[Rob Petrie E395]

My friend Ed Wright thought I was nuts to build a 4th gen Firebird. Because at that time the HP was at 346 (I think). But at that point I had been bracket racing one for 15 years or so. I had all these parts that had one time been on my bracket car. But upgraded them so the old parts were just laying on a shelf. So I bought a car off eBay for a couple hundred. I bought a set of used heads, converter and some other used stuff off guys here. All together between buying used parts and stuff I had. I had spent less than $5,000. If I had tried to do any other car. It would have been a bunch more. My original goal was just run under the index. It went about .3 under. I figured I’d try it. If I liked it I’d spend more and keep going. The second time racing it was at Paducah Ky. I got down to 3 cars and the hook was set and set good. So that winter I put more into my junk. Got a crank done, new rods and pistons to get the rod/piston weight closer to the min. (Before this it had TRW pistons and I think eagle rods) but while they were on the list and legal. They were also very heavy. But they were the cheapest option to get started. Anyways along with that and some other stuff. I got to .57 under. So that next winter I spent some more. Unfortunately in the spring of 18 I got hurt working. And haven’t raced since. Debated selling my cars. But nope I’m stupid. So since then the lifter rule changed. So another cam and solid roller lifers. Up until then I had a comp cam and just regular old hydraulic roller lifters straight from Jegs. Not the fancy shimmed up ones. I’ve bought a good metric 200, headers, merge collectors, better brakes, and other stuff. I’m waiting on a new FI system right now. If the doctor doesn’t give me the ok. I’m going to at least get somebody else to drive it. To see if/how much faster it is. The lifters alone should make a difference. I’m told possibly 1/10 better for the metric. We’ll see. But in the beginning Ed and other thought I was nuts.