Pure Stock Series
Since this is the fourth installment, you probably know the premise of this series inside out. We held a major shootout at Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, which consisted of a group of Pontiac Pure Stock racers, who compete each year in the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race (PSMCDR or PS). The rules and setups were discussed in the past few issues, so let's suffice it to say that these Pontiacs must remain very close to factory stock, right down to the wheels and tires. Certain concessions are given to NHRA-legal-for-stock-class engine specs, aftermarket clutches, more modern exhaust systems with H- or X-type crossovers (but no headers), and some very mild suspension tweaking.
This month's action pits an SD-455 against a 400 H.O. and a 350 H.O. to see if cubes really are king. Let's get to it.
Paul Aragona of Rochester, Michigan, placed much responsibility on the shoulders of his '74 SD-455 T/A. The performance rep of the '73-'74 SD-455 cars is beyond reproach thanks in part to a Car and Driver road test of the pre-production '73 SD with a Ram Air IV cam that ran 13.75 at 103.56 mph in the quarter with a Turbo 400 and 3.42s. Problem is, the production cars didn't get the 308/320-degree Ram Air IV cam, but instead used the tamer 301/313-degree duration cam. Would Paul's '74 SD-455 Turbo 400-equipped T/A live up to the hype of the early '70s SD cars? Well, its transplanted 3.90 gears and increased compression may help.
Doug Mesman of Hudsonville, Michigan, brought his '67 400 H.O. GTO out to play. Backed by a Muncie four-speed and 3.55 gears, Doug was out to powershift his way to dragstrip respect for his Goat by running low 13s. Would a carb issue curb his quest?
Jeff Sawruk of Clarkston, Michigan, has been racing his '69 Tempest Custom S fitted with a 350 H.O. engine since the late '80s. Son of Pontiac Historian John Sawruk, Jeff has made a name for himself in Pure Stock racing circles by posting very low 13s with just 350 cubes backed by a Turbo 400. What Jeff didn't know coming into this event was that the limited-slip unit in his 4.33 rear was about to give up the ghost. Would low 13s be possible? Would the Pontiac even make it through the day? Read on.
Weather Report
Ambient temperature varied at Mid-Michigan Motorplex, rising from 55 to 71 degrees throughout the day. Humidity ranged from 41 to 100 percent and barometric pressure was 30.01 hg. The density altitude reading of 1,599 feet will require a factor of 0.9822 for e.t. and 1.0185 for mph to chart the theoretical best performance at sea level (done on the best pass only based on e.t.). Now, on to the action.