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super
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Sullivan, Missouri
1974 Super Duty TransAm
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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The nostalgia cars are very impressive. Joe Zajac, Larry Kaufmann and Rick Johnson all have unique Pontiacs that run as good as they look.
I believe all three of these guys run Wenzler aluminum heads. They actually have some fairly strict guidelines on the Nostalgia circuit.
Joe's '63 was running 9.80's. WOW!! This big Pontiac is breath-taking.
Rick Johnson has ran as quick as 8.83 with his '62 Catalina. This car is making some serious horsepower. He was running a new drivetrain combo and was eating the tires off the back. He kept experimenting with tire pressures since he had increased his rear slick size. He was also running a Liberty Transmission this year. Eight second passes with a 3200lb car is very impressive.
There was a twin turbo 1961 Catalina at the track with a 400 mill. This car has supposedly ran some 7's in the quarter-mile. I would like to have witnessed this. My friend told me about the car, but I was unable to see what all he was running.
Wish I could have watched the racing action, but I had my hands full between my friend Scott's car and mine.
I was upset with the number of entries running Chevrolet powerplants. There was a 1979 Firebird running a Reher-Morrison big block Chevy as well as other running Chevy power. That is O.K. though because my friend Scott took out the Chebby with his mid-nine second Tempest. |
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super
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Sullivan, Missouri
1974 Super Duty TransAm
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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We have ran as quick as 9.70 with a 428 block and 1972 7F6 HO heads. We were running a ron's flying toilet.
There are actually a lot of guys squeezing in the 9's with cast iron Pontiac blocks with an assortment of heads cast iron to aluminum). I was really impressed with a fella running a 1964 LeMans with a 455, D-port heads and a flying toilet. The car ran 9.50's.
Seems the largest majority of the quick 16 run IA blocks, etc. Wish I had more time to walk through the pits and check out the combinations.
You are probably correct about the nostalgia cars. Several years back, many ran 127 or 980 heads with bathtub intakes. I saw many cars running impressive numbers.
Selden's '63 Tempest ran a 421 block, 980 heads and a bathtub intake (borrowed from Randy Williams) and ran low tens and an occasional 9.90 pass. I thought that was cooking!!!
Did you build engines for the D-Mac 1964 Tempest and the Classical Gas 1964 Tempest? Both of these cars ran strong. Unfortunately, neither were at Norwalk this year.
What are some of the faster cast iron Pontiac block powered cars you have watched? |
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super
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Sullivan, Missouri
1974 Super Duty TransAm
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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Did you build the engine for Mac Donalds 1962 Pontiac? I remember seeing it at Norwalk the last two years. Believe it ran low 9's?
The car caught my attention immediately since I am a huge fan of the '62 Catalina body style. I am sure the car was extremely light.
The '64 was always a top performer when I saw it several years ago. I ran across it in Cordova, Ill at a very young age and many other all Pontiac events.
You had a '65 GTO that weighed in close to 3600lbs that ran in the 9's didn't you Bruce? What engine did you run in this tank? |
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Larry Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 4774
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:24 am Post subject: Engine Builder |
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You guys get way deeper into the racing angles than I am familar with. I never got much past blowing up a transmission or two from the stop lights!
Speaking of "Dan" the engine builder, you mention Minnesota. Could it have been Dan Whitmore from Waukesha, Wisconsin? I haven't heard of him for ages. He used to be the Pontiac engine "talk of the town" when I lived in the Milwaukee area. But, like is often the case (when you are good at what you do), everyone wanted his work and his delivery times went into years (from what I heard). He was a nice guy, I hope he is still doing well.
Larry |
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Larry Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 4774
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: Broadway Bob |
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Broadway Bob-- now there is a man who knows how to have fun. We had a Pontiac club Halloween costume party one time back in (I'm guessing) 1981. Some guy showed up in an outer space get-up complete with destructo-ray gun and everything, and partied all night... hard! He wouldn't tell anyone who he was until the end of the (late) evening.... yup! It was Broadway Bob. That was back in the days when he was involved with Great Lakes Dragway as an announcer or track manager, or something. It's guys like him who had fun... and intergrity. It was all about the hobby and fun, not egos. |
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super
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Sullivan, Missouri
1974 Super Duty TransAm
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Definitley not a fan of the Ponte-Carlo. I really despise this car. How many of us Pontiac fans really want to see a Pontiac powered Chevrolet. At least build something we can all enjoy.
Wangers ran a 1974 Trans-Am for a while. At least I could relate to this. It ran the bottle, but at least it was a Pontiac.
I definitely remember the D-Mac and Classical Gas cars. Both beautful cars. The Cordova races were always fun. Heck, they were almost show cars.
I remember the Classical Gas car being from Springfield, MO. Saw it at Kansas last year at the Wilhite's race. Running in the mid 9's. |
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johnta1
Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 25
1973 TransAm
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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I guess I'll post just to keep you guys awake.
I still run a traditional Pontiac block.
Sometimes the cranks too.
Usually run a 463 (stroked 400 block)
but have ran a 400 and 455 engines.
My brother runs a 400 engine with TRW pistons in his. _________________ http://www.wallaceracing.com/
Pontiac Power RULES !!! |
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johnta1
Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 25
1973 TransAm
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Larry Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 4774
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:57 am Post subject: 326 vs. 454 |
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Sounds like a "Jack the Giant Killer" story in the making.
Keep us posted on the prep and what you do to achieve this (note I said "achieve"!!). We're pullin' for ya! |
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Larry Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 4774
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject: Automatic Responses |
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Great! Now if we could only get the automatic checking account withdrawals to work! |
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