More 301 Ponch questions

Suspending the T1000 is a mostly stock chassis with springs pilfered from a four-door A/C donor car. The front shock towers were moved inward to clear the tires, and Car Quest shocks were bolted in all around. The first time out at the track, Bob wasn't able to keep the back end from feeling like it wanted to swap places with the front. His solution came from a most unorthodox source: a modified BMW rear sway bar.

The body is all stock and painted similar to an '80 Turbo T/A Pace Car; a turbo T/A scoop was even added to the hood. Bob says it certainly hints at the future plans for the T1000, which involve a custom turbo setup to increase the output a tad. As if it doesn't already garner loads of attention, the addition of a turbo under the hood would most definitely please the swarm of curious spectators at the track.

"When I race, I get laughs and sneers-at first," Bob says. "My buddies tell me about some of the comments and jokes they hear while sitting in the stands. These usually end when I do a burnout and you hear the throaty V-8. By the time I come back around and park the car, there's a group waiting to greet me and ask questions."

The interior was stripped, leaving only the bare essentials, such as the factory driver seat, while an Auto Meter tachometer relays an accurate engine speed back to Bob.

While 95 percent of the work was performed by Bob, Tony DiMatinio did the welding. Things came down to the wire as they rushed to complete the car before racing at Norwalk a few years back. It was finished at the track thanks to the hands of many racers and friends, including Kevin Mohan and Darin Stein. Paul Spotts helped Bob literally tie up a few loose ends in the wiring as well. Countless others were there to offer their help, including an anonymous person who left the track, bought parts, and refused any form of payment when he returned. "Pontiac racers rock!" Bob says.

His car fired up for the first time at the track and ran a pitiful 17.9-second e.t., banging off the 6,000-rpm rev limiter three times. By Sunday, Bob had figured out a few things. He was able to outrun a 400-powered Grand Prix in time trials and even went a round in the race.

Today, Bob's Pontiac is dialed-in as a consistent 13- to low-14-second ride. He loves the attention and reactions from people at the track as much as he enjoys racing the car. "My favorite thing about it is that it actually works," he says. As you can see, Bob's T1000 is no laughing matter once it hits the traps.


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Discuss in Our  

Yeah, I read that too, but remember the t1000 is a lot less car than the Lesabre, approximately 1/2! Sounds like a cool toy though!
Steve  
Trying to help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

what bout the 301 in a 78-82 grand prix over the v6  

With the 78-82 GP weighing around 3200lbs empty, the performance will not be that great. Better than a 2nd gen Firebird I'm sure but a few guys I new years ago had them and they weren't much better than the 231 V6. One guy had a GP/301 4bbl that we put dual exhaust on at the Midas shop I worked in back then, my 81 Lemans with a 305 SBC and duals would put the thing to shame every time.
Steve  
Trying to help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

Hi
I have the 1980 grand prix that had the 301 v8.
When i got it first it had the 2 bbl carb,i added a stock 4bbl intake and carb and it slowed the car down!
I got ride of it and dropped in a 72 400.
If your building a performance car there just isnt any good parts for the 301 availible and when you install the parts that are availible it still wont run with a junk yard bone stock (pre 72) 2 bbl 400.

If you want a rare engine thats a pontiac and gets ok mph than go for it.
I still think the bone stock 301 ho that came in some firbirds will take a stock 80's chvy 305
and produce more tq, the 301 has 240 of tq at 1600 rpm thats why gm could get away with high gears.  

i'm dropping a 455 bored out .40 with a 750cfm quad rejetted carb,headers,e-fuel pump,e-fan,2.5 dual exhaust,373 rear end posi,summit ign box,shift kit to th400 tranny. basicially a sleeper at the local track