SS |
Bottom
End |
| Pistons | JE forged |
| Rings | JE |
| Rods | Crower forged steel, H-beam, 6.625-in length |
| Compression Ratio | 10.75:1 |
| Crankshaft | Stock cast, 3.75-in stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced | Yes |
Camshaft
|
| Brand | Crower |
| Duration at 0.050 | 214/224-deg |
| Duration Advertised | 288/298-deg |
| Lift With Specified Rocker Arms | 0.414/0.413-in |
| Lobe Separation Angle | 112-deg |
| Installed Position | 110-deg |
| Rocker Arms | Stock 1.5:1 |
Ignition
|
| Distributor | Delco No. 11111941 with Pertronix HEI module |
| Amplifier | None |
| Coil | Stock |
| Wires | GM date-coded, 7mm |
| Spark Plugs | AC R44S |
| Total Timing | 32-deg |
| Rpm That Total Timing Is Reached | 2,300 |
Exhaust
|
| Manifolds | R/A-III, as-cast |
| Exhaust Pipes | 2.5-in |
| Mufflers | Dynoflow crossflow 2.5-in |
| Crossover | None |
Drivetrain
|
| Transmission | Muncie M20 |
| Clutch | Centerforce, 10.5-in diaphragm |
| Shifter | Hurst |
| Rear | 12-Bolt |
| Rear Gear Ratio | 3.55:1 |
| Posi | Auburn, clutch-type (OEM) |
| Axles | Stock |
Chassis and Suspension
|
| Brakes F/R | Stock, disc/drum |
| Wheels F/R | Rally II 15x7, code JW |
| Tires F/R | Reproduction Goodyear F70-15 |
| Tire Pressure F/R | 50 psi/35 psi |
| Suspension Front |
| Springs | Stock |
| Control Arms | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar | Stock 1.25-in |
| Shocks | AC Delco gas |
| Suspension Rear |
| Springs | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar | Stock 0.875-in |
| Shocks | Stock |
| Other Features | None |
| Chassis Mods | None |
The Rest
|
| Interior Mods | None |
| Exterior Mods | None |
| Safety Mods | Driveshaft loop |
| Paint | Lucerne Blue BC/CC |
| Launch Technique | Slide clutch out at 3,000 rpm |
| Best 1/4-mile ET/MPH Prior To Event | 13.48/106.80 |