January 2014 - Tarheel Tigers GTO Club

87
Olk,kl
January 2014
Monthly Newsletter of the
Tarheel Tigers Pontiac Club
Raleigh Chapter of the GTO Association of America
Raleigh Chapter of National Firebird and Trans Am Club
Visit our Web Page at:
http://www.tarheeltigers.org
Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 4, 2014
*At Patio Enclosure Inc. of Raleigh / Memorabilia Meeting
1030 Morrisville Parkway, Morrisville NC 27560
Accorn Drop, New Year Eve Raleigh
President Message:
I
Hey Gang
Hi everyone, I wanted to let
everyone know the club
officers and committee
members have started
planning this year’s
annual Tarheel Tiger Car
Show. The date has not
been determined as of yet,
however it will probably be
somewhere around the same
time period as last years
Richard Tursi__________________
show. The location should
be in the same spot however
confirmation is pending on
that. Additional volunteers
are always welcome in the
planning and execution of
the annual show so if you
can spare a little time, you
are welcome to attend any
committee meeting held
the Thursday before our
monthly meetings, 6:30PM at
Chow restaurant in North
Raleigh. This month’s
committee meeting on
Thursday 01/30/2014 has
not been cancelled yet for
the weather. This months
Tarheel Tiger meeting is
the Memorabilia Meeting and
will be held at is usual
location at Patio Enclosures
located at the address
below. Bill Karras is
expecting us so feel free to
show up a few minutes early
to set up your things.
Thanks everyone and I hope
to see you Tuesday Night!
Richard Tursi - President
TarHeel Tigers Pontiac Club
Editor’s Note: Jerry Hazi_______________________________
Firebird evolution 67,78,98,02
Hey Everyone,
It has been a cold January so far
and most of the cars are put
away for winter storage and
now has become a flat surface
to lay stuff on. Before you
know it, the first show in March
which is right around the corner
is the Carolina Collector Auto
Fest sneaks up on us. But,
before that we have our
Memorabilia Meeting which is
always a lot of fun and
interesting. Gary Anderson
usually shows us some new and
old collectables. We do want
everyone to find something to
bring and talk about.
Thanks Jerry
ROSTER UPDATE________________________________________
Updated e-mail addresses: Please e-mail new information to: Jerry Hazi [email protected] ,
Mike Montague [email protected], Richard Tursi [email protected], Ken Nagy
MINUTE’S
_________________________________________
January, 2014 Meeting
We held our monthly club
meeting at Auto Performance.
Since it was very cold night
attendance was down from our
usual turn out. Thanks to
everyone who attended. Dustin
talked about getting his mopar
to Grill 57 for the new year
cruise. The car club committee
members will be meeting and
anyone interested in helping
please let Richard Tursi know.
It’s hard to believe the new
season will be starting again in
March.
Thanks Jerry
REGULAR MEETINGS are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month, from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Auto
Performance Center, 922 Hwy 70 West, Garner, 27529. SPECIAL MEETINGS are held periodically. Check
the cover of this newsletter; visit our website, forum, or call/e-mail an officer for next month's meeting location.
VOLUNTEERS_________________________________________________
President
VP
Richard Tursi
[email protected]
Web Page Editor/Face book
Dustin Tart
[email protected]
Ken Nagy
[email protected]
Newsletter
Jerry Hazi
[email protected]
Treasurer
Mike Montague
[email protected]
THT Club Donations:
In 2013 the THT club Donated $500 each to: Wounded Warrior Project and NickelbyProject Inc.
NEW:
CLUB T-SHIRTS___________________________________
Only $12.00!
For members.
Contact: Richard Tursi.
[email protected]
Embroidery available.
Shirts or Jackets
T-Shirts are available. Yellow or
Gray with a large THT logo on the
back and Pontiac logo on the front.
Embroidme, in Apex
MEMBER’S SERVICES________________________________________
Anderson Creek Auto Sales & Salvage
Auto Performance Center
Pencil Drawing of Your Car
Patio Enclosures Inc of Raleigh
Pontiac Tri-Powers Rebuilt
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
Just Music! DJ Service
N.C. Auto Appraisal
Leith of Wendell Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Personal Security Storage Inc., 1101 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC
Bo’s Hot Rods & Restorations, Sanford
Greg’s Classic Auto, 150 Golden Drive, Durham, Restorations
Hendrick Buick GMC Cadillac
Bobby Tomlinson
Steve Ward
Dustin Tart
Bill Karris
Gary Anderson
Butch Powell
Ross Merle
Brian Manning
Jerry Hazi
Cary Kasdorf
Terry McSwiney
Greg Christon
Tommy Laakso
(910) 893-8835
(919) 772-5957
(919) 614-4599
(919) 467-2846
(919) 848-1928
(910) 893-4450
(919) 621-9262
(919) 606-6720
(919) 366-7000
(919) 851-8585
(919) 721-5579
(919) 383-2922
(919)380-8267
Support Our Primary Sponsor:
Hendrick Buick GMC Cadillac
115 Team Hendrick Way
Sales: (919) 439-0860 or (855)-343-3916 Service (855) 351-4687
SERVICES Etc. (Non-Members)____________________________
Butler Performance (Pontiac performance service & parts) www.butlerperformance.com (866)762-7527
Pontiac Historic Services (document your Pontiac)
http://www.phs-online.com (586)781-5164
Colors On Parade (Spot Paint Repair on All Vehicles)
www.autopaintinaday.com
(919)971-5158
Manual Transmission Sales & Service
Dennis Maroudas
(606)237-6648
Fleszar Insurance Services Inc, Raleigh NC
Specialty Auto Insurance
(919)787-7305
NPD National Parts Depot ,Charlotte
www.npdlink.com (Charlotte) (800)368-6451
Automotive Touch Up Paint
www.paintscratch.com
(800)225-2855
Pontiac Performance Years, Classic Pontiac Parts
www.performanceyears.com (267)638-3500
Tayloe’s Paintless Dent Repair
(919)275-4292
Ames Performance Engineering
www.amesperf.com
(800)421-2637
Inline Tube Restoration parts.
www.inlinetube.com
(800)385-9452
Hot Rod Shop. Restoration Work, Dan Goodwin,
[email protected] (919)815-2589
Super Fine Shine Chrome Work, recommended by Jim Wise www.superfineshine.com
(740)774-1700
Advance Plating, recommended by Terry Mcswiney
www.advancedplating.com (800)588-6686
Paul’s Chrome
www.paulschrome.com
(800)245-8679
Fuquay Storage, 1238 S Main St. Fuquay Varina
$30.00 per month
(919)577-0237
BMACS Restorations , recommended by Mike Castelo
bmacsrestoration.com
(919)790-9551
Customized License Plates
www.licenseplates.tv
(800)491-2068
CLASSIFIEDS_____________________________________________
Send your ads to Jerry Hazi
[email protected]
Ads run for three months unless renewed.
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect those of Tarheel
Tigers Pontiac Club Officers or Members. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of Statements made herein.
CARS FOR SALE________________________________________
1971 Pontiac Lemans, matching #s 350 2 BBL, 350 auto, ac, rally clock. Only 87K original miles,
rock solid rust free AZ car. Excellent interior & perfect crack free dash pad. Looks & drives great,
$10,500.00. Call for
more info. 919-five two two-9879.
Steve Veatch
2005 GTO LS2 6.0l
Automatic
Excellent condition Torrid Red GTO garage kept ready to drive anywhere! Exterior 'jumps' out, nearly
flawless! Lots of compliments, head turns. Deep Red Leather seats, matching Suede Door panels an
interior standout. 6-disc CD.
All stock except for a Volant Cold Air intake. Original intake comes along. Mobil 1 oil changes.
Extremely comfortable, can roar when you want w/400 6.0L LS2 hp & 400 ft lbs. Keep traction control
on! No road rash, as front clip back to fenders recently painted due to a parking lot bump, covered
w/ Le Bra.
Purchased from Hendrick Cary NC ~3 yrs ago, put on ~3K miles. My occasional drive, have a Formula,
a Motorcycle & my wife has a Vibe & 3 miles from work. Reluctantly selling. Hunting for 64 F85/Cutlass,
1st drive or 64 Buick Special/Skylark, 1st car. Will miss comfort, low maintenance and awesome
power...oh & cup holders!
eMail me w/ your phone number & I'll call you. Let me know a good time to call. Serious inquiries only
please. Thanks for looking! Mike Schneider
[email protected]
PARTS/MISC FOR SALE and WANTED ITEMS_______________
We’ll transfer any photo onto a coffee mug, mouse pad, car tag, T-shirt, name tag, or plaque. We also have
world famous tiger tails, ears, and key chains. Call 828/241-4947 or email [email protected], or visit
http://www.tigermadness.com/.
Rex Bumgarner, 4928 Northcrest St., Claremont, NC 28610
GTO apparel – Mad House High Performance Apparel: www.madhousemarketing.com, 1-262-389-7617
Custom art work or club logo.
Ultimate GTO Store, www.ultimategto.com center for GTO merchandise.
CustomAutoApparel.com
GM Licensed Apparel 412-678-8402
High Impact Event T-shirts made easy, Quick delivery. www.carshowtees.com David Brown. Email:
[email protected]
For Sale: For Sale: Complete pair of 1966 GTO front seats, black with manual adjust. Some small cracks,
one hole on upper shoulder, $600 for pair. 1966 GTO/LeMans/Tempest header panel $100.00 1966 GTO
reproduction fiberglass Tri-Power Ram Air pan, never used, $100.00. Raleigh, NC. 919-841-0458 Can email
photos of any item if needed. Tim Wagner [email protected]
61-66 Tri-power set-ups or carbs, any cond. Gary Anderson 919/848-1928, [email protected] (ongoing)
AUTO EVENT WEBSITES / FORUMS ______________________
PLEASE notify editor of any errors, changes, or additions.
Verify BEFORE you make any trip.
Car Show News & Classic Auto Events - www.cruisincarolinamagazine.com
NC car shows – www.carshowfinder.org
Trans Am’s forum, shows & events - www.transamcountry.com
2004-2006 GTO web site & forum – www.LS1GTO.com
Pontiac Bonneville – www.gmforum.com
Trans Am forum site – www.78ta.com
Factory Brochures - http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html
Fiero Store - http://fierostore.com
Pontiac Street Performance - http://psp.aquacomp.net/
CAR SHOWS_ 2014__







 Being Attended by THT Members:______
February 14-15 Shriners Drag Racing & Hot Rod Expo, Greesboro Coliseum Complex
March 7-9 Carolina Collector Auto Fest, Raleigh Fairgrounds.
March 20-22 Pee Dee Street Rodders, Run to the Sun, Myrtle Beach, SC. Great show.
April 3 – 6 Spring Charlotte Auto Fair, Charlotte Motor Speedway
April 26 Fun in the Sun car show, Lake Wheeler
June 7 Tarheel Tigers Pontiac Club car show, MacGregor Village, Cary (Tentative Date)
June 20-21 Raleigh Classic car auction, Raleigh Fairgrounds.
June 21 – 28 Bandit Run, starting at GM nationals in Carlisle, PA and ending in Myrtle Beach, SC
July 1-5 GTOAA Convention, Pittsburgh, Pa
Aug 01 – 3 Ames Pontiac Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug 22 – 24 Trans Ams Nationals 30th Anniversity, Dayton, Ohio
CRUISE-INS
_2014__________________________
PLEASE notify editor of any errors, changes, or additions.
Verify BEFORE you drive!!!
(April through October)
Thursdays – High Point NC –
National Home Furnishings
6:30pm ‘til? 1628 Main Street,
½ mile north of Business 85 on
Highway 311. Info: 336/8828809.
Fridays – Greensboro NC –
Sonic Drive-in 6:30pm ‘til?
3932 W. Market Street. (Mar 5
– Oct 29) Info: Doug Seawell
336/ 698-0597
th
4 Sat. Smokin Hot Car
Cruise. Fire Pit BBQ
Wakeforest July to Oct 26
1st Sat. Pilot Mountain
3rd Friday – (April –Sept) 4pm
Creedmoor Cruise-In. Andy’s
Hwy. 56 Food Lion parking lot
Fridays – Fuquay-Varina
Downtown Cruise-In. 5 to 8pm
www.Fuquay-varinadowntown.com
Starting April 12, 2013
2nd Saturday – Char-Grill
4621 Atlantic Ave., Raleigh
4:00pm, Music & Food.
3rd Sat – Goldston Cruz-N
Hwy 421 between Siler City &
Sanford, exit 159
Grill 57 3rd Saturday of the
month. 4202 Fayetteville Rd
2nd Sat. (April12-Oct.12)
Tar River Cruizers,
Lowes/Staples US 158 & 166
Dabney RD. Henderson
4th Sat. New Cruise, High
Park Bar-Grill, in-side belt line,
625 W Whitaker Mill Rd.,
Raleigh, starting April 27
1st Saturday Cars and Coffee
at the New Waverly Place,
across from Cary Walmart.
Every Sunday 2:00 on. Ralley
Point Sports Grill cruise in.
1837 N Harrison Ave.
TEST & TUNE__DRAGSTRIPS______________________________
Coastal Plains Dragway
Dunn-Benson Dragstrip
Farmington Dragway
Fayetteville Drag Strip
Mooresville Dragway
Piedmont Dragway
Rockingham Dragway
Roxboro Motorsports
Virginia Motorsports
Zmax Dragway
(IHRA ¼ Mile), 4744 Richlands Highway, Jacksonville, NC 28541 910-347-2200
(IHRA 1/8 Mile), 555 Dragstrip Road, Benson, NC 27504,
919-894-1662
(IHRA 1/8 Mile), 2992 Hwy. 801 North, Mocksville, NC 27028,
336-399-6122
(IHRA ¼ mile), 4480 Doc Bennett Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28306
910-484-3677
(IHRA 1/8 Mile), 865 Wilkinson Road, Mooresville, NC 28115
704-663-4685
(IHRA 1/8 Mile), 6750 Holts Store Road, Julian, NC 27283
336-449-7411
(IHRA ¼ Mile), 2153 US Hwy 1 North, Rockingham, NC 28379
910-582-3400
(IHRA 1/8 Mile), 1452 Thomas Store Road, Timberlake. NC 27583 336-364-3724
(NHRA ¼ mile), 8018 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA 23803 804-862-3174
(NHRA ¼ mile), 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Concord, NC 28027 800-455-3267
coastalplainsraceway.com
dunnbensondragstrip.com
farmingtondragway.net
fayettevillemotorsportspark.com
mooresvilledragway.com
piedmontdragway.com
rockinghamdragway.com
roxboromotorsports.com
virginiamotorsports.com
charlottemotorspeedway.com
Articles or pictures for Newsletter:_____________________
Please send any interesting articles or pictures that I can add to our THT Newsletter.
To: [email protected]
th
Celebrating 50 Anniversary of the
GTO 1964 to 2014
1964 GTO. Photo by Dino Petrocelli.
The famous Grand Turismo Omologata (GTO) was for the first year offered to the public. Available
only in 1964 as an option on the 1964 Pontiac Tempest LeMans. GTO optioned Tempest Lemans
featured distinctive appearance items in place of standard LeMans features. Standard Engine was a
389 cubic inch with 10.75:1 compression ratio which produced 325 horsepower at 4600 rpm's.
Optional you could factory order the same 389 cubic inch motor which produced 348 horsepower at
4600 rpm's.
Standard Equipment included: 389 engine w/1 - 4bbl and 325 horsepower, 3 speed stick with Hurst
Shifter, Heavy-duty clutch, heavy-duty springs, shocks, stabilizer bar, special 7.5 x 14 red-line tires
(rayon cord whitewalls optional at no extra cost), 14 x 6JK wide-rim wheels, high capacity radiator,
declutching fan, high capacity battery, chromed air-cleaner, rocker covers, oil filler cap, bucket seats,
standard axle ratio 3.23:1 (3.08, 3.36*, 3.55* to 1 available at no extra cost).
Extra Cost Options: 389 engine w/3 - 2bbl and 348 horsepower (code #809), 3.55:1 axle
ratio standard with this engine option/4speed with Hurst shifter (gear ratios 2.56:1, 1.91:1, 1.48:1,
1.00:1 and 2.64:1 reverse) 2-speed automatic with 2.20:1 torque converter, Safe-T-Track limited-slip
differential, (Code #701), 3.90:1, axle ratio available on special order with metallic brake linings,
heavy-duty radiator and Safe-T-Track, Handling kit-20:1 quick steering and extra-firm-control heavyduty shocks (Code #612), high-performance full transistor (breakerless) ignition (Code #671),
tachometer (code #452), custom sports steering wheel, exhaust splitters (dealer installed), wire wheel
discs (dealer installed), custom wheel discs with spinner and break cooling holes, Console.
1964 Pontiac Tempest Lemans GTO Specifications
Model Number
Body/Style Number
Body Type & Seating
Factory Price
Shipping
Weight
Total Production
Tempest LeMans w/ GTO Option
22
27
2d Coupe - 5P
$2,852
3,106 lbs
7,384
22
37
2d Hardtop - 5P
$2,963
3,126 lbs
18,422
22
67
2d Convertible - 5P
$3,081
3,360 lbs
6,644
NOTES:
1. 32,450 Tempest LeMans GTO's were built in 1964
Model Series Identification
GTO 2d Coupe - 5P - 2227
GTO 2d Hardtop - 5P - 2237
GTO 2d Convertible - 5P - 2267
Chassis Data
Model
Wheelbase
Overall Length
Width
Front Tread
Rear Tread
Tires
GTO
115 in
203 in
73.3 in
58 in
58 in
7.75 x 14
VIN Decoding
Serial Numbers were on the left front hinge pillar. Fisher body on cowl tells style number, body
number, trim code, paint code, and other data.
First Symbol - Engine
4 = Four Cylinder
8 = Eight Cylinder (V-8)
6 = Six Cylinder
Second Symbol - Series
0 = Tempest (Standard)
5 = Ventura
1 = Tempest (Custom)
6 = Star Chief
2 = LeMans
8 = Bonneville
3 = Catalina
9 = Grand Prix
Third Symbol - Year
4 = 1964
Fourth Symbol - Assembly Plant
(B) Baltimore, Maryland
(P) Pontiac, Michigan
(D) Doraville, Georgia
(R) Arlington, Texas
(E) Linden, New Jersey
(S) Southgate, California
(F) Fremont, California
(U) Lordstown, Ohio
(G) Framingham, Massachusetts
(X) Kansas City, Kansas
(M) Kansas City, Missouri
Last Four Symbols - Production Sequence
Started at 1001
1964 Pontiac Tempest Lemans GTO Engines
Location Of Engine Code: V-8 engine codes are found on front of block below right cylinder head.
NOTE: Some Pontiac experts claim that a few GTOs were built with factory installed and/or dealer
installed 421-cid V-8s.
Letter Code Engine
Horsepower
Torque
Transmission
Carburetor
76X
8-389
348
428
Manual
3 - 2 BC
77J
8-389
348
428
Turbo Hydra-Matic
3 - 2 BC
78X
8-389
325
428
Manual
4 BC
79J
8-389
325
428
Turbo Hydra-Matic
4 BC
Transmission Codes
Transmission
Location
Super Hydra-Matic "315" (DualCoupling Hydra-Matic)
On name plate located on lower left corner of the rear face of transmission case.
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
On serial number plate attached to left side of transmission.
Super Turbine 300 (TempesTorque)
On metal tag fastened to right side of transmission case or stamped on lower servo
cover.
Jetway
On metal tag fastened to right side of transmission case or stamped on lower servo
cover.
3-Speed
Painted or stamped on the transmission case.
4-Speed
Painted or stamped on the transmission case.
Plant and Type Designation Prefix
Transmission Type
20
TempesTorque
30
TempesTorque
31
TempesTorque
40
TempesTorque
MC
TempesTorque
NA
TempesTorque
NB
TempesTorque
P
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PAH
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PAS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PB
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PBS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PC
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PCS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PE
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PEH
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PES
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PG
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
Axle Codes
Location Of Axle Codes: Color Markings on flange end of axle shaft and by ratio stamped on right
hand axle tube. (For example: if 43-10 is stamped on the axle tube it is a 4.30:1 ratio. Just divide the
first number by the second number to give you the ratio.)
Color - Non-Locking
Color - Locking
Ratio
Black
Black & Green
4.30
Blue
Blue & Green
3.55
Brown
Brown & Green
3.23
Gray
Gray & Green
2.56
Green
3.90
Orange
Orange & Green
2.93
Pink
Pink & Green
3.73
Red
Red & Green
2.78
Yellow
Yellow & Green
3.08
White
White & Green
3.36
Options and Accessories
Code
Description
Price
NA
Air Conditioning
$430.00
NA
Console Shift (LeMans)
NA
NA
Padded Dash
NA
NA
Remote Control Mirror
$12.00
NA
Power Convertible Top
NA
NA
Power Tilt Bucket Seats
$96.00
NA
Power Steering
$57.00
NA
Power Brakes
NA
NA
Power Tailgate Window
NA
NA
Push-Button Radio
NA
NA
Bucket Seats
NA
NA
Custom Steering Wheel
NA
NA
Deluxe Steering Wheel w/ Ring
NA
NA
4-Speed Manual Transmission
NA
NA
389-cid/325-hp V-8
NA
809
389-cid/348-hp V-8 (Tri-Power)
NA
NA
Heavy-Duty 3-Speed Manual Transmission
NA
NA
Muncie 4-Speed Manual Transmission (w/ Hurst Linkage)
NA
701
Safe-T-Track Differential
NA
452
Tachometer
$54.00
671
Transistor Ignition
NA
NA
Cordova Top
NA
NA
Two-Speed Wipers & Washers
NA
NA
3-Speed Manual Transmission (standard)
NA
NA
Automatic Transmission
NA
612
Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
NA
NA
Console w/ Tachometer
$161.00
From Wikipedia:
The GTO was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer Russell Gee, an engine specialist; Bill Collins, a chassis engineer; and
Pontiac chief engineer John DeLorean. In early 1963, General Motors' management issued an edict banning divisions
from involvement in auto racing. At the time, Pontiac's advertising and marketing approach was heavily based on
performance, and racing was an important component of that strategy. With GM's ban on factory-sponsored racing,
Pontiac's young, visionary management turned its attention to emphasizing street performance.
In his autobiography “Glory Days,” Pontiac chief marketing manager Jim Wangers, who worked for the division’s contract
advertising and public relations agency, states that John DeLorean, Bill Collins and Russ Gee were indeed responsible for
the GTO's creation. It involved transforming the upcoming redesigned Tempest (which was set to revert to a conventional
front-engine, front transmission, rear-wheel drive configuration) into a "Super Tempest" with the larger 389 cu in
(6.4 L) Pontiac V8 engine from the full-sized Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville in place of the standard 326 cu in (5.3 L)
Tempest V8. By promoting the big-engine Tempest as a special high-performance model, they could appeal to the speedminded youth market (which had also been recognized by Ford Motor Company's Lee Iacocca, who was at that time
preparing the sporty Ford Mustang variant of the second generation Ford Falcon compact).
The GTO was basically a violation of GM policy limiting the A-body intermediate line to a maximum engine displacement
of 330 cu in (5.4 L). Since the GTO was an option package for the Pontiac Tempest and not standard equipment, it could
be considered to fall into a loophole in the policy. Pontiac General Manager Elliot "Pete" Estes approved the new model,
although sales manager Frank Bridge, who did not believe it would find a market, insisted on limiting initial production to
no more than 5,000 cars.
The GTO name:
The name, which was DeLorean's idea, was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO, the successful race car. It is
an Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato, ("Grand Tourer Homologated") which means officially certified for
racing in the Grand tourer class. The name drew protest from enthusiasts.
The first Pontiac GTO was an option package for the Pontiac Tempest, available with the two-door coupe, hardtop coupé,
and convertible body styles. The US$296, package included a 389 cu in (6,400 cc) V8 rated at 325 bhp (242 kW) at
4800 rpm with a single Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, chromed valve covers and air cleaner, 7bladeclutch fan, a floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter, stiffer springs, larger diameter
front sway bar, wider wheels with 7.50 × 14 redline tires, hood scoops, and GTO badges. Optional equipment included a
four-speed manual, Super Turbine 300 two-speed automatic transmission, more powerful "Tri-Power" carburetion (3 two[4]
barrel Rochester 2G carburetors) rated at 348 bhp (260 kW), metallic drum brake linings, limited-slip differential, heavyduty cooling, ride and handling package, and the usual array of power and convenience accessories. With every available
option, the GTO cost about US$ 4,500 and weighed around 3,500 lb (1,600 kg). A tachometer was optional, and was
[5]
placed in the far right dial on the dash.
Most contemporary road tests used the more powerful Tri-Power engine and four-speed. Car Life clocked a GTO so
[citation needed]
equipped at 0–60 miles per hour (0–97 km/h) in 6.6 seconds
, through the standing quarter mile in 14.8 seconds
with a quarter mile trap speed of 99 mph (159 km/h). Like most testers, they criticized the slow steering, particularly
without power steering, and inadequate drum brakes, which were identical to those of the normal Tempest. Car and
Driver incited controversy when it printed that a GTO that had supposedly been tuned with the "Bobcat" kit offered by Ace
Wilson's Royal Pontiac of Royal Oak, Michigan, was clocked at a quarter mile time of 12.8 seconds and a trap speed of
112 mph (180 km/h) on racing slicks. Later reports strongly suggest that the Car and Driver GTOs were equipped with a
421 cu in (6.9 L) engine that was optional in full-sized Pontiacs. Since the two engines were difficult to distinguish
externally, the subterfuge was not immediately obvious. In Jim Wanger's "Glory Days" he admitted after three decades of
denial that the red drag strip GTO had its engine swapped to a 421 Bobcat unit. Since the car was damaged during the
testing, and Wangers did not want anyone looking under the hood, he used the blue road course GTO to flat tow the red
GTO 1,500 miles back to Detroit. Frank Bridge's sales forecast proved inaccurate: the GTO package had sold 10,000
units before the beginning of the 1964 calendar year, and total sales were 32,450.
Bobcat
Throughout the 1960s, Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac, a Pontiac car dealer in Royal Oak, Michigan, offered a special tuneup package for Pontiac 389 engines. Many were fitted to GTOs, and the components and instructions could be purchased
by mail as well as installed by the dealer. The name "Bobcat" came from the improvised badges created for the modified
cars, combining letters from the "Bonneville" and "Catalina" nameplates. Many of the Pontiacs made available for
[citation needed]
magazine testing were equipped with the Bobcat kit. The GTO Bobcat accelerated 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds.
The precise components of the kit varied but generally included pieces to modify the spark advance of the distributor,
limiting spark advance to 34-36° at no more than 3,000 rpm (advancing the timing at high rpm for increased power), a
thinner copper head gasket to raise compression to about 11.23:1, special intake manifold gaskets to block the heat riser
to the carburetor (keeping it cooler), larger carburetor jets, and locking rocker nuts to hold the hydraulic valve lifters at
their maximum point of adjustment, allowing the engine to rev higher without "floating" the valves. Properly installed, the
kit could add between 30 and 50 horsepower (20-40 kW), although it required high-octane super premium gasoline of
over 100 octane to avoid spark knock with the higher compression and advanced timing.
The performance manager at Royal Pontiac was Milt Schornack. Adhesive stickers were added to advise onlookers of the
fact that this GTO was a Royal Bobcat.
Optional with the Bobcat package was an extensive re- machining of the cylinder heads and block to "blueprint" the
engine—that is, carefully machine the components so that their critical dimensions met the original GM factory blueprint
specifications.
You can now have the THT logo embroidered. You can purchase shirts or jackets
at the store or take your own shirt/jacket in to have the Tarheel Tiger logo
embroidered. The size is 3 ½ inches in diameter. They have some quality shirts at
the store at varying prices and color. Just say you want the THT logo embroidered.
Cost is $13.50 per shirt or jacket to have done, plus if you purchase a shirt/jacket at
the store.
EmbroidMe
1234 W Williams St.
Apex, NC 27502
www.embroidme-apex.com or
[email protected]
Charles Scott owner.
Across from Beaver Creek Commons Shopping Area, Apex
Pull in at the gas station and turn right.