Owner Bio: Hubert "Hubbe" Olofsson
A native of Sweden, Hubbe now lives in Corona, California, and runs a transmission shop that is quite popular with the local Pontiac racers. He also has, without a doubt, one of the most unusual Pontiacs to ever line up to a Christmas Tree. It started life as a '69 Firebird convertible, but has become something much more unique. "The car was acquired through a trade for a radiator!" Hubbe says. "From what was once a stack of tubes and a blueprint,(with the help of an Alston chassis kit), emerged my own creation. It is special to me because it represents personal freedom. It's different from anything out there and was handmade, not bolted together." Fifty-two-year-old Hubbe also shares the driving duties with his girlfriend, Lisa Ann Paul, who has been racing for a year now. From the looks of it, she's hooked on racing. "Even now when I see the win light," she says, "it feels like the first time!"
| Strip Specs |
| Year/Model: | '69 Firebird roadster |
| Race Weight: | 2,350 lbs |
| Curb Weight: | 2,170 lbs |
| Engine: | '70 455 |
| Cubic Inches Before/After bore: | 455/469 |
| Compression Ratio: | 11.5:1 |
| Built By: | Hubbe, machine work by Dougan's Engine & Machine Shop in Riverside, CA |
| Fuel: | 112-octane Sunoco |
| Carburetor: | 1050 Holley Dominator |
| Jets: | No. 93/No. 93 |
| Spacer Plate: | 1 in |
| Intake Manifold: | Edelbrock Victor |
| Fuel System: | Holley Blue 120 gph, 1/2-in lines |
| Heads: | '70 No. 13 |
| Head Porting: | By Hubbe, flows 290 cfm on intake |
| Valves: | 2.11/1.77 Manley stainless |
| Pistons: | TRW forged, 4.21-in bore |
| Rings: | TRW Moly |
| Rods: | '58-'62 forged production |
| Crankshaft: | Stock nodular iron '70 455 |
| Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes |
| Camshaft: | Crane hydraulic flat-tappet, 260/268-deg duration at 0.050, 0.540/0.558-in lift with Isky 1.65:1 roller rockers, 108-deg LSA |
| Installed Position: | 4 deg retarded |
| Ignition: | GM HEI |
| Total Timing: | 36 deg at 3,000 rpm |
| Exhaust: | Custom owner-built headers, 2.25-in primaries, 4-in collectors |
| Power Adder: | None |
| Converter: | Coan 10-in lockup, 3,500 stall |
| Transmission: | Hubbe Special Turbo 350 with lockup |
| Shifter: | B&M Quicksilver |
| Rear: | GM 12-bolt, 3.90 gears, spool, Strange axles |
| Brakes Front: | GM 10.9-in discs |
| Brakes Rear: | Stock 9.5-in drums |
| Wheels/Tires Front: | Centerline 15x4-in / Eagle Moroso 15x5-in |
| Wheels/Tires Rear: | Centerline 15x13-in / Eagle Moroso slicks 15x32.5x15-in |
| Tire Pressure Front/Rear: | 40 psi / 6.6 psi |
| Suspension Front: | Complete Alston Mustang II, coilover shocks |
| Suspension Rear: | Alston four-link, coilover shocks |
| Chassis Modifications: | Alston frame kit, 12-point rollcage |
| Interior Modifications: | Aluminum panels fabricated by Lars & Anders Bloomberg of Valley Center, CA |
| Exterior Modifications: | Custom nose made from the mold of a Fourth-Gen Firebird. Scoop was handmade by Hubbe. Custom paint by Possi Kalunki and the Bloomberg brothers Custom graphics by Rick Morgan. |
| Safety Modifications: | Driveshaft safety loop, competition harness by Race Cars & Stuff of Escondido, CA; rollcage, SFI-approved drivetrain parts |
| Computer Programming: | RPM activator chipped at 5,600-rpm lockup |
| Launch Technique: | Footbrake launch at 2,800 rpm |
| Best ET/MPH Prior to Event (1/4 Mile): | 10.31 at 130.11 |
| STRIP TUNING LOG |
| Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8 E.T./MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH | Corrected 1/4 Mile |
| 1. | 36 deg timing | 3,000 | 5,000 | 1.46 | 6.80 | 10.70/124.98 | 10.36/129.19 |
| 2. | Same | 3,500 | 5,000 | 1.46 | 6.80 | 10.70/125.30 | 10.36/129.53 |
| 3. | Same | 3,000 | 5,000 | 1.46 | 6.76 | 10.64/125.57 | 10.30/129.80 |
| 4. | Same, except 5.5 psi in right slick, 6 psi in left | 3,000 | 5,000 | 1.45 | 6.78 | 10.69/124.88 | 10.34/129.09 |
| 5. | Same | 3,000 | 5,000 | 1.45 | 6.82 | 10.75/124.25 | 10.40/128.43 |
| Run Analysis: 1) good first run!; 2) tried higher launch rpm--did nothing; 3) did a longer burnout; 4) better 60-ft.; 5) could always do better |