1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Hey guys...my name is Brent FLynn ...im from Middletown, IN and im new to your forum. Ive been racing since 1986 and been around it all my life. Hoping to start on my E/SA combo soon... Ive wanted to build a Stocker forever...been runnin brackets with essentially a stocker(not the engine though). Just wanted to chime in and say hi... here is my car... and im sure i got alot to learn about what it takes to get a stocker to run...but i just want to see what i can do. Half the fun is learning, right? Good luck in 2011!:D

Attachment 6984

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Hi Brent .............and welcome to the jungle ! ! ! ! Nice lookin' bird .

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Truman Fields comes to mind......He knows how to make one of those cars run....

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Truman's car is now in your neck of the woods ..................

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Nice Firebird. Thats a good combo.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Truman was at Island one night a long time ago with his Hard Times Firebird.... I saw him come thru the gate and scratched my head? I spoke to him for a few minutes. I was working with a customer/friend who raced a '69 or '70 Ram Air IV GTO and could use some Pontiac help!!!...He was living in the area or passing thru.....I don't recall which. Last I knew of him he was in Florida, retired... He was a very good racer and knew those old Pontiacs....

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Welcome Brent to all this madness! Very nice looking ride. Jim:D

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Thanks guys! Where is Truman's car at?
I got to know that car when good friends Roy(RIP)Mckinney and his son MIke bought(traded i think) and raced it from 1977 to 1985 when they sold it... The guy they sold it to ended up selling it back to Truman8-9 years ago i think... Ive wanted to build one of those E/SA combos all my life... im almost 42 now... Ive got all the correct stuff, now i just need to save my pennies and nickels to start gettin things goin.. i dont look to compete with you guys on an ET level for awhile...im sure the learning curve is a big one... although some advice will be welcome. Stockers are very impressive cars when all is right...

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

jack
the car is in div 1
and it is a 4 speed

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Adam Strang from Vermont has a nice and fast stick firebird.
MB

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Adam's ride.
Always nice to hear about a new project, good luck with it.
MB

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Welcome Brent, You have a great looking car. Adam is a real good guy to talk to, Leo Glassbrenner as well. Both run Firebirds. Bryan Phillips too. There are a great bunch of guys on this forum. Just don't listen to all the SKY IS FALLING,AND DRAG RACING SUCKS nonsence that gets spewed on here, and you will be fine. You have a great car to run stock with. Just start out at your own pace with parts and stuff. Have fun and learn as you go. Enjoy the journey....

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Thanks guys... dont worry, i know people like to vent on how the organizations are ran... dont mean much to me.. i just want to get in there and run with you guys... Probably wont make it to any events this year, but plan on startin on my shortblock and heads towards Fall. I will be watching at INDY in Sept. I saw Bryan Phillips' car there in 2010...i was only there bout 5 hours, but did manage to see Stock and SuperStock run qualifying rounds on Wed or THurs. Im hoping to get some tech advice ... not sure how much info you guys will give away though... i know some of you have been doin this awhile and spent lots of money. You may not be real forthcoming, and i understand that...but any advice i can get on engine/trans stuff will be greatly appreciated.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Great attitude! You will do fine my friend. Jim:D

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Super nice Bird! Yea, i cant stand it anymore... im really lookin forward to building this 400... ive got 3-4 sets of heads and 3-4 intakes to choose from(all correct part #'s) and about 5 blocks(all '68-'70 vintage) and 4-5 cranks. I believe i can run my '68 Olds Q-jet, correct? Ive got a 400 turbo built for Roy Mckinney's 68 SS/IA Bird in it right now with an ATI 8'' converter(probably not enough stall speed...roughly 4200) and 4.10/12 bolt with Moser spool/axles. Cal-tracs work like a charm...car has done 1.48 60fts with a slightly hotter 455 than whats in there now. Ive got hedman 2'' huslers on it also...cant run headers with plates, right?

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Good luck. I started last year after not bracket racing for 18 years. I am living the dream. I am 53 years old and an empty nester. I have a 69 Dodge Dart that I built myself over 6 years after raising a family and working two jobs. My friend Steve Wann built the engine and helps on my setup, He is the best. I met him at the racetrack over a decade ago. I have met only great people at the racetrack which my bride and I stay for the long weekends. Any racer I meet at the track has been honestly helpfull. I have made some frindships that I will always value. The car has qualified over .70 under and is capable of more when the driver gets his act together. The car most always runs within .01 of its dial, The driver still struggles with lights. I usually go out first round. I have 7 grade points from last year and raced 2 National Events. I only won 4 rounds in all of last year. It is hard to not get discouraged but I LOVE THIS!! Hope you have as much fun as I do.

Living the Dream
Jerry Stein
7025 C/SA

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Hey Jerry,, what i like most about this sport are the people... i have made some great friends while drag racing. I cant wait to get mine legal so i can figure out how to get out there and meet as many of you guys as i can. I love Stock elim racing... the cars are so cool...nothin like a stock or super stocker...and there's nothin like the feeling of pullin into the gates at a big event!! I ran NMC/C (Nostalgia Muscle Car Association) 11.50index in 2005 and finished 5th... its the closest thing to stock eliminator that is out there, or it was...they allowing alum heads and all kinds of stuff now... ive wanted to do this for 30yrs... and i think i can start doin the shortblock later this year( my machine guy is great with stock elim stuff) and maybe think about heads shortly thereafter!

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Brent,

You need to talk to Bruce @ Parsons & Meyers in Dayton, OH.
They build real fast Pontiac's , GM & Mopars ..... He can help you out.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Brent you have picked an excellent combination. Dave is right on about Parsons and Myers. They do great work on almost all makes.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

What a great attitude! Welcome aboard!

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

NHRA is allowing Alum. heads on some combos and ALL kinds of stuff now also ! Read the rule book and then pick some of the racers brains. They are a helpful and friendly bunch for the most part.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Based on your location you really do need Bruce Parsons in Dayton to help on your engine program. As mentioned he is top notch all the way. And you need to talk to Bryan Phillips. His firebird is absolutely immaculate and runs great as well. He's out of the Atlanta area.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Welcome aboard Brent. Always glad to have a fellow Pontiac racer join the ranks. I've built quadrajets for racers running your combination such as Leo Glassbrenner, Brian Phillips, Bob Aceves, and Bo Bunter (67 400 combo). I only live 40+ miles from you so feel free to call or stop by the shop and we'll talk Pontiac. Currently building a '71 455 HO T-37 for D & E/SA. Danny 765-674-5102.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

As far as running headers with adaptor plates on a stocker, a buddy & I built a 68 Z/28 D/S Camaro in 1980 with Hooker Adjustables with adaptor plates. The first time we went thru tech they told us no adaptors, headers had to be one piece. We took it home and laid down a 1/2 inch long bead between the adaptor & the headers making them one piece. Took it back thru tech the next week. They werent happy with it but they were one piece so they let is run them. The car won a Div 2 points race like that in 1981 & passed tech. Whether that will fly today, I cant say, just thought Id throw that out here

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Wow! How did you get the adapter-to-cylinder head bolts back out with them captured between the adapter plates it now welded to the header flange? Bet that was a chore.

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Thanks Danny...i really liked that last car you had...76-77 Lemans? Ran real good and was sharp to boot... You end up sellin it? Is your t-37 a post car? I love those cars... The one Ken Shawver had was a good car...seen him run E/SA with it many years ago. I always wanted one...but, i think i got a good car to go with...just gotta get 'er done...
I will have to come up and check out your T-37... aint seen one in awhile!

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Welcome aboard, Brent!

Looks like you've got a real head start in putting together a good combination. The car looks really nice, and with a lot of work and the help you'll get from the folks here, you should be very successful! I had a good friend who had much the same combo you're running now back in Florida 20 years ago, all Pontiac with the 400/4bbl from my 67 Grandville wagon!

Best of luck and we'll see you out there this summer!

Lew

Re: 1968 firebird E/SA New guy to forum...
 

Thanks to all you guys for your encouragement... it makes me want to start liquidating parts so i can get this goin a little faster... I decided awhile back that i was gonna do this, now all i gotta do is talk to some engine guys and see what everybody's runnin as far as pistons/rods and what kind of valvetrain parts(lifters/rockers/) i should be lookin at. I have a guy that builds stocker stuff up my way... not as much as he used to though. He has built G/SA buick engine(John Kein)...its runnin in the 11.30s right now... he has been doin that one for years...also he used to do the engines for Roy and Mike Mckinney in the 80s and their E/S 4speed car ran 11.40s at best (truman fields' car). Im gonna talk to him and the guys that some of you recommended and see what i can find out. Im really anxious to get started! Thanks again, BRent