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Pontiac Pavement Pounders Shootout SoCal Edition, Part IV
OWNER BIO: OTTO THARP
Like Bill Bauer Jr., 49-year-old Otto Tharp, from Placentia, California, is another guy who has had a long-term relationship with his car. He originally bought it as a $100 wreck in 1975 and rebuilt and refined it until he had the show-winner you see here. "My brother had a '67 GTO and my parents owned Pontiacs, so it was a natural," he says. "After all, it is a '68 GTO!" Unlike many other shootout competitors, Otto's GTO runs hard and is also pretty luxurious. "I'm an LAPD mechanic now, but for 22 years I was a Cadillac mechanic," Otto says. "I was able to add a lot of Cadillac luxury options, like the lighted sunvisors and a complete Cadillac Twilight Sentinel system. Even though I'm fixing Fords now, my love is for Pontiac." Happily, Otto isn't the only Pontiac lover in his family. His wife, Debbie, has a '72 LeMans Sport convertible and an '02 GTP, while his daughter Kristin has a '69 GTO and a '99 Grand Am. | Strip Specs | | Year/Model: | '68 GTO | | Race Weight: | 4,110 lbs | | Curb Weight: | 3,915 lbs | | Engine: | '69 428 | | Cubic Inches Before/After: | 428 / 455 | | Compression Ratio: | 9.0:1 | | Built By: | H-O Racing | | Fuel: | 91-octane Exxon | | Carburetor: | 750-cfm Rochester Q-jet | | Jets | No. 0.072 jets, 0.397 "EJ" secondary rods | | Spacer Plate: | None | | Intake Manifold: | '72 455 HO | | Fuel System: | Mallory 140 gph with Mallory regulator, 0.375-in fuel lines | | Heads: | '72 7F6 | | Head Porting: | Yes, Air Flow Research, cfm N/A | | Valves: | 2.11/1.77 Pontiac | | Pistons: | TRW Powerforged, 4.15-in bore (428 + 0.030, std 455) | | Rings: | Speed-Pro | | Rods: | '58-'62 Forged production | | Crankshaft: | Stock 455 nodular iron | | Rotating Assembly Balanced: | Yes | | Camshaft: | H-O Racing HC-02 hydraulic flat-tappet with 232/242 deg duration at 0.050, 0.465/0.469-in lift with Comp Cams 1.5:1 roller rockers | | Camshaft Installed Position: | Advanced 5 deg | | Ignition: | GM HEI | | Total Timing: | 37 deg at 2,000 rpm | | Exhaust: | H-O Racing Tri-Y headers, 1.625-in primaries, 1.875-in secondaries, 2.5-in collectors, 3-in X-pipe, 3-in DynoMax Super Turbo mufflers | | Power Adder: | NOS Nitrous system, 125 hp | | Torque Converter: | GM/Buick switch-pitch with 1,800-rpm low and 3,000-rpm high stall speeds | | Transmission: | Turbo 400 with Trans-Go shift kit | | Shifter: | Stock GTO His and Hers | | Rearend/Final Drive: | GM 12-bolt with 3.08 gears, Safe-T-Track | | Brakes Front: | GM 12-in discs | | Brakes Rear: | GM 11-in drums | | Wheels/Tires Front: | Pontiac Trans Am 16x8-in Crosslace / BFG Comp TA 255/50VR-16 | | Wheels/Tires Rear: | Centerline 15x8 / M/T 28x10.5x15 slicks | | Tire Pressure Front/Rear: | 40 psi / 22 psi | | Suspension Front: | B-body front spindles, H-O Racing Strong Arm springs and 1.375-in sway bar, KYB shocks | | Suspension Rear: | H-O Racing Strong Arm springs, No-Hop bars and 1.375-in sway bar, KYB shocks, boxed lower control arms, rubber bushings | | Chassis Modifications: | None | | Interior Modifications: | Auto Meter gauges, Monster tach with shift light, Cadillac Twilight Sentinel, cruise control, chromatic rearview mirror and lighted sunvisors | | Exterior Modifications: | Chrome moldings removed | | Safety Modifications: | Stock seatbelts, driveshaft safety loop | | Custom Computer Programming: | None | | Launch Technique: | Footbrake, 1,300-1,500 rpm | | Best ET/MPH Prior to Event (1/4 Mile): | 12.29 at 114 sea level with N2O, 13.40 at 104 without | | STRIP TUNING LOG | | Run | Tuning | Launch RPM | Shift Point | 60-FT | 1/8-Mile ET/MPH | 1/4 E.T./MPH | Corrected 1/4-Mile | | 1. | 0.397 EJ rods, 37 deg timing, 22 psi slicks | 1,500 | 4,900 | 1.98 | N/A | 14.31/95.77 | 13.85/98.99 | | 2. | Same, except 21 psi slicks | 1,700 | 4,900 | 1.95 | N/A | 14.00/96.67 | 13.55/99.92 | | 3. | Same, except 0.527 rods | 1,700 | 4,900 | 1.98 | N/A | 14.04/96.21 | 13.58/99.45 | | 4. | Same, except timing 39 deg | 1,800 | 4,900 | 1.97 | N/A | 14.05/96.36 | 13.59/99.60 | | 5. | Same, except 20.5 psi slicks, loosen belts, use high stall | 2,200 | 4,900 | 1.93 | N/A | 13.83/97.09 | 13.38/100.36 | | Notes: No nitrous was used at shootout |
Pontiac G6 Research
When looking for your next vehicle, think about the Pontiac G6, a stylish car with nice features. The G6 has a $1,250.00 cash rebate, which will help you save money on your next new car purchase. It can seat 5 people comfortably. You may also be interested in the Pontiac Solstice and the Pontiac Vibe.
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