1957 Pontiac Chieftain - HPP One-Man Pavement Pounders Shootout!

As part of the event, High Performance Pontiac normally hosts the Pavement Pounders Shootout, which allows at least one lucky racer the opportunity to appear in the magazine. This year we debut a returning racer who embraces the go-fast attitude of Pontiac’s original high-performance management team. Let’s meet him.

Mark Crutcher of Fremont, California, is a long-time Pontiac performance fan, and dates this passion back to the brand’s earliest attempts to dominate NASCAR in the mid-’50s. More than five decades later, he follows Pontiac General Manager Bunkie Knudsen’s edict, “Let’s go racing.” His ’57 Chieftain two-door hardtop features a 455, Edelbrock heads, and a Turbo 400.

Weather Report

The temperature at Speedworld during our Shootout ranged from 83.8 to 90 degrees. Barometric pressure was measured at 29.77 hg and the dew point was 36.7 degrees. The track is 1,470 feet above sea level and density altitude ranged from 3,561 to 4,064 feet, so we give Mark a correction factor, based upon the density altitude at the time of his best pass. That occurred at 2:02 p.m. with a density altitude of 3,869 feet, so he will receive an altitude-correction factor of 0.9523 for e.t. and 1.0507 for mph. The correction factors are designed to chart the theoretical best performance at sea level and will be done on the best pass only, based on e.t.

Strip Specs

Induction System
Air Cleaner: Stock (removed when racing)
Carburetor: Quadrajet 750-cfm
Jets: Primary (0.074 jets, 0.047 rods) / secondary “E” hanger, 0.052 rods
Spacer Plate: No
Intake Manifold: 455 H.O., ports matched to gaskets

Fuel System
Pump: Holly Blue
Lines: 1⁄2-inch
Regulator: 6.5 psi

Heads
Casting: Edelbrock 72cc, prepared by Butler Performance
Head Porting: Yes, ports matched to gaskets
Flow Numbers: N/A
Valves: Ferrea stainless steel, 2.11-/1.77-in

Bottom End
Pistons: CP Pistons, 0.060 overbore, forged-aluminum, flat-top
Rings: Tri City Competition, file-to-fit 5⁄64, 5⁄64, 3⁄16
Rods: 502 corporate GM, 6.800-in
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Crankshaft: Stock nodular-iron 4.223-in (0.013 offset ground and journals sized for Chevy rods)
Rotating Assembly Balanced: Yes

Camshaft
Brand: Comp Cams solid-roller
Duration at 0.050: 258/258-deg
Duration Advertised: N/A
Lift With Specified Rocker Arms: 0.639/0.630-in
Lobe Separation Angle: 110-deg
Installed Position: 108-deg
Rocker Arms: Comp Cams aluminum roller 1.50:1

Exhaust
Headers: Custom-made by Greg Holman, Kingman, AZ
Primaries: 1.875-in
Collectors: 3.00-in
Exhaust Pipes: 2.50-in
Mufflers: Spintech
Crossover: None

Drivetrain
Transmission: Turbo 400
Converter: PPC 8-in, 5,200-stall
Shifter: Stock
Rear: Stock with ’60 Pontiac differential
Rear Gear Ratio: 3.90:1
Posi: Yes
Axles: ’59 Oldsmobile clipped 1⁄4-in

Chassis and Suspension
Brakes F/R: Stock power-assist drums
Wheels F/R: Aftermarket chrome “Smoothie” 14x5.5 / black Chevrolet 15x7 police interceptor wheels for slicks
Tires F/R: American Beauty 215/75R14 / Goodyear 9/30R-15 Slicks
Tire Pressure F/R: 40/20 psi
Suspension Front
Springs: Stock
Shocks: Stock
Control Arms: Stock
Stabilizer Bar: None
Other Features: None
Suspension Rear
Springs: Stock
Shocks: Stock
Stabilizer Bar: None
Other Features: Lakewood traction bars for ’68 Firebird modified to fit

The Rest
Interior Mods: None
Exterior Mods: None
Safety Mods: Seatbelts, fire extinguisher, Powermaster PowerGen alternator
Color: Body Sheffield Gray, top and “arrow” are Chateau Gray
Launch Technique: Foot Brake to 2,000 rpm
Best 1⁄8-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: N/A
Best 1⁄4-mile ET/MPH Prior to Event: 11.56/117