Owner Bio: Steve Liebert
Steve Liebert, a 53-year-old machinist, has been racing for 30 years. He bought his '79 LeMans wagon in August 1999 because it had a '72 455 H.O. motor in it. He says it's usually the only wagon at the track and at cruise nights, and that's what makes it special. His favorite moment was seeing it in a group photo as the lead in to the Maple Grove show in the July '03 issue of HPP. He currently owns a '67 GTO convertible, a '65 Tempest, a '68 Firebird, and a '95 Bonneville.
| Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Pt. | 60-ft. | 1/8-mile | 1/4-mile |
| 1. Baseline | 1,500 | 5,000 | 1.77 | 8.51/NA | 13.59/96.39 |
| 3. -2-deg timing | 1,800 | 5,000 | 1.76 | 8.47/NA | 13.50/97.26 |
| 4. Same | 1,800 | 5,000 | 1.77 | 8.46/NA | 13.48/97.47 |
| 5. 2-deg timing | 1,800 | 5,000 | 1.77 | 8.46/NA | 13.49/97.38 |
| 6. Same | 1,800 | 5,000 | 1.78 | 8.46/NA | 13.47/97.96 |
| Best Pass Corrected | 13.07/101.00 |
| Run Notes: 1) Hooked well; hood went up on safety; 3) Best 60-foot so far; 4) Good pass; 5) Good launch; 6) Minimal burnout; track sticky enough for the car. |
| Strip Specs |
Year/Model:
| ’79 LeMans Wagon |
Race Weight With Driver:
| 3,800 lbs |
Curb Weight:
| 3,635 lbs |
Fuel Level When Weighed:
| 5-gal |
Fuel:
| 93-octane |
Engine:
| ’72 YB-code 455 H.O. |
Cubic Inches Before/After:
| 455/462 |
| Engine Built By: | Ron Weaver, Sellersville, PA, in the ’80s |
| Induction System |
Air Cleaner:
| K&N |
Carburetor:
| Holley 800-cfm spread bore |
Jets:
| No. 64/No. 89 |
Spacer Plate:
| Phenolic four-hole, ¾-in thick |
| Intake Manifold: | Stock H.O. aluminum |
| Fuel System |
Pump:
| Carter Electric 70-gph-plus mechanical |
Lines:
| 3⁄8-in |
| Regulator: | None |
| Heads |
Casting:
| ’72 7F6 |
Head Porting:
| None |
Flow Numbers:
| N/A |
| Valves: | 2.11/1.77-in |
| Bottom End |
Pistons:
| 0.030-over Sealed Power forged SD replacement |
Rings:
| Sealed Power replacement +0.030 |
Rods:
| Stock cast, 6.625-in |
Compression Ratio:
| 8.5:1 |
Crankshaft:
| Pontiac nodular-iron, 4.210-in stroke |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | N/A |
| Camshaft |
Brand:
| PAW SSI 10335 |
Duration at 0.050:
| 204/214-deg |
Duration Advertised:
| 270/280-deg |
Lift With Specified Rocker Arms:
| 0.460/0.483-in |
Lobe Separation Angle:
| 110-deg |
Installed Position:
| Straight up |
| Rocker Arms: | Harland Sharp 1.65:1 roller |
| Ignition |
Distributor:
| HEI GM |
Amplifier:
| None |
Coil:
| Stock HEI |
Wires:
| Standard 8mm Replacement |
Spark Plugs:
| AC 44TS |
Total Timing:
| 36-deg |
| RPM That total Timing is Reached: | 2,800 rpm |
| Exhaust |
Headers:
| Homemade, used old Hookers, cut and fabbed using J bends |
Primaries:
| 2.00-in, 29-31 inch long |
Collectors:
| 3.50-in |
Exhaust Pipes:
| 2.50-in |
Mufflers:
| DynoMax |
| Crossover: | None |
| Drivetrain |
Transmission:
| Turbo 350, built by owner |
Converter:
| Pat’s 10-in with 3,000-stall |
Shifter:
| Old B&M Ratchet |
Rear:
| Mopar 8.75-in |
Rear Gear Ratio:
| 3.55:1 |
Posi:
| Stock Sure-Grip |
| Axles: | Moser 30-spline |
| Chassis and Suspension |
Brakes F/R:
| Stock 11-in disc/10-inch Mopar drum |
Wheels F/R:
| Cragar 15x3.5 / Corvette 15x8 Rally |
Tires F/R:
| BFG Touring T/A 175/80R15 / BFG Drag Radials 295/60R15 |
| Tire Pressure F/R: | 45 psi/18 psi |
| Suspension Front |
Springs:
| Stock replacement |
Control Arms:
| Stock |
Stabilizer Bar:
| None |
Shocks:
| Comp Engineering 90/10 adjustable |
| Other Features: | Steering limiter to protect header pipe in the fenderwell |
Suspension Rear
| |
Springs:
| Stock sedan springs with Airlift Air bags, 10 psi left and 15 psi right |
Control Arms:
| Jegs adjustable uppers, stock lowers boxed by owner |
Shocks:
| Comp Eng. 50/50 |
Stabilizer Bar:
| Stock, 0.875-in |
| Other Features: | Upper rear arms feature aluminum/bronze bushings and Heim joints |
Chassis Mods:
| None |
| The Rest |
Interior Mods:
| Auto Meter gauges, Monster tach in dash; Line-Loc |
Exterior Mods:
| Chrysler LeBaron vents in hood |
Safety Mods:
| Stock seatbelts, driveshaft loop |
Color:
| ’84 Chrysler Grey Metallic |
Launch Technique:
| Footbrake to 2,000 rpm, then floor it |
Best 1⁄8-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event:
| N/A |
| Best 1⁄4-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: | 13.23/103 mph |