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Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> 1968 Firebird - Trans Am Racer - Trivia
Post Info TOPIC: 1968 Firebird - Trans Am Racer - Trivia
73SC


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1968 Firebird - Trans Am Racer - Trivia
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Here is a photo of a 1968 Pontiac Firebird that raced in the Tran AM series. The rules limited engine size to 305 CID so that's how Chevy came up with the 302 for the Z/28 and Ford had the 302 for the Mustang, AMC had the 290 for the AMX/Javelin. Pontiac of course did not have such an engine in 1968, 326 being their smallest.

There is an Oshawa and GM connection to how this Firebird qualified and in fact you could say it was a Canadian Firebird.

Anyone know?

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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
73SC


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The answer is not that hard, but it was very innovative at the time, here's a hint, Besides being built on a Chevy chassis what other major component is different from US Pontiacs?

-- Edited by 73SC at 11:14, 2008-03-22

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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
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beaumontwagon


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I believe they used a 302 from chevrolet for the first year and shortly after (the next season?)went to a 303 (326 crank) pontiac motor w r/a 5 heads.

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73SC


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beaumontwagon wrote:

I believe they used a 302 from chevrolet for the first year and shortly after (the next season?)went to a 303 (326 crank) pontiac motor w r/a 5 heads.


BINGO! The Tans Am sanctioning body was convinced or "duped" that Canadian Pontiacs were sold with Chevrolet engines so they sanctioned the use of the 302 Z/28 engine in the Firebird.

From Motor Trend:

1968 Pontiac Firebird #26
Originally driven by Jerry Titus & Jon Ward


Motor:              302 cubic inch Chevy V-8
Horsepower:     475 @ 6,800 rpm
Torque:             420+ lbs. @ 6,200 rpm
Transmission:    4-Speed
Fuel Capacity:   20 gallons - 110 octane racing
By mid-point of the 1968 SCCA Trans-Am season, defending Champion, Jerry Titus, had signed with Canadian businessman, Terry Godsall, to form a newteam of Pontiac Firebirds for 1969.Requesting early release from his Ford Motor Company/Shelby American driver's contract, Titus left the '68 season with just one race to run -- Kent, Washington. Armed with a new shop and several former Shelby crew members, the newly formed TG Racing (Titus/Godsall) set out to build a new Pontiac Firebird in time for the last race of '68.A "privateer" Camaro had caught Titus' eye at the recent Riverside, California Trans-Am race. The highly skilled owner/builder/driver Jon Ward was contacted and a deal struck that permitted TG Racing to convert his Camaro into a Firebird.For 1968 and 1969, a loophole in the SCCA rules permitted Pontiac Firebirds to run Chevrolet engines, as that's how they were sold in Canada.In just three weeks, the transformation was completed, an Al Bartz 302 cubic inch Chevrolet engine installed and TG Racing's first Trans-Am Firebird was on its way to Kent, Washington.The scramble paid off, as Titus set a new track record and put the TG Racing entry on the pole. It was nearly a Cinderella story with Jerry leading the race until the engine blew.



-- Edited by 73SC at 13:22, 2008-03-22

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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
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