Tenney's 64 Wangers GTO...

[GTO_DON]

Who put the cowl plenum air cleaner on it? I did not see it on the car when I looked at it down there. How did you get him to sell it?? I asked him lots of times but he said no. Then I heard he was telling people he wanted 100k for it.

[Tenney]

Thanks, Verne. Per Paul Zazarine's book, Don, Milt/Royal installed the cowl plenum, among other "performance experiments", in '64. Though likely had to remove to sell w/warranty end 'o year to Bill Sherman. Comes right off for "stock" look w/block-off plate on firewall.

[Lynn]

Tenney:

Do you remember what issue of Car and Driver? I would like to run one down. I have a 1968 Car & Driver with a comparo test of a 68 Z/28 and Tunnel Port 302 Mustang. It is awesome reading. Sam Posey rung out both cars on the track. Z/28 was loaded with console and power steering, four wheel disc brakes, cross ram and TI ignition. Prepped by GM. Ran a 13.71 on the E 70 bias ply tires (looked like Suzuki tires, according to the author, expecially next to the F 60 15 tires stuffed in the Mustang wheel wells).

Any one remember what issue?

BTW, I agree, I wouldn't change a thing on this car.

Lynn

[Lynn]

March 64 issue of Car and Driver. Entire article is avialable for viewing:

http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclec...articles.shtml

[Tenney]

Cool, Lynn. Been a bit since I'd flipped through that article. "It is, incidentally, a very pleasant car to go off the road in, provided you don't catch a finger in the whirling spokes of the steering wheel" seems an interesting item of test critera.

An aside, the "correspondent" the article referenced, Roger Proulx, was a copywriter at McManus who worked with my Dad and Jim. Roger penned, among others, the ad that featured an image of an empty garage at night with the headline: "There's a Tiger loose in the streets". Pretty popular in the day, I'm told.

Btw, I read the Posey/Tunnel Port/Cross Ram test in the school library a few years back. Weren't the meats on the Boss some trick one-offs and they couldn't score a set for the Z to even things up (been a while)?

[Lynn]

YOu are exactly right. The "rules" were each camp could prepare the cars with anything available over the counter to the general public. That is why the Camaro had 4 wheel discs and the crossram. The Car & Driver guys balked at the sight of the Goodyears, especially since the paint around the wheel wells was blistering around the wheel wells, so they contacted Goodyear who told them they didn't make an F60 15 yet. Ford guy steps up and says, sure they do, how many do you want?

Pretty good reading. I need to dig that mag out and scan the article so all can see. Sam Posey was really entertaining. What fun.

I must have been thinking of another magazine that tested the early GTO. I specifically remember the jokers starting out in 2nd gear to keep from frying the tires in some magazine test. Sure thought it was that one. I do have a line on some older mags, and if I run across the March 64 Car and Driver one I will certainly pass it on to you.

Lynn

[Tenney]

Already have a copy, Lynn, thanks. Know where it is but my decimal system isn't as handy as Dewey's. Bit of a pack rat, I guess. Thanks for the link, though. Good to give it another read.

Some cool notes from old Goat/Pontiac tests here:
http://www.angelfire.com/on/geebjen/roadtest.html

[Tenney]

[ QUOTE ]
Who put the cowl plenum air cleaner on it? I did not see it on the car when I looked at it down there. How did you get him to sell it?? I asked him lots of times but he said no. Then I heard he was telling people he wanted 100k for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Per Jim Wangers, the motor was a stock, big car 421 HO with a Bobcat kit while the car was with him (new thru 08/64). No headers, cowl plenum, etc.

Been told by others and have read that the cowl plenum and headers were built/installed by Milt, along with present 12.5 to 1, Lunati solid roller 421. Not sure when or in what sequence these items were fitted, exactly.