GT-37s at the Pure Stock Drags
 

fellow PY member Steve C and I were finally able to line up against each other this past weekend at the 16th annual Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race in Stanton, MI. He and I have the only GT-37s to ever participate in this event. Both are 400/4bbl/4sp cars. Sadly, I choked under the pressure and missed 3rd gear, which really sucked as Steve and I were fender to fender to that point. The gods smiled on us for Sat as we were matched up against each other in the 2 out of 3 shootouts. However, Mother Nature wanted nothing to do with it as Sat was rained out.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/100_2948.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/100_2949.jpg

Those are some really nice pictures.......looks like you had alot of fun. Too bad you were rained out on Saturday. What rear axle ratio do both cars have?

Great picture. When my 1971 GT-37 gets done it will also be there to race. :)

No fair! You can't post this,and then not tell us your times!

The man makes a great point!:D

Very cool Pontiac racing machines!

mine has 3.90s like my sig show. I thought Steve had 3.55, but I remember something about 4.10. so I'm not 100% sure on his car.

ha. well, like I said I missed 3rd, so it was like a 17.71 or something like that. really not worth posting. IIRC, Steve ran a 14.65 @ 95 or so. I don't have the timeslip in front of me. Our best times during qualifying were 14.29 @ 98.40 for me and 14.39 don't recall mph for Steve. I know Steve built his motor, so he knows whats in it. Mine is the rebuild I believe from the 2nd owner (I'm the 5th owner). No clue whats it in, other than it can run fine on 87 octane, which an original 10.25:1 motor shouldn't be able to do. well, not very well at least. My car has gone a tenth quicker at the Martin race this past June, but I'm still trying to figure out how to launch a 4sp. I did post my best 60ft times on back to back runs in the right lane this weekend though. 2.19 right off the trailer then a 2.18 two runs later which was my 14.29 run. I was having a little more trouble launching in the left lane for some reason.

I've been fighting some electrical issues which may (or may not) be related to the crane xr-i I've been running. I yanked it last wed and now running a pertronix. The car seemed to run fine, but I'm not 100% certain the electrical issue is fixed. I plan to replace the dash wiring harness since it has also been spliced into (I just replaced the engine harness for the same reason). And sometime over this winter and preferably before this spring, I'll have a new engine and trans to put in the car. The engine is probably about 6-8 weeks away from hitting the dyno.

cool deal!!! the more the merrier as we had record attendance this year. I fully expect next year to be 130+ and 150+ wouldn't surprise me. I've heard a few different numbers in the 160s for total participants this year.

I was there Friday all day and had a great time. I was a spectator and wished very much so I had my car there. Not nearly as much fun sititng in the bleechers watching everyone else have a ball. Kind of like a little kid staring out the front window watching your friends play while you are gounded... My car does not qualify for stock because I run a 66 Tri Power on my 67 GTO therefore I was "grounded". Still had a very nice time and the weather on Friday was fantastic.

Tim john---

Nice times. :D

I'm jealous. I'd like to be able to do this too. Not enough $$ last year,and too busy this year. Maybe someday.
Are you running the bias ply repo's,or on radials.

Looks like a good time was had! Great photo of the two cars lined up ready to run.

BJ

repro goodyear polyglas

Cool pics.
Gotta get you some GT-37 decals on those red fenders.

Gauranteed mine will be the worst looking one there in its current condition. :)

Damn...
 

makin' me wish I'd kept my 350-2 3-speed red '71! Could have given you "big block" boys a run for your money...on the cheap!!! lol Please...just joking...no technical responses necessary. Seriously...hope to be there to play next year. If not...Ill be "warming the benches"! Thanks for sharing. Ron

yep, was working on attempting to paint the emblems on .... until the electrical gremlins took over. I ended up with only an emblem (well ok decal) on the trunklid.

Do you know anyone that makes them? I need a set (minus the "G") for my T-37. Was gonna have SweetJudge make me a set before he went MIA. I took rubbings of the letters before I had the paint done.

I have a pair of NOS GT-37 decals. I will look into getting some made if I know there is a demand. I have it scanned and the file is ready to go.
http://gt-37.org/images/GT-37Decal.jpg

I'd be in for a set- I bet gloryrestoparts would be in for a set too...

I'd take two sets. not sure when the car will get stripped, rust fixed and then repainted as I have another car to do first. so one set for now, the other when the paint and bodywork is done ..... in 2025 lol

great pic's, wish I were there racing too..... I read where my roller tips would have to be swapped out or risk dq for next seasons event. still looks like loads of fun. in the future, I would like to swap my 3;55's for a set of 3:90's. great post. SLASH:):)

Chris, Thanks for posting the pictures of our one matchup. I'm quite sure I would have lit the win light :) regardless. It would have made for some good fun on Sat. if not for the rain.
My engine is a STOCK 400 and I am running an m21 4 spd, a 12 bolt posi with 4:10 gears and BFG radial t/a.
I have run a best of 14.30 and ran 14.39 on Friday @ 98.4mph

To all who are thinking about participating in this event let me say DO IT!!! It is the most fun you will ever have with your car.

Cool picture. I'm glad your enjoying the car gloryrestoparts.

Thanks Tim. I'll get an update on the new engine tomorrow as a buddy and I are heading to Martin, MI for a fall FAST/FS race.

Chris

Hey Chris Sounds like you got it going on with the GT-37. Correct me if I'm wrong...your storing the orginal engine and putting another 400 in its place? If so I think thats a great idea to save from blowing up the orginal. Will this new engine be a WT engine? Are you taking the GT-37? Have fun.

yes, I'm storing the original VIN matching engine. The new engine will be built to the correct 70 WT specs, but the actual block is a 71 auto code (can't recall the specific code off the top of my head). This isn't an issue for the Pure Stock and Factory Stock Drag racing. Sadly, no I didn't bring my car (wish I did as a lot of guys ran personal bests). It was a 2 day event, but I had other plans on Sat so couldn't bring my car.

btw Tim, I almost did blow up the original engine a couple years ago. Got REAL lucky. Only damage was a cracked balancer (in the keyway) which has since been replaced and the bottom end was checked out too. Then the motor was dyno'd. And I know people are going to ask so, the build by the second owner put out just under 300hp and the power dropped off the table after 5000rpm as the valve springs are shot.

Wow Even with the motor being alittle weak 14.29 is pretty damn good. I'm looking forward in the progress of the car. I bet you'll dip into the 13 second range with no problem with the new engine.

did a little TnT at US41 in Morocco, IN yesterday. This track hooks!!! 5 runs, 60 foot times were 2.16, 2.12, 2.15, 2.10, 2.08 got the et down to a 14.10 @ 98.82. all this with a pretty good headwind too.

Great times! I wonder if you had the high barometric pressure down there too? I have run my car in the cold before,and the MPH always goes up,but not like yesterday. I posted times in the other thread. I think it was a combination of high pressure and cool air in my case.
I always ask the 4-speed guys this,but I don't know if I asked you before. What is your launch technique? I've tried picking various RPM's and letting off the clutch quickly and also tried feathering the clutch slightly and rolling into the throttle,playing with tire pressures,burnout time length.ect and just can't get my 60' better than 2.2. It has improved over the last few years,but still fighting traction!
I dream of the day I have your 60'!

I'm still learning to launch a 4sp. My best times prior to yesterday was 2.17. At Stanton and Martin (Pure Stock and Factory Stock races) I can consistently do 2.20s, not that great. When I dip into the 2.teens I'm happy. I rev to 1500rpm and then go. Sometimes I have to peddle depending on what happens. US41 is a track which is known to have a great starting line. So I decided to try rev to 2000 and just dump the clutch and go. She hooked and went each time. I even tried 2200 on the last one, same thing.

I'm running repro bias plys, which I know are much easier to get traction back when you start to spin. Street radials are a bit harder to get them back to hooking after you spin. Only thing I can recommend is practice. Lots and lots of practice.

love hearing about the car and all the fun your having with it chris. id love to make it up sometime to see it again.

thx adam. she is a LOT of fun.

thats what its all about!!

a few pics from the US41 track photographer

from 11/7
http://artactiongraphics.com/2010_Tr...0/IMG_8164.jpg

http://artactiongraphics.com/2010_Tr...0/IMG_8165.jpg


from 11/28
http://artactiongraphics.com/2010_Tr...0/IMG_9705.jpg

http://artactiongraphics.com/2010_Tr...0/IMG_9709.jpg

I am interested in the hood pins you have. Are they held on by clip or lock? Do you know where you bought them?
Matt

the studs or pins are screwed into the core support. the scuff plates on the hood are held on with 4 screws each. The clips and lanyards were missing when I bought the car, but they bolt on near the grills and then the clips slide through the pins. they came with the car as they are part of the GT-37 option from the factory. Another thread in here has a bunch of pics of mine and a post 70 GT-37 as were we comparing them. We believe they are Mopar A & E body hood pin assemblies.

Thanks for the info. I didn't know it was an option on the GT-37. We're putting on a fiberglass hood and need it to be pinned down on all 4 corners.

Are there springs under the hood pins? Or is the center spring retained? Or is a spring not needed at all?

It is not an option on the GT-37 it is part of the GT package.

All springs are retained. It is just a T-37 hood with hood pins installed.

If you ordered hood pins on a 70 GTO (through the accessory catalogue), I think that's what you got too. My 70 GTO was delivered to it's first owner with them and I've long thought they were the Mopar pieces.

Stu

It was a stand alone option for all 3 years, I believe but was part of the GT package all 3 years.
'70-'72 (GT-37 and LeMans GT)

Misconception with some younger fans is that the T-37 and GT-37 are same package/trim/etc. But, the T-37 was new name for base Tempest model, not a performance pack as GT.

It was not a perormance pack but an apperarance pack on the T-37 2 dr ht in '71 and on the Tempest T-37 2 dr post or ht in '70. Only real 'performance' in the package was the Hurst shifter for the 3 speed and the 3 speed was a hd unit.


Any engine option on the GT-37 was also on the T-37 2 dr. They just tried to make it look like a GTO wannabe.


It was like the 'Heavy Chevy'.

I would think potential buyers would see the standard GT-37, dual exhaust with chrome tips, sport mirrors, hood pins, Hurst T, and stripes as both performance and appearance.

A post T-37 vs GT-37 just looks better and faster. IMHO

It may not be true but that was the marketing behind it.

Also, base engine on the GT-37 was the 2bbl 350, while base on the T-37 was the six banger.

The GT-37 was meant to be a sporty car for someone that couldn't afford a GTO or the insurance on a GTO.

You remember the Heavy Chevy too?
I knew of 2 around my neighborhood back in the 70's. Nobody else has ever heard of them.

And what goatless said.... Insurance was the muscle car killer back then.

True - but for me, my Dad was the Muscle Car Killer! He wouldn't let me have a GTO so I got the 71 LeMans with the 350 2V, bench, column shift, wheel covers...and had to share it with my sister! I guess it could have been worse - a T37 with a six banger would have been humiliating to a 16 year old "wannabe GTO driver". But, thanks to my Dad's foresight and far superior knowledge, I am here today, alive and well...Thanks Dad!

BJ

Hood pins
 

Hood pins were included in the GT-37 option for 1970-71, but not included in the LeMans GT option for '72. They were available separately all three years as a dealer-installed accessory. I believe that the only Pontiacs to ever come from the factory with hood pins were the 1970-71 GT-37s.

72 LeMans order form:
http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1679
http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1682

70 Accessories Catalog:
http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=973

71 Accessories Catalog:
http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1047

72 Accessories catalog:
http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1101

BJ, I bet the T-37 w/1 bbl straight six with three on the tree kept a few teenagers for opting for that car...

Not sure how a dad wouldn't view a standard GT-37 as performance compared to the standard T-37?

I forgot about the wheel/tire combo too.