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

09-26-2021, 01:43 PM	#8
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.