Ram Air IV (041) cam world record ET list
 

I couldn't find such a list and it would be nice to have one.

I thought running 12.40s in my street car was pretty good. This was back in the early 90s. Nothing special, 1st Gen Firebird 96 heads on a 455 with 3.73 gears and slapper bars. Tires were "re-caps" , not sure they even do that anymore.

Then some guy shows up with the same combo in a 72 Ventura running 11.70s. His interior was gutted but I don't think his car was 700lbs lighter than mine. He also had a turbo 350 trans while I had a turbo 400. I was impressed considering how ratty it looked.

Anyway, curious to see how fast this famous cam has gone or even how much HP it's made if you don't have ET slips. I'm not a stickler, RWYB anything goes. Even the aftermarket variants are fine with me.

Maybe we can get Stan to create a list.

Great idea!
In terms of what you reported here though about the other fellows car how can you be 100% sure that his motor combo was really comparable to yours?

You made no mention of his 60 ft times or yours which will tell a lot.

Probably 20 years ago my 68 ran its best time ever. 12.35 @110.50. 72 455 HO thru the exhaust (headers) 2 1/2" pipes and Dr. Gas crossover. w/3:55. Don't remember what carb or intake I was always trying things. Today 12.50s with an HO intake and Cliffs Q Jet same motor. Thats letting trans shift 4,800-5,000. 20 years ago M/T 9x28x14 slicks on widened Hurst wheel 14x7. Rhoads lifters. Used to follow Jim Hand/Gary Carnivale articles in 421 club newsletter.

Does it have to be a 041 and 455 ?

In 1992 my '70 TA ran 12.815 at 105.5 mph with my numbers matching 400 engine.
Only engine modifications were those allowed by NMCA rules at the time.
Included no port work, 1.65 roller rockers, hyd cam and headers.
The cam was a Comp Magnum 380H with a similar 230 degrees intake duration.

Our NMCA weight break was at 3820 lbs. and I think we were about 60 lbs under.
3.90 gears, race tires, a B&M Hole shot converter and slapper bars.

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No way I can know for sure but he had his hood up and we talked. I could see the 96 heads and he said it was an 041 cam (pretty sure 6X heads weren't popular back then). 60ft times? Heck back then I didn't know what that was, only thing that I paid attention to was 1/4 mile ET. I couldn't even tell you the MPH. I'm still a novice racer.

It can be anything with this cam. Something tells me we're not going to find a dragster or tube chassis car running it though. I miss that pontyakir guy that would post NHRA stock/super stock results. I'm guessing one of those guys have this record.

Sorry but I already have to many lists going.

The Crower 60919 is a very close copy of the Pontiac RAIV / 041 cam. I believe Cliff R has run 11.4x with the Crower 60919.

Stan

The quickest Pontiacs at the Pure Stock Drags are the ‘69/’70 RAIV GTO’s and Firebirds as well as the ’68.5 RAII GTO’s & Firebirds. The quickest RAII is the former Rick Mahoney Firebird (TH400/4.10/3504 lbs. Meridian Turquoise) that has run 11.20’s @ 125+ mph in mineshaft air out in Maryland. At the Pure Stock Drags its quickest run has been 11.549 @ 122.16 mph in 2000’ air. The quickest RAIV GTO is John Kryta’s ’69 Judge (TH400/3.90/3790 lbs.) that ran 11.791 @ 115.88 mph in 1000’ air. Remember these times are on F70 & G70 bias belted tires. Mark Weymouth has run 12.10’s @ 116+ mph in his ’70 Judge with M21/4.33/4015 lbs. and he runs a factory RAIV (041) cam.

These engines are all built to the limits of the rules (413 cubic inches max, 12.25 (’69) or 12.00 (’70) compression, all non-altered heads/manifolds/carb/valvetrain). All had 60' times in the 1.80 - 2.00 sec. range.

Dennis

That was an impressive Summary.

Back in mid late 70s. Guys at local Keystone raceway with BB Chevies were running 10.90s with gas. A guy shows up with a 68 Firebird. A Hines racing decals on quarters. First run 10.93. It was a 455 with RAIV heads he told me it was a RAIV cam and qjet. Those Chevy guys thought it was a chevy! Car had roll bar I forget rear suspension. Front end not fibreglas or rack. I was impressed that's why I contacted Himes to do my SD.

Got to have the Hand's wagon in here somewhere.. Not sure it set a record , but for a very street capable car...
11's at over 4000lb. with 3.31s


The HPP article "Street fighting Ponchos" is still one of my all time favorites.

2007 MT article best of 11.32 @ 117 RA 4

https://www.motortrend.com/features/...-lemans-wagon/

I understand, thanks for those lists you keep track of. I refer to them often. Sometimes I have trouble finding them. Any chance you can link them in your footer? Or maybe a moderate can create a sticky in the Race section "Stan's all time best lists" ?

Maybe someone can clarify what cam Jim was running. I have it as a Wolverine WG 5059 which is a little biger than a RAIV cam based on the specs I have.

Stan

Are these actual 041 specs? I've been told the class cars can run any duration but must maintain factory lift? If so, I don't think it qualifies???

I guess I'll try to keep right here on this thread. Actually everone can participate. Just top 10, it will be an honors system. Feel to call someone out if ET seems impossible.

Just copy and paste the list, edit as necessary. Insert your time and information accordingly. I don't even have 10 yet lol.

1. Sdbob: random guy Keystone raceway 68 Firebird 10.93 GM spec 041

2. Jim Hand wagon 11.32 Wolverine WG 5059

3. Cliff R. 11.4x Crower 60919

4. Random Guy 72 Ventura 11.70s GM spec 041

5. Straycat 12.35 68 Firebird GM spec 041

6. PontiacFan 428 68 Firebird 96 heads 455 3.73 12.40s GM spec 041

7. Steve C. 70 TA 12.81 Comp Magnum 380H

You're thinking of NHRA's Super Stock. Pure Stock,
Factory Stock, and Factory Appearing Stock Tire are
an entirely different game.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1706504040

Sorry I think you are correct for the low 11 pass being a larger Wolverine grind.

This was in the MT article from 07

I should have read it closer.

A repro Ram Air IV cam controls valve-timing events and a set of 1970-vintage cast-iron heads (ported by Jim) handle the breathing chores in conjunction with a massaged factory iron intake. A tweaked Quadrajet on a homemade spacer tops the engine off. The resulting torque and power is, as Jim puts it, "adequate" to

click off high-11s reliably all day long.


I dug out the 1993 HPP article and it listed running 12.45 with opened up exhaust RA4 Rhoads lifters.

Are we sticking to a cam with 230 degrees intake duration for the list ?

As noted Jim Hand used the WG 5059 at one time, it had 234 degrees intake duration.

Sort of related, here is a interesting comment by Mr. Hand.....

"We must also understand how Pontiac applied their engines. They never installed a RAM AIR IV in a 4400 pound Bonneville because it simply would not have performed as well as a milder engine designed for that car, and they never released a High Performance engine in a vehicle with a high axle ratio such as a 2.41. Why? For best all around performance, the engine parameters, vehicle weight, axle ratio, transmission type, and the planned use must be considered."


.

Low 11s in a 2nd gen Formula with a 557 block is the best I know of. A real 400 with home ported 62 and a Victor.
Car now has a 4" stroker assembly, same heads with Warrior and small SR and runs 10.50s on a good day.

See Signature. The Octane matters:

The list should only have cars running the 041 or a reproduction of one.

Cars running a cam that’s somewhat close in specs should not be on the list, it muddies the waters and gives this thread less meaning if you’re actually trying to see who has run the quickest with the 041 cam.