Ol' Fart's Firebird Fantasy

[Kegracing]

Oldskool,
I will be watching this with interest.
One thing to remember on the weight calculations, you have to add 170 lbs for the driver to the weight. So your 310 hp times 11.5 weight break = 3565 + 170 = 3735 lbs race weight.

I have a 67 Firebird Convertible that I run in IHRA stock, with a zz4 crate motor (G/CM). I also bracket race it. More brackets than anything last year and probably this year, as I have a son who just started Jr. Dragster racing.
Would love to build a 400 - 4 speed combo eventually, and I have a set of 670 heads and intake - 1967 only combo on the 400. But time, work, kids, money, etc. all have this on hold. My car is originally a Sprint OHC 6 car, and I have the original motor in the shed.
Good luck with your build.
There are some really knowledgeable Pontiac people on here that are always helpful. If you ask nice, sure you will get all the help you need.

Ken

Stock 412

[oldskool]

OK, lookin at it from a low budget standpoint, I need to make use of the parts I have, as much as possible. So, what I have the most of is 6x heads. They came on 350's 400's and according to NHRA even on some '76 455's.

So, using the 6x 455 that I already have built, I could run it in any of a long list of Pontiac bodies, from a TA in H/SA to a 5000 lb + wagon in Q/SA.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2107

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2107

http://www.classracerinfo.com/NHRA_Classes.aspx

Now here's where the hp factors come in. The '75 455 had 5c heads, according to NHRA. Well, they are almost identical to the 6x heads. But the '75 455 is factored 10hp lower than the '76. I gather that you would have to carry aprox 100 lbs more weight, which would = about a tenth difference in ET. Is this correct ?

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2098

And in '75, according to classracerinfo.com the 455 was not available in the TA. And cars were real heavy back then. The lightest body I could use, weighed over 4000lbs.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2098

The only advantages I can see to using a '76 TA body, besides the fact that they use 6x heads, is that they look a lot better and may be a little more aerodynamic than the '75 A-bodies, big cars and wagons. But is that worth the 10hp penalty ?

One advantage I can see for using one of the big cars is the purchase price of a good body. Most have been crushed long ago. But, if you can find one, they should be a lot cheaper than a good, '76 TA body.

So, for some of you guys who have played these hp factor and weight games, what do you see as the best option of all these '75 & '76 455 combos ?

[oldskool]

Now, here's something I found interesting. All the info I can find says that the 455 was available in late '75 TA's. I even found some pics of a restored 455 HO '75 TA.

Now they were HO in words only. There was absolutely nothing different in the TA engine and a 455 wagon engine. But anyhow, I wonder why the classracerinfo site doesn't show that it was indeed available in a '75 TA ?

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2098