Strip Specs
Year/Model: ’69 GTO
Race Weight With Driver: 3,290 lbs
Curb Weight: 3,490 lbs
Fuel Level When Weighed: 6-gal
Fuel: 110-octane
Engine: ’71 code-YC 455
Cubic Inches Before/After: 455/463
Induction System
Air Cleaner: K&N 3-in, 14-in dia
Carburetor: Holley 750-cfm
Jets: #71-80
Spacer Plate: None
Intake Manifold: Torker
Fuel System
Pump: Holley Blue
Lines: -8 AN
Regulator: Holley Blue, set to 7 psi
Heads
Casting: Edelbrock 72cc
Head Porting: None
Flow Numbers: N/A
Valves: Ferrea stainless-steel 2.11 / 1.66
Bottom End
Pistons: SRP forged-aluminum, full-floating, flat-top, 4.185-in
Rings: Sealed Power file-fit 1⁄16, 1⁄16, 3⁄16-in
Rods: Eagle forged steel, 6.625-in length
Compression Ratio: 11.8:1
Crankshaft: Stock Pontiac “N”
Rotating Assembly Balanced: Yes
Camshaft
Brand: Cam Motion solid flat-tappet
Duration at 0.050: 260/267-deg
Duration Advertised: N/A
Lift With Specified Rocker Arms: 0.533/0.531-in
Lobe Separation Angle: 108-deg
Installed Position: Straight up
Rocker Arms: Harland Sharp, rollers, 1.5:1
Ignition
Distributor: GM HEI
Amplifier: MSD 6AL
Coil: Stock
Wires: MSD 8mm
Spark Plugs: NGK R5671A
Total Timing: 35-deg
Rpm that total timing is reached: 1,800
Exhaust
Headers: Doug’s
Primaries: 1.875-in
Collectors: 3.50-in
Exhaust Pipes: None
Mufflers: None
Crossover: None
Drivetrain
Transmission: Turbo 400
Converter: TCI Streetfighter 10-in, 3,000-stall
Shifter: B&M Prostick
Rear: BOP 12-bolt
Rear Gear Ratio: 4.10:1
Spool: Strange
Axles: Strange, 33-spline
Chassis and Suspension
Brakes F/R: Stock disc/drum
Wheels F/R: Weld Prostar 15x3 1⁄2 / 15x10
Tires F/R: Phoenix 26x15x4.5 / 28.5x10.5x15 slicks
Tire Pressure F/R: 35 psi /11 psi
Suspension Front
Springs: Stock
Shocks: Competition Engineering single-adjustable, set to 90/10
Control Arms: Stock
Stabilizer Bar: 1-in
Other Features: None
Suspension Rear
Springs: Stock
Shocks: Competition Engineering single-adjustable, set to 50/50
Control Arms: Boxed
Stabilizer Bar: None
Other Features: Airbags, 4 psi (L), 8 psi (R)
The Rest
Interior Mods: . . Passenger seat removed, Auto Meter water temp, oil pressure, and tachometer
Exterior Mods: Judge spoiler, black rear bumper
Safety Mods: Driveshaft loop, 10-point rollcage
Color: Starlight Black
Launch Technique: 2,500 footbrake
Best 1⁄8-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: N/A
Best 1⁄4-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: 10.92/121.2
Ron Beach Jr.
Ron, a 43-year-old auto repair shop manager (shown here with his son Ron III), has been racing for 27 years. He bought his GTO in 1991. “My dad financed it to me for $100 a month,” he says, and it’s special to him because “I built it with my dad.” His favorite moment in it was taking it around the brickyard track at the Indianapolis 500 at the 1993 GTOAA International Meet. Ron also owns a ’69 and a ’70 GTO.
Strip Tuning Log |
| Run/Tuning |
Launch RPM |
Shift Pt. |
60-ft. |
1/8-mile |
1/4-mile |
| 1. Old bracket-race tune: 35-deg timing, 11 psi in rear tires |
2,500 |
5,200 |
1.49 |
7.00/96.22 |
11.13/118.04 |
| 4. 32-deg timing |
2,000 |
5,500 |
1.49 |
6.95/96.89 |
11.06/118.22 |
| 5. 13 psi in rear tires |
2,300 |
5,700 |
1.48 |
6.94/96.79 |
11.06/118.42 |
| 6. Same |
2,500 |
6,000 |
1.47 |
6.93/96.92 |
11.04/118.65 |
| 7. Same |
2,500 |
6,200 |
1.47 |
6.92/97.06 |
11.02/118.81 |
| Best Pass Corrected |
10.66/122.83 |
Five most interesting passes are listed.
Run Notes: 1) Good baseline, based upon prior timeslips; 4) The car likes higher rpm; 6) More rpm is even better; 7) Pushed rpms to the limit; tuning and launch technique used to create “new” race-tune. |