1971 US Nationals class winners.

oldskool · 09-26-2021, 01:43 PM

"...1971 Lemans 2dr HT, 3575/325=11.00 455/325 auto-only 067 cam..."

I'll just throw this in here, for whatever it might be worth.

The '71 D-port 455 #66 heads are said to be really poor flowing. Not so with the '70, '72, & '73-'74 455 D-ports. There have been quite a few of these other 455 D-port cars. But NOT the '71.

I think Ryan Schloe may have ran a '71 455 D-port Bird, for a little while. Not sure, at all. IIRC, he switched it over to a '73 455 D-port car. C.W, Hoefer still runs a '73, which has run a sec under, in the past. The NHRA hp factor was reduced to 306, in a Bird, in 2011, making it one of the most competitive 455's, IMO. At this race, Ryan's Bird is listed as a '73, running in H/SA. But all the pics I have show the '71 fenders, which have the fender vents behind the wheel opening. So, he ran at least 2 different engines.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop

I see that the '71 D-port got a 5hp decrease, for a Bird, in 2019. I figure Ryan & his Dad, John requested that reduction. It has worked for some guys, for certain combos, thru the years. I could be wrong about some of this. Dan Johnson now has the former Axemaker & Reuland '71 Bird. So maybe some of those guys asked for a reduction. Dan is running it in F/SA, in the 2nd pic below. Scott Burton ran one back before he built his '70 RA4 Bird. Here he is in 2008 @ Indy, with a D/SA '71 Bird, in #19 position.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

I assume he ran a 455HO. Ryan may have, also. I can't be sure. He ran H/SA & F/SA. Since you can now run 3 different classes by changing the weight, it's sometimes hard to tell which engine a car is running. I think Brad Burton runs D/SA with his '72 455HO Bird.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...9&MAKE=Pontiac

DeuceCoupe · 09-26-2021, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldskool

"...1971 Lemans 2dr HT, 3575/325=11.00 455/325 auto-only 067 cam..."

I'll just throw this in here, for whatever it might be worth.

The '71 D-port 455 #66 heads are said to be really poor flowing. Not so the the '70, '72, & '73-'74 455 D-ports. There have quite a few of these other 455 D-port cars. But NOT the '71.

I think Ryan Schloe ran a '71 455 D-port Bird, for a little while. IIRC, he switched it over to a '73 455 D-port car. C.W, Hoefer still runs a '73, which has run a sec under, in the past.

I see that the '71 D-port got a 5hp decrease, for a Bird, in 2019. I figure Ryan & his Dad, John requested that reduction. It has worked for some guys, for certain combos, thru the years.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...9&MAKE=Pontiac

That is helpful about those #66 heads, nothing in Stan's database about those. Guessing they flow like the 1975-76 big chamber 6H heads, they Gonkulate 10-15hp lower than most D-ports.

It looks like those 1971 #66 heads were the 1st really big (114cc chamber) heads, so maybe they hadn't figured out how to make them flow yet, or maybe never did?

So I'd bet all the more on the 71 GTO convert 455/355HO combo, I bet it would outrun that 71 Lemans 455/325 combo by 4mph or so. That's IF the I/SA=11.00 car was really a 1971.

Those sheets tend to spell out Firebird-Camaro-Mustang when that is the car. But for a midsize eg Fairlane, they'll just say "Ford", although in one case it spells out "Chevelle". So maybe just Pontiac means Lemans/GTO. Maybe.

oldskool · 09-28-2021, 12:00 PM

In another thread, I just saw the Jr. Stock book mentioned.

On another thread, I mentioned the fact that the book mentions almost nothing about Pontiacs in the '71 section.

This is in spite of the fact that, IF the numbers are correct, Truman Fields won D/S at Indy with an 11.83. That looks to be a very good ET, for that time period.

1971 Firebirds took winner & RU in H/S, and won I/SA.

Pontiac guys recognize 1971 as the 1st year of the 455HO engine. Quite a few of these cars were raced, by Pontiac dealers & individuals. 455HO equipped Bird, GTO & T-37 models have been raced, very successfully, by lots of racers, thru the years.

455HO powered cars have set records, won class, won div & nat events, & won div & nat points championships. I can mention big name racers who have had success with 455HO powered cars. Some are: Gary Moore, Gary & Charlene Wood, Rock Running, Mick Leiferman, Scott & Brad Burton, Scott Underhill, Lee Bannister, & Larry Maxwell, just to name a few.

Plenty of 455HO info was readily available at the time the Jr. Stock book was published, in 2012. So, why was it not mentioned ?

I have a couple of guesses. But I figure the main reason is because the author of the book actually knew very little about the history of Pontiac powered drag racing, & probably didn't inquire about it to Pontiac experts, who could have informed him. Therefore the introduction of the Pontiac 455HO engine would not mean anything to him.

I found another pic of the Max Sterling "White Lightning" Bird.

DeuceCoupe · 04-11-2023, 09:05 PM

I’ve posted a colorful 1966 and 1969 analysis here:
https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...ad.php?t=84538

https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...ad.php?t=84599

My goal originally, years ago now, was to do 1970-71, but I’m still missing the NHRA Results Sheets from:

1970 Springnationals
1970 Summer

1971 Winternationals
1971 Spring
1971 Summer

If anybody has those they'd be much appreciated.

09-28-2021, 12:00 PM	#3
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: 1971 US Nationals class winners. In another thread, I just saw the Jr. Stock book mentioned. On another thread, I mentioned the fact that the book mentions almost nothing about Pontiacs in the '71 section. This is in spite of the fact that, IF the numbers are correct, Truman Fields won D/S at Indy with an 11.83. That looks to be a very good ET, for that time period. 1971 Firebirds took winner & RU in H/S, and won I/SA. Pontiac guys recognize 1971 as the 1st year of the 455HO engine. Quite a few of these cars were raced, by Pontiac dealers & individuals. 455HO equipped Bird, GTO & T-37 models have been raced, very successfully, by lots of racers, thru the years. 455HO powered cars have set records, won class, won div & nat events, & won div & nat points championships. I can mention big name racers who have had success with 455HO powered cars. Some are: Gary Moore, Gary & Charlene Wood, Rock Running, Mick Leiferman, Scott & Brad Burton, Scott Underhill, Lee Bannister, & Larry Maxwell, just to name a few. Plenty of 455HO info was readily available at the time the Jr. Stock book was published, in 2012. So, why was it not mentioned ? I have a couple of guesses. But I figure the main reason is because the author of the book actually knew very little about the history of Pontiac powered drag racing, & probably didn't inquire about it to Pontiac experts, who could have informed him. Therefore the introduction of the Pontiac 455HO engine would not mean anything to him. I found another pic of the Max Sterling "White Lightning" Bird. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldskool; 09-28-2021 at 12:20 PM.

04-11-2023, 09:05 PM	#4
DeuceCoupe Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 274 Likes: 98 Liked 48 Times in 44 Posts	Re: 1971 US Nationals class winners. I’ve posted a colorful 1966 and 1969 analysis here: https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...ad.php?t=84538 https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...ad.php?t=84599 My goal originally, years ago now, was to do 1970-71, but I’m still missing the NHRA Results Sheets from: 1970 Springnationals 1970 Summer 1971 Winternationals 1971 Spring 1971 Summer If anybody has those they'd be much appreciated.

09-26-2021, 01:43 PM	#1
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: 1971 US Nationals class winners. "...1971 Lemans 2dr HT, 3575/325=11.00 455/325 auto-only 067 cam..." I'll just throw this in here, for whatever it might be worth. The '71 D-port 455 #66 heads are said to be really poor flowing. Not so with the '70, '72, & '73-'74 455 D-ports. There have been quite a few of these other 455 D-port cars. But NOT the '71. I think Ryan Schloe may have ran a '71 455 D-port Bird, for a little while. Not sure, at all. IIRC, he switched it over to a '73 455 D-port car. C.W, Hoefer still runs a '73, which has run a sec under, in the past. The NHRA hp factor was reduced to 306, in a Bird, in 2011, making it one of the most competitive 455's, IMO. At this race, Ryan's Bird is listed as a '73, running in H/SA. But all the pics I have show the '71 fenders, which have the fender vents behind the wheel opening. So, he ran at least 2 different engines. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop I see that the '71 D-port got a 5hp decrease, for a Bird, in 2019. I figure Ryan & his Dad, John requested that reduction. It has worked for some guys, for certain combos, thru the years. I could be wrong about some of this. Dan Johnson now has the former Axemaker & Reuland '71 Bird. So maybe some of those guys asked for a reduction. Dan is running it in F/SA, in the 2nd pic below. Scott Burton ran one back before he built his '70 RA4 Bird. Here he is in 2008 @ Indy, with a D/SA '71 Bird, in #19 position. https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop I assume he ran a 455HO. Ryan may have, also. I can't be sure. He ran H/SA & F/SA. Since you can now run 3 different classes by changing the weight, it's sometimes hard to tell which engine a car is running. I think Brad Burton runs D/SA with his '72 455HO Bird. http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...9&MAKE=Pontiac Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldskool; 09-26-2021 at 03:28 PM.