Owner Bio: John Glasgo"Back in 1989, I found a complete R/A-V with exhaust manifolds and built the car around the engine," John tells HPP. "I body-off restored this GTO that year and built the R/A-V engine 100 percent correct-appearing with exhaust manifolds, but ran a 455 crank and big roller cam. On slicks, it ran 12.40 at 110 mph with a 4.88 gear and shifting at 7,000 rpm. Now it runs an NHRA-spec R/A-IV 400 and posts 12.70s at 112 mph on redlines." By his own admission, John, a 43-year-old mechanic and classic auto restorer, has "owned almost every hi-po Pontiac from the '60s to the '70s."
| Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Pt. | 60-ft. | 1/8-mile | 1/4-mile |
| 1. 38-deg timing | 2,200 | 6,000 | 2.15 | 8.46/86.87 | 12.93/110.53 |
| 2. Same | 2,200 | 6,000 | 2.06 | 8.45/86.70 | 12.92/110.81 |
| 3. Same | 2,600 | 6,000 | 2.23 | 8.64/87.00 | 13.16/110.90 |
| 4. Tightened secondaries | 2,300 | 6,000 | 2.06 | 8.40/87.20 | 12.80/111.56 |
| 5. Richened secondaryrods to CC | 2,300 | 6,000 | 2.04 | 8.38/87.30 | 12.78/111.89 |
| Best Pass Corrected | | 12.55/113.95 |
Run Notes: 1) Slipped a little at start, spun bad in Second; 2) Hooked, decent 1-2 shift softer; 3) Spun bad in First and Second; 4) Still spinning through Second; 5) Secondaries still tight. Added more fuel, still spinning bad on the 1-2 shift.
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model | '69 GTO |
| Race Weight with Driver | 3,840 lbs |
| Curb Weight | 3,640 lbs |
| Fuel Level When Last Weighed | ½-tank |
| Fuel | Turbo Blue 112-octane |
| Engine | '69 400 code WW |
| Cubic Inches Before/After | 400/413 |
| Engine Built By | Glasgo & Co. |
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| Induction System |
| Air Cleaner | Stock |
| Carburetor | Quadrajet 750-cfm |
| Primary Jets | 0.073-in |
| Primary Metering Rods | 0.043-in |
| Secondary Metering Rods | CU |
| Secondary Hanger | V |
| Spacer Plate | None |
| Intake Manifold | Stock R/A-IV, no gasket match |
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| Fuel System |
| Pump | Stock Delco |
| Lines | 3/8-in |
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| Heads |
| Casting | '69 722 |
| Head Porting | None |
| Flow Numbers | Unknown |
| Valves | Ferrea stainless 2.11/1.77-in |
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| Bottom End |
| Pistons | Ross forged NHRA legal 4-valve reliefs |
| Rings | Childs & Albert 2-gap |
| Rods | Eagle forged steel, 6.625-in |
| Compression Ratio | 11.8:1 |
| Crankshaft | Stock 3.75-in stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced | Yes |
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| Camshaft |
| Brand | HYD Melling SPC-8 |
| Duration at 0.050 | 231/240-deg |
| Duration Advertised | 308/320-deg |
| Lift with Specified Rocker Arms | 0.520/0.520 |
| Lobe Separation Angle | 113.5-deg |
| Installed Position | 112-deg |
| Rocker Arms | GM 1.65:1 |
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| Ignition |
| Distributor | Stock points-type, ACCEL points |
| Amplifier | None |
| Coil | Pertronix |
| Wires | Repro ACDelco |
| Spark Plugs | AC R43S |
| Total Timing | 38-deg |
| Rpm That Total Timing Is Reached | 2,400 |
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| Exhaust |
| Manifolds | Stock cast iron R/A-IV |
| Exhaust | 2.5-in Pypes |
| Muffler | Ultra Flo |
| Crossover | Pypes X-type |
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| Drivetrain |
| Transmission | Muncie M20 wide ratio |
| Clutch | Centerforce |
| Shifter | Stock Hurst |
| Rear | Stock 10-bolt |
| Rear Gear Ratio | 4.10:1 |
| Posi | Eaton |
| Axles | Moser |
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| Chassis and Suspension |
| Brakes F/R | 9.5-in drum |
| Wheels F/R | Stock 14x6 Rally II |
| Tires F/R | Firestone Wide Oval G70-14 |
| Tire Pressure F/R | 50 psi/42 psi |
| Suspension Front |
| Springs | Stock coil |
| Control Arms | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar | Stock 1.00-in |
| Shocks | Stock-type |
| Suspension Rear |
| Springs | Stock coil |
| Stabilizer Bar | None |
| Shocks | Stock-type |
| Chassis Mods | None |
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| The Rest |
| Safety Mods | None |
| Paint | Burgundy Lacquer |
| Launch Technique | 2,000-rpm, slowly release clutch |
| Best 1/4-mile E.T./MPH Prior to Event | 12.72/112.2 |
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