Here's the 463-cube power-plant...
Here's the 463-cube power-plant back in the bay. Even with the A/C removed, the A-body checks in at 4,200-pounds without the driver.
| Cam |
| Brand | Crane solid roller |
| Duration at 0.050 | 252/256-deg |
| Lift | 0.598/0.560 gross, 0.578/0.540 net |
| Lobe Separation Angle | 112-deg |
| Installed Position | Degreed to cam card by retarding 4 deg |
| Lifters Brand | Crower roller |
| Valvesprings | Comp Cams dual with damper |
| Seat Pressure | 165 psi |
| Open Pressure | 425 psi |
| Timing Chain | Rollmaster -0.002-in, double-roller prestreched |
The big heavy LeMans nose...
The big heavy LeMans nose comes up on launch as the drag radials dig in.
| Induction |
| Dyno Carb | Holley 850 4781 |
| Dyno Jets | No. 83/80 |
| Mods | Notched rear float, jet extensions |
| Intake Manifold | Torker II single-plane |
| Mods | Port-matched only |
| Ignition |
| Distributor | MSD Pro-Billet |
| Amplifier | MSD 6AL |
| Coil | MSD Blaster 2 |
| Wires | MSD |
| Total Timing | 36-deg |
Screaming toward the top end...
Screaming toward the top end at Atco, the LeMans ran high-11s on this unseasonably warm 70-degree November day at the Pontiac Fall Nats.
| Exhaust |
| Dyno Headers | Hooker 1.75-in primaries, 3-in collectors |
At The Strip
Once the engine was bolted back in the LeMans, Bill returned to the track. Though the Pontiac was quick at Atco Raceway where we photographed it, the best pass came at Bill's home track--Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. Footbraking to between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm, Bill matted the gas pedal on the last yellow. The 1-2 and 2-3 shifts were made at 6,000, and at the traps the clock showed 11.78 at 113.15. This was a substantial performance improvement.
| Before And After Drag Test Results |
| Best | Old Combo | New Combo | Improvement |
| 60-ft | 1.70 | 1.62 | .08 |
| ¼-mile | 12.54 | 11.78 | .76 |
| Best trap speed | 107 | 113.15 | 5.15 |
Engine Changes From The Old Combo To The New
For review, the original 12.54 e.t. combo ran a Demon 850 carb on a JTES-modified Holley Dominator intake manifold, and head flow was 230 cfm.
The new combo runs a Holley 850 DP carb; a Torker II intake with a port match; a Wilson 1-inch carb spacer; the flow of 6X heads has been increased to 255 cfm; the pistons were thermal-barrier-coated by Swain Technology; and the block was partially filled with Rokblock. The same cam was retained but was retarded 4 degrees using an offset cam key.