Factory stock 69 at the track
 

Over the weekend we took my 69 GTO to a track night at Famoso Raceway outside of Bakersfield. This Mayfair maize 69 has only 65k miles on the clock, I’ve owned it for over 25 years. As far as I can tell the heads have never been off.

Geeteeohguy and I opened it up a few years ago to replace the nylon timing gear, rear main seal and oil pan gasket. Still has the ‘P’ stamped 067 cam, log manifolds, 2” compression bent exhaust system to the unequal length mufflers and resonators.

Also factoring into the performance are the Cliff rebuilt Q-jet, Turbo 400 with 3.55 Safe-t-track gears.

I took it down the track three times with each run being in the 14.8 @ 94.# mph range. I was hoping it would get deeper into the 14s but it was still 90 degrees at 11pm. Famoso Raceway is at about 600 feet but the guy in the pits next to me said the DA was 3400 feet. Here’s a video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LdYUJ8pwapA

I think that is very close to what the average stocker ran off the showroom floor. I'd be happy with that.

Very nice.

Sounds like somebody got on the brakes after crossing the finish line.

I ran a similar 14.6 in 1977 with my “same as yours” stock 69 GTO. I think we had better gas back then.
I vaguely remember my 60ft time being crap because I had worn Sears tires on the rear. With some better slicks or todays drag radials I think i could have gone a little quicker

Really cool video! If you want to go faster get ready for it to snowball................

A good 2 1/2 mandrel exhaust would drop it as much as .5

My best friend doesn't live far from that track and always talked about the hot rod show they have there every year. Lucky you got to your nylon timing gear before it failed. When they do, most times the engine bends valves. The heads on my GTO were off because of this but I changed the timing chain and gears myself when I bought it. Not a bad time for a 400 Turbo with 3.55 gears. Hope you keep it original and stock as it is now!!!

So cool-You drove around him. Thats Bad Ass

GT

Totally agree with John! That's a good running GTO with a YS 400 in that heat and DA. I bet very low 14's at close to 100 mph are in very easy reach with a good exhaust system, tuning, and sticky(er) repop G70x14 Goodyears or Firestones.

Love the video!

Dennis

Electric fuel pump alone may pusher into the 13s

I appreciate the feedback! It was a ton of fun bringing the car to the track. Nice being able to stomp on it and not have to worry about flashing lights in the rear view mirror.

My favorite event to follow is the PSMCDs - I’d love to participate but I’m 2500 miles away. Sounds like some improvements can be made to the exhaust and still be considered stock.

Looking forward to heading back to the track at the end of summer, hopefully get some cooler weather.

Great vid!!
My first time in the staging lanes I was pooping myself. Got my slip and got right back in line

Nice video and comments. Always wanted to do a pass or three and hope to someday soon.

Decent ET for a stock GTO. Always fun staging and making passes at the track!

My friend worked at a local dragstrip in the late 60's. Bone stock base engine 68-70 GTO's ran 92 to 98 mph with 68 auto AC cars (they had 2.93 axles) at the lower end and 4speed no AC cars at the top end of that range.

Back in the mid '70's at the high school drags at US131 (Martin) Dragway there was a '70 Palladium silver with black top & interior GTO with the 3 speed manual trans that was running 14.30's/.40's at 98/99 mph. It was the quickest pure stock car there (log manifolds and quiet dual exhaust...no glass packs or cherry bombs). To say we were all impressed is an understatement, more like envious (read jealous!) and all near a half second slower...with headers! That car made quite an impression...don't know where it was from, or went, or where it is today...we never saw it again. I'm sure it didn't have A/C either.

Dennis

Thanks for posting, nice to see results from factory stuff, a rare treat and honest look from the past.

From what I understand the 68-69 GTO's with no box's checked came standard with a 3.23 for A/C equipped cars, while non A/C cars were produced with a 3.55.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the 3 speed Heavy Duty manual was also included as standard equipment, rare to see as it was often optioned out, unlike rear ends.

Now that's not saying there were not exceptions, but as a general rule of production those were the running gear sets offered and installed as standard use.




Frank

In 69 auto AC cars with the base engine had the 3.23 axle but in 67-68 AC automatic cars used 2.93 axles.. earlier years (64-66) auto air cars used 3.08 axles.

Btw, 67-68 400 HO cars that had automatic and AC did have 3.23 gears. In all three years Manual trans cars with AC all used 3.23 gears also (base engines and the 67-68 HO’s and 69 RA engine)

Back in 1977…. They didn’t give you a 60 foot time on your ticket…..at least they didn’t at New England Dragway ….here in Epping NH.. All you got was ET….MPH…and win or lose

News to me, I thought they stopped that behavior in 67, never seen a 2.93 in a 68, then again I've never owned a A/C car, always a manual as well.

That had to be a huge additional detriment to the performance of 68 A/C cars, 'intended no doubt', thanks for the correction, my lips are sealed.




Frank

My AC 1967 GTO TH 400 …has a 3:23 posi

I use 3.23's with the early Muncie 2.56 gear set but everyone has to decide what works best for them, an all around nice gear regardless.

If your car is stock it has a factory 2" exhaust system which was standard for auto equipped cars.

The manual transmission cars were equipped with a 2-1/4" system, the manifold was the same.

This could be a viable option to enhance exhaust performance and still be considered stock.




Frank

3.23 is a great gear I think for street driven GTOs, very noticeable performance increase over the 2.93 a very little perceptible increase in RPM.

Anyway ... for my "stock" automatic GTO I used stock logs with the ports cleaned up and the outlet opened up to 2 1/4" and a 2 1/4" exhaust system. Also removed the flapper. Hopefully that will make it breath a bit easier.