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SD455DJ · 06-07-2019, 09:07 PM

Here are some pictures of Dan's T-37 just purchased and in the new owners garage before conversion into an NHRA stock class racer…….Enjoy!

Dennis

Diego · 06-07-2019, 09:51 PM

Gee, it looks the same!

SD455DJ · 06-07-2019, 10:02 PM

Hey Diego! You noticed that too...very astute observation my friend! Dan dug these up today and its been a long time since I've seen then. He also has pictures shortly after it was converted to a stock class racer. I hope to post some of those next week sometime. Notice the standard F78-14 blackwell belted tires on the Castilian Bronze steel wheels?

Dennis

Jack Peters · 06-09-2019, 10:44 AM

Mine had dark green wheels. Not black or silver. I thought they were black until I was washing them.
These old pictures tell the original story of how they really looked.
Dan told me he lusted (my word not his) after that car from day one when he first saw it and bugged the owner until he finally got it.
Original pictures tell the story and mistakes from the factory. Dan needs to tell the story about how he got the car.

tripower · 06-09-2019, 11:42 AM

Extremely cool! Those F78-14’s wouln’t of lasted long anyways. Sure it was fun to drive home from the dealer

Pepper Judge · 06-09-2019, 01:36 PM

Cool ride... My first car was a 71 T-37 also, less the 455 HO unfortunately

Pictures rotated for a better view.

SD455DJ · 06-09-2019, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Peters

Mine had dark green wheels. Not black or silver. I thought they were black until I was washing them.
These old pictures tell the original story of how they really looked.
Dan told me he lusted (my word not his) after that car from day one when he first saw it and bugged the owner until he finally got it.
Original pictures tell the story and mistakes from the factory. Dan needs to tell the story about how he got the car.

Jack - Actually Dan is the 4th owner after Jim Luikens (2nd) and Scott Tiemann (3rd). We first saw the car racing the summer of 1971 at US131 Dragway at Martin, MI and rooted for them and the White Bros. (71 455HO GTO Limelight Green) in their F/SA escapades. Both cars were new at the time and Jerry B., the original owner, built a separate 455HO engine to race with, so preserved the original through the subsequent owners. With the original 455HO in place with the 3.55 factory rear, it ran 13.50's at 105 mph pure stock with just a faster curve in the distributor and richer secondary metering rods. The original motor was freshened up, but still had its original 068 cam and lifters.

Dennis

SD455DJ · 06-09-2019, 03:03 PM

Thanks Pepper Judge for fixing the picture rotation and separating them too!

Dennis

SD455DJ · 06-09-2019, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tripower

Extremely cool! Those F78-14’s wouln’t of lasted long anyways. Sure it was fun to drive home from the dealer

Thanks too, Tripower, for the compliments. I wish Jerry was still alive today to tell the stories of all the cool Pontiacs he bought new to race in the NHRA stock classes and drive. He ordered and raced a '66 421HO 2+2 with a TH400 and 4.11 rear gears that is owned by one of his good friends here locally. It ran in D/SA and was a low 13 second car. Original drivetrain still, original paint (white on black) and low miles. He also ordered a '69 428HO Catalina that is owned by his nephews, also local, but was s street car...TH400 with 3.42 rear. He ordered that instead of a GTO to keep his insurance costs low, liberty blue with blue interior, Rally II's, gauges, ps & pdb. He never raced that car, but was probably an easy mid 14 second car.

Dennis

Jack Peters · 06-09-2019, 09:32 PM

Dennis. Only one squirrelly run with about 8-9,00 miles on it with 066 , wrong cam in it. Changed the plugs and points. Had driven it to AK from Seattle area then fall of ‘71 down to CA. Sure wish it would have had the right cam but being built in Fremont who knows. Sure was fun. Now. To get it back together. Need to retire so I can work on it.

SD455DJ · 06-10-2019, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Peters

Dennis. Only one squirrelly run with about 8-9,00 miles on it with 066 , wrong cam in it. Changed the plugs and points. Had driven it to AK from Seattle area then fall of ‘71 down to CA. Sure wish it would have had the right cam but being built in Fremont who knows. Sure was fun. Now. To get it back together. Need to retire so I can work on it.

Jack - Crazy that your T-37 came with a 066 cam...must have been pulled from the bin after 'lunch', haha. Looking forward to seeing your car one day!

Here is a picture of the T-37 on one of its earlier outings at the track after the conversion to a class race car. Notice the '455' on the grill (car is about 4 months old now), the 7" cheater slicks on silver painted steel wheels (not the originals), the 4" wide Ansen slots on the front with tall tires, cool can, and the taller air filter in the stock dual snorkel air cleaner (lid off).

The track is up in Broman, MI and still exists, but not operating any longer. It was a pretty loosey goosey place with very lax tech, but you could run a lot.

So sorry about the sideways single page of pictures again. Hopefully Pepper Judge can help me out again

Dennis

SD455DJ · 06-10-2019, 07:08 AM

Here is Jerry posing with a couple of time slips (12.60's at 108 mph were typical) with his delivery truck (GMC???) support vehicle behind. This track looks like Thunderbird Raceway in northern Muskegon. The front tires look like Goodyear Front Runners, btw. Classic early '70's NHRA race car that was affordable to an everyday guy and didn't require corporate sponsors to afford to be competitive...those were the days!

Dennis

J GLASGO · 06-10-2019, 08:27 AM

Great pics! Blackwall,s look great. I would love to see the 69 Catalina!!

SD455DJ · 06-10-2019, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J GLASGO

Great pics! Blackwall,s look great. I would love to see the 69 Catalina!!

John - I may have a picture...well, actually Dan may have a picture of the Cat. I'll find out and post it if he does.

Dennis

OVERULD · 06-10-2019, 10:04 PM

Great pictures Dennis! So cool to see this car in its just-delivered condition vs. now. Very faithful restoration!

BJ

SD455DJ · 06-11-2019, 06:34 AM

Thanks BJ - Actually, that car is an all original true survivor with 00071.0 miles on the odometer. The original wheels and tires (F78-14 blackwalls) are up in the attic. Here it is on display at the Gilmore Car Museum.

Dennis