What class does this supercharged / stick Thunderbird fall in?

[Fred Holdorf]

Jeff, My 1964 NHRA Classification Guide says: '57 T-bird Convertible @ 10.47 pwFt. That's 3141 pounds. (natural "E" class car). The T-85 trans was strong enough in the old days, and there are C-4 to "Y" Block bellhousings. Spec was 6# boost @ 4600 RPM's and 1# more for each 1000 RPM's. Would the powers that be, allow a superceded blower?

Interesting, Fred

[treessavoy]

I believe Amos Minter, TBird restorer extraordinaire, has one for a quarter of a million then all you have to do is convert it to a race car, hand build ALL of your racing parts, test, build more expensive parts and have a race car.......simple!

JimR

[michael mercer]

My best friend, Charles Venoski, and his father Stanley. This car was the two four barrel version but was available with the supercharger. I think the carbed version was 290 hp. This car was run at Marion, il; Sturgis, ky;Alton,il during the very early 60's.

[BlueOval Ralph]

Dual quads were rated at 270 hp std cam and 285 with the E-2 cam which was used later in the Blower cars as I rememer the E-2 cam was also a Pontiac option in 57 or 58 and the E2 was a Isky grind that several of the Auto companys used

Originally Posted by michael mercer

My best friend, Charles Venoski, and his father Stanley. This car was the two four barrel version but was available with the supercharger. I think the carbed version was 290 hp. This car was run at Marion, il; Sturgis, ky;Alton,il during the very early 60's.

[bill dedman]

If I remember right, the '57 Tri Power Pontiacs had a dealer-installed option of a solid lifter cam. It may have been an Isky e-2 or e-3.... I dunno. Maybe someone else will remember that. I think this was in the pre-McKellar days...

One such vehicle, owned by Tulsa's John Zink won the top stock class at the '57 NHRA Nationals in Oklahoma City, that year. I think he ran 96 MPH, on street tires, with mufflers, and with the air cleaner on.

"Stock" meant STOCK, in those days.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

If I remember right, the '57 Tri Power Pontiacs had a dealer-installed option of a solid lifter cam. It may have been an Isky e-2 or e-3.... I dunno. Maybe someone else will remember that. I think this was in the pre-McKellar days...

One such vehicle, owned by Tulsa's John Zink won the top stock class at the '57 NHRA Nationals in Oklahoma City, that year. I think he ran 96 MPH, on street tires, with mufflers, and with the air cleaner on.

"Stock" meant STOCK, in those days.

Isky E-2 with solid lifters.

[bill dedman]

Thanks, Terry.

I HOPE NHRA brings these Pontiacs back along with the Chevies, whewn they do this.

Those, along with the blown Ford and Studes, would sure make for some interesting racing!!!

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by Fred Holdorf

Jeff, My 1964 NHRA Classification Guide says: '57 T-bird Convertible @ 10.47 pwFt. That's 3141 pounds. (natural "E" class car). The T-85 trans was strong enough in the old days, and there are C-4 to "Y" Block bellhousings. Spec was 6# boost @ 4600 RPM's and 1# more for each 1000 RPM's. Would the powers that be, allow a superceded blower?

Interesting, Fred

...only if that blower company is the "Official Blower Co. of the NHRA"....LOL

[Tony Janes]

The big problem is there are no 1957 Fords in the class guide

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Tony Janes

The big problem is there are no 1957 Fords in the class guide

All of these old combos were in the old Red binder class guide. Someone must have kept a copy?