Speedworld Dragstrip in Wittmann, Arizona, was the place to be for Pontiac fans this past April as the latest edition of Steve Barcak’s Pontiac Heaven show and drag race was held there. As part of the festivities, HPP presented a Pavement Pounders Shootout. You saw a stout pair of performers in the last issue, and this installment will be just as hot and smoky.
Let’s meet the racers and their Pontiacs.
Jim Thompson rolled in from nearby Tucson, Arizona, with his tube-chassis ’63 Tempest in tow. Packing 541 cubes, a built Powerglide, and 3.89 gears, this lightweight Y-Body is normally solidly in the 8.70s. Will traction and weather be a factor as to whether or not it can maintain that performance?
Mike Osborn, also from Tucson, arrived with his clean ’64 GTO. With a poked and stroked 428 under the hood, a Turbo 400, and 4.10 gears, the 467ci brute is a consistent low-11-second ride. Will it be today?
We saw the temperature increase from 76 degrees to 93 degrees. The humidity slid from 21 percent to 13 as the day wore on, and barometric pressure decreased from 29.78 to 29.65 hg. Density altitude increased throughout the day. Since Jim’s and Mike’s best passes came early on, we will use 3,700 feet to calculate the theoretical best pass at sea level, and we’ll do it on the best pass, based on e.t.
Strip Specs
Year/Model: ’63 Tempest
Race Weight w/Driver: 2,810 lbs
Curb Weight: 2,640 lbs
Fuel Level When Weighed: 3 gallons in fuel cell
Fuel: Methanol
Engine: IA II
Cubic Inches Before/After: 541
Engine Built By: Paul Carter at Koerner Racing
Engines, engine parts cryo’d by Carter Cryogenics
Induction System
Air Cleaner: None
Type: Ron’s Fuel Injection Flying Toilet 4.1-inch mechanical alcohol injection
Nozzles: #39
Return Pill: 0.094-in
Starting System: 3⁄4-in Ron’s Primer Plus
Intake Manifold: Ported Victor
Fuel System
Pump: Ron’s 1⁄2-in twin-gear billet
Lines: 12AN fuel cell to pump, 6AN pump to barrel valve, 6AN return to fuel cell
Fuel Cell: Jaz 5-gallon, front mount
Heads
Casting: Wenzler Super Chief
Head Porting: Unknown head porter
Flow Numbers: 417/272 cfm at 0.900-in lift
Valves: Titanium, 2.30/1.80-in
Bottom End
Pistons: JE custom, lateral, gas-ported, 4.375-in
Rings: JE Pro seal
Rods: 6.700-in GRP aluminum
Compression Ratio: 13.5:1
Crankshaft: Bryant Racing billet, 4.500-in stroke, 3.00-in mains, 2.100-in rod journals
Rotating Assembly Balanced: Yes
Camshaft
Brand: Lunati custom solid-roller by Harold Brookshire
Duration at 0.050: 284/300-deg
Lift w/Specified Rocker Arms: 0.821/0.821-in
Lobe Separation Angle: 114-deg
Installed Position: 4-deg advanced
Rocker Arms: T&D custom shaft rockers, 1.80:1
Cam Drive: BOP belt
Ignition
Distributor: MSD Pro-Billet front-mount
Amplifier: MSD Digital 7 Programmable, MSD/BOP crank trigger
Coil: MSD HVC II
Wires: MSD Superconductor 8.5mm
Spark Plugs: NGK V-Power #9, gapped at 0.028-in
Total Timing: 34-deg
Rpm Total Timing is Reached: Locked
Exhaust
Headers: Custom
Primaries: Stepped, 2.125 to 2.25-in
Collectors: 4.00-in
Exhaust Pipes: None, turnouts only
Drivetrain
Transmission: BTE Top Sportsman Powerglide
Mods: Dedenbear case, ringless Vasco input shaft, 1.80 straight-cut planetary gear, Pro transbrake
Converter: Hughes custom 9.5-in, 6,200-stall
Shifter: . .B&M Pro Bandit, Dedenbear electric solenoid
Rear: Strange Ford 9-in Ultracase, Pro Gear
Rear Gear Ratio: 3.89:1
Spool: Strange
Axles: Strange gun-drilled, 40-spline
Chassis and Suspension
Brakes F/R: Strange heavy-duty disc, 111⁄4-in rotors
Wheels F/R: Centerline Autodrag 15x5.5 / 15x12
Tires F/R: . Moroso 25x4.5x15 / M/T ET Drag 32x14x15
Tire Pressure F/R: 32 / 7.5 psi
Suspension Front
Struts: Strange Ultrastruts adj, set one turn counterclockwise extension, Hyperco springs
Stabilizer Bar: None
Other Features: Tube frame
Suspension Rear
Coilovers: Strange double-adj; shock compression set 7 clicks from soft, extension set 5 clicks from soft; Hyperco springs
Control Arms: Art Morrison
Stabilizer Bar: Diagonal
Other Features: Art Morrison heavy-duty four-link
Chassis Mods: Art Morrison 2x3-in mild-steel rails, built by owner, certified to 7.50 seconds, SFI 25.4
The Rest
Interior Mods: Fab. alum. panels, Auto Meter gauges
Exterior Mods: VFN fiberglass front end, cowl-induction hood, doors, rear bumper, decklid, rear valance panel, glass windshield, Lexan side windows and rear window
Safety Mods: SFI 25.4 certified chassis, RCI five-point driver restraints, Simpson parachute, Safecraft 5-lb fire system, Tak window net
Color: PPG basecoat/clearcoat, ’04 Hyundai Santa Fe metallic blue
Launch Technique: . Leave on transbrake at 5,000 rpm
Best 1/4-Mile ET/MPH: . . 8.66 / 155.28 at Speedworld Dragstrip