Under the index for under a grand!

[Billy Nees]

I got wet and aggravated and it looks like more of the same for today!
Maybe I'll go out tomorrow for a race day but I probably won't be testing anything.

[Billy Nees]

I'd like to start by getting a few things off my chest.
I don't like testing on a raceday and yet I still(after all of these years) do it!
Anybody who has been anywhere near me within the last couple of weeks could tell you all why I've never suggested that any sane person try and build a 301 Pontiac without a hairdryer on it!
When an engineer who worked on the design of the engine you're trying to make go faster asks you "what kind of RPM do you think that you're going to have to spin this to?" cringes and says "well, good luck with that!" when you tell him, a sane person should hear alarms go off!
One last thing, the next time that your buddies tell you that Stock and SS racing isn't rocket science, stare them in the face and explain to them that it's much harder!

I finally managed to get the GP to go all of the way down the track yesterday and I have finally realized where and what the problem is and it's one of those things that can't really be fixed, but maybe it can be manipulated enough to get this thing to work.
To make a long story short, I have managed to get the pulse resonance in my intake way out of sync with my valve timing. Putting my headers on the car has really aggravated the problem and I have run into it before with this engine. By moving the cam around I've been able to get the car back to where it was before I changed the headers. Something else that should get a chuckle out of anyone who hasn't played with a 301 is I'm shifting the car at 4000 RPM now and it likes it. Kinda like playing with a diesel!

[jcw31]

Billy
Will we be getting a monday morning update on your progress?
Will you be going to numidia for the s/ss race in sept. and/or
the dutch with the car?

Joe

[Billy Nees]

When all else fails, throw parts(and money) at it!
Ouch, it hurt to say that! The time has finally come to make some moves and try some things other than tuning around what I have. My 10" torque converter that has served me well in getting under the index for under a grand is just not giving me the flexibility to try things that need to be tried to get to the next level of this project. It will have a place of honor on my shelf waiting for another project, but for now it has to go.
I spent friday evening putting the 8" converter out of my GP in the 1K car and getting ready to hit "The Beav" on saturday( another race day, argh).
To make a long, boring story short, after making 2 TTs and arguing with the DualJet, I finally got it to agree to not stumble and made a couple of very nice passes. Going back to one of my previous posts, the converter proved to be worth the investment as the car picked up between 2 and 2.5 tenths. In less than great air( no barometer) the car made it's best Beaver Springs pass by 1.5 tenths(much better if I figured the air difference), it equaled it's best BSD MPH( into a 5-10 MPH headwind) and it ran it's absolute best 60' by .05. The 8" flashes about 800 RPM higher on the hit and is more efficient in high gear. I did have to go back to my light governor to get my shift points higher as it was falling too far back into the converter on the shifts. Before I try throwing a different cam in it, I'd like to try retarding this one a bit more but that will have to wait until after the Cecil County points race. Keep an eye on DRC to see if I can get it a little further up the Q-sheet and maybe learn how to drive again.

[Glenn Hayes]

Well done Billy!

What was your best E.T. this weekend?

[chris ok]

Glad to hear your progress.
I took off from work Saturday to attend Cecil County for my yearly pilgramage to see this race. Stockers to the lanes!!!!!!!
I look forward to seeing your car Billy, and meeting you of course.
Chris.

[Mike Carr]

I'd say the changes are working well !!

55 1188 U/SA Billy Nees, Millmont PA, '79 Grand Prix 14.525 14.85 -0.325

#55 out of 63 after two sessions.