Hello All out there.
Another long post but, good informative reading for the real Pontiac person.
Happy New Year everybody! I see some posts here worth commenting on and are also worth adding to this topic so, here goes.
*Jim Yanoski, thank you for your post here dated 12-23 (and wishing me well on my events) but, respectfully, how can you be described as a “hard core Pontiac man” when you also state in the same post that “ they are not for me at this time?” This is unclear and potentially misleading. Please explain, I am not being critical, I just don‘t know you. I would not describe myself as a Pontiac man if I also said it wasn‘t meant for me at this time.
* On Pontiac engine sizes, others have been overlooked; namely the ‘58 370 (4.06” bore and 3.625” stroke) with a forged crank and overbore capability. This engine could be a real animal. Also, like it or not the 301 -265 is a Real Pontiac. How could you say otherwise, because the deck is shorter and it has siamese ports? Well, the 50’s Pontiac had siamese ports too, just on the exhaust side. They use the same tooling and the same dimensions for the most part- distributor, ign system, valve covers, t-cover, oil, water and fuel pumps, motor mounts, bell housing pattern, head bolt pattern (even an Ram Air V and M/T HEMI head fits) camshaft, the Pontiac engineers did a good job keeping the design alive during trying times in the US auto industry. I wish the turbo set up would have been more successful, it would have benefited us all and maybe kept the motor in production. It could be brought back but, I don‘t see that happening. They are production engines, not performance engines but, still Pontiacs. Finally, the GMC trucks that used Pontiac V-8s in the 50’s. Many had a small bore version of the car Pontiac engine for the given year. I think the ‘57 version was a 336. Who else knows about this? Few do. What other sizes were there. That is also a trivia question on my web site.
*I have received many emails on this “Real Pontiac” topic and all were positive as were most posts here. Thank you all for that When you take a stand on something, no matter what it is, you put yourself in a position of being “loved or hated“ so to speak, one side of the fence or the other. That is not a problem on this topic for me as the Real Pontiac is my favorite subject. There are a LOT of great Pontiac people here on this site and I think that is terrific.
* The PE issue. I just wanted to let people know the truth on how I was treated about getting the word out on my events in the west and how they refused to cover my event because I proudly do not allow cheby power there. Perhaps if subscribers and advertisers (my advertising dollars have now gone to their competitor) were in the know about this issue, the people at PE would change their position on Real Pontiacs and support them better. You may also, want to email them with your feelings. That is all. I’m not a bad mouther, PE has had some great articles in the past years but, they are not fair in covering all aspects of Pontiac activities. And they are not Pro Real Pontiac.
* Toms post on me is his opinion. It is not factual, he does not know me personally and is in no position to know my resources or my capabilities. He states I will never be competitive to run in that class with what I have. Tom, who are you to say anything on this and about me? Tell us all here what you know about nostalgia Top Fuel and why I will not be competitive. You are far from an authority on the subject. Also, I question if you/he knows anything about the class I will be running in (I realize that N Top Fuel is not a regular Pontiac topic). As far as you not seeing “support for me” please explain what you are talking about. If it is sponsorship or financial support, I can assure that that is not a problem. I am capable of running my own car on my own and have put it together the same way. I do have help and very good help at that when needed. Time will tell how well it does, nothing is guaranteed. This is especially true when you are doing something that has not been done before, set backs will happen, parts attrition is part of the game and has to be accepted too. But, everybody who breaks through with an unusual combination has to do the same thing. It will be very rewarding and Pontiacs will be respected, again, in the faster classes.
* On comparing me to Marty’s deal. I do not know Marty personally, I did speak to him briefly at Joliet in 2000 and was surprised to see him have a blown chevy in his car. Tom states that Marty tried very hard to compete with a Real Pontiac in Pro Mod. Again this is someone speaking about someone else so it can be potentially hearsay but, if that is true, let’s look at the facts. First, my info may not be correct, I only know what I have read. If anyone here can update my info on Marty‘s combo, please do so here.
Now, if you want to build a fast bracket car, that is fine. To build a fast Pontiac, whether it be a 10, 9, 8, 7 or even a 6 second car takes a lot of work, money, determination and ability. I applaud everyone who has done it and also encourage anyone to do it. But, it is a totally different subject to build a fast Pontiac to compete with other makes in a class with rules (restrictions). In a bracket deal, no matter how fast or slow you are, you can dial up or down or be on an index, this is the same way in NHRA stock and super stock too. It doesn’t matter how fast you go (assuming you stay in a particular bracket). When building a car to compete in a class against other makes you have to determine what combo will be competitive or you are wasting your money and time. It cannot be over stated that building a car to compete in a class is a much more difficult task than building a fast bracket car. Certain combinations are hopeless, as others are more than appealing. You cannot change your dial if you are not running good. It is you against the other guy in the other lane, heads up. There are no handicaps for either. Also, you will have to determine what kind of money, development time and actual track time you will need to be competitive (including spare parts, supplies, etc). It may take a lot of time to sort out a combination too, it is not for the weak at heart. Especially in the faster classes, the commitment can be staggering.
I am not an authority on Pro Mod, but I have followed it in the mags. The displacement rules are 527 inches blown alky or 711 or so inches with N2O on race gas. Now, I again applaud Marty for his accomplishments but, why would he build a car with turbos and 400 or so inches? Why would he go to all that trouble and expense and still use a 400thm? To try to run an engine that small with turbos and an automatic in a class with cars that run 100 or more inches with big blowers and with clutches and Lencos would seem foolish regardless of the brand engine you choose. Again, I don’t know if he was serious about running that combo against the other cars in that class or just wanted the Pro Mod “look”. Either way, that car is quite an accomplishment and something to be proud of but, Not a serious combination for that class. How many other pro Mod cars use a 400 thm? How many use turbos? When Marty switched to cheby power (again, the issue of a Real Pontiac fan?), was he competitive then? Did he keep the 400thm? If he is such a "turbo nut", so to speak, why did he use a roots on the cheby? Things here with him are not consistant.
The current Pontiac turbo “craze” is fine. I know the story, turbos are efficient but, against a roots blown car on alky? Turbos have had limited success in drag racing.
Nostalgia Top Fuel is another story. Most cars are around 390-410 inches and have to use a 6-71 blower. The 392 Chrysler/417 Donovan, with its 10 head bolts, is dominant. Some of those cars run iron 1956 vintage 354 HEMI heads and run 6.0s. Some are in the 5.90s and 5.80s. One small chev (well , it is sort of a small chev) has gone as quick as 5.85. The big block cheby, with its canted valves is not dominant and has not ever been so. There are a few who are competitive and some have gone in the 5.90’s but not many. This class, given the rules, would appear that a Real Pontiac could be developed to run competitively in this class. Remember that Mickey Thompson went 406 MPH in 1960 with ‘59 Pontiac engines. To my knowledge, even to this day, a cheby has yet to go faster. Mickey did this on a light load of only 40% too. How about the ‘62 US Nationals? The M/T Pontiac strapped it to Garlits and every one else and won top eliminator. This could continue. The Pontiac lost its popularity due to costs and availability not because of its design. The Pontiac has more in it that most are aware of.
Now with my fueler about done (all that is left is to install the Racepak data logger) with its first engine, I will continue prepping and developing the alum Pontiac HEMIs that will follow and have started on a way cool ’65 Tempest altered wheel base nostalgia Funny car with a Blown, Lenco shifted Pontiac between the fenders! A chrome moly tube ‘66 GTO will follow as will my ‘68 Firebird funny car. More?
www.pontiacheaven.org REAL PONTIACS RULE!!!!!!!.
I wish every one here a safe happy New Year and put away as many chebys as you are able to! See you in April too. Oh, yes, I also welcome Tempest slant 4s, OHC 6s and pre-’55 Flathead. If anyone wants to attend and is not familiar with the Phoenix area, contact me directly for any help I can give you. Steve Barcak
www.pontiacheaven.org
[This message was edited by Steve Barcak on January 01, 2003 at 04:57 PM.]
[This message was edited by Steve Barcak on January 01, 2003 at 05:05 PM.]