Owner Bio: Tom Miller
Desiring to build a quick Firebird, Tom Miller bought this '69 model three years ago. The 37-year-old mold maker by trade has been racing for 21 years and says that his favorite moment behind the wheel was "running quicker than a lot of big-inch cars at the Pure Stock Drags." He has owned a '70 LeMans Sport with a 330-horse 400, a '71 455 H.O. GTO, and a '71 GTO with a 400 and a four-speed. Currently, he is finishing up a body-off resto on a '71 T-37 with a 400 and a four-speed.
Rich Rinke (shown) drove the Firebird in Tom's absence. Rich has specialized in prototype high-performance vehicle engineering, design, and building for 27 years. He was under contract with Ford and was involved in the SVT and GT-40 programs, among many others. Currently, the 47-year-old runs his own business, Turnkey Restorations, which specializes in high-line musclecar and race car ground-up builds. His family has been involved in auto racing with factory sponsorship for many years.
| Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Pt. | 60-ft. | 1/8-mile | 1/4-mile |
| 1 Sec. rod hanger I | 1,700 | 5,600 | 2.04 | 8.7/81.92 | 13.49/105 |
| 2 Sec. rod hanger K | 1,700 | 5,500 | 2.04 | 8.6/82.05 | 13.48/105 |
| 3 Sec. rod hanger M | 1,800 | 5,700 | 2.03 | 8.7/82.22 | 13.47/105 |
| 4 Sec. rod hanger G | 1,800 | 5,500 | 2.02 | 8.6/81.91 | 13.47/105 |
| 5 Same | 1,800 | 5,600 | 2.05 | 8.6/82.33 | 13.46/105 |
| Best Pass Corrected | | | | | 13.22/106.94 |
| Run Notes: None |
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model | ’69 Firebird 350 H.O. |
| Race Weight With Driver | 3,492 lbs |
| Curb Weight | 3,350 lbs |
| Fuel Level When Last Weighed | Full |
| Fuel | Torco 105-octane |
| Engine | Matching-numbers original 350 block |
| Cubic Inches Before/After | 350/366 |
| Engine Built By | Brian McDowell and owner |
| Induction System |
| Air Cleaner | Stock single snorkel with ACDelco filter |
| Carburetor | Original 750-cfm Q-jet, 7029268 |
| Primary Jets | 0.071-in |
| Primary Metering Rods | 0.044-in “BE”, 0.041-in tip |
| Secondary Metering Rods | N/A |
| Secondary Hanger | I |
| Intake Manifold | Stock cast iron |
| Fuel System |
| Pump | Stock ACDelco replacement, high volume |
| Lines | Stock 3/8-in |
| Heads |
| Casting | ’69 No. 48 |
| Head Porting | None |
| Flow Numbers | N/A |
| Valves | Stock 2.11/1.77-in supplied by Eaton |
| Bottom End |
| Pistons | Speed-Pro cast, +0.060-in, flat-top, four-valve reliefs |
| Rings | Moly |
| Rods | Stock cast, 6.625-in |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 |
| Crankshaft | Stock crank offset ground 0.012-in (3.87-in stroke) to achieve zero deck |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced | Yes |
| Camshaft |
| Brand | Hydraulic Cam Motion regrind of “067” |
| Duration at 0.050 | 200/212-deg |
| Duration Advertised | 273/289-deg |
| Lift with specified rocker arms | 0.415/0.415-in |
| Lobe Separation Angle | 112-deg |
| Installed Position | Straight Up |
| Rocker Arms | Stock Pontiac 1.50:1 stamped steel |
| Ignition |
| Distributor | Stock Pontiac points-type |
| Amplifier | N/A |
| Coil | Pertronix Flame-Thrower |
| Wires | Pertronix 7mm “stealth,” stock look |
| Spark Plugs | AC R45 |
| Total Timing | 38-deg |
| RPM That Total Timing is Reached | 2,200 |
| Exhaust |
| Manifolds | Stock log-type |
| Exhaust Pipes | 2.5-in Pypes |
| Mufflers | Walker Super Turbo PN 17734, 2.5-in side in/side out |
| Crossover | 2.5-in Pypes X |
| Drivetrain |
| Transmission | Turbo-400 with factory shift kit, AmsOil fluid |
| Converter | Stock GM, 1,700-rpm stall speed |
| Shifter | Stock |
| Rear | GM 8.2-in 10-bolt, synthetic fluid |
| Rear Gear Ratio | 4.11:1 |
| Posi | Eaton |
| Axles | Stock |
| Chassis and Suspension |
| Brakes F/R | Stock 9.5-in drums |
| Wheels F/R | Stock 14x6-in steel |
| Tires F/R | G70-14 Firestone Wide-Oval red lines |
| Tire Pressure F/R | 43 psi / 43 psi |
| Suspension Fr: Springs | Stock GM coils |
| Control Arms | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar | Stock GM |
| Shocks | Monroe Gas Suspension Rr: |
| Springs | Stock |
| Stabilizer Bar | None |
| Shocks | Monroe Gas |
| Chassis Mods | None |
| The Rest |
| Safety Mods | Driveshaft loop |
| Paint | PPG Carousel Red |
| Launch Technique | Floor it on last yellow from idle |
| Best 1/4-mile E.T./MPH prior to event | 13.63/102 |