(The original Boss Bird, updated with the Team ASE logo)

After several years of behind-the-scenes discussions with Arnie, the time is now right to begin the re-creation of the Boss Bird '71 Trans Am funny car.  We will be making a mold from one of the original bodies and then we'll make a fiberglass replica body.  Rick and Rob Bruce of Zombie Racing (Flint, MI) are building the chassis and will be sharing their extensive nostalgia funny car experience with us.

We are designing our own billet aluminum cylinder heads; tailored specifically for blown, nitro.  The heads will use the Pontiac Ram Air V architecture.  In addition to eliminating water jackets, we're raising the ports, shortening the exhaust, thickening the decks and enlarging the chambers.  The heads are being sized to accept 9/16" head studs and 7/16" pushrods.  Top priority is to make these heads much more rugged so they'll stand up to the violence of nitro.

The main parts of the chassis are finished and Rob is currently working on mounting various pieces of equipment.

Like the Grocery Getter, this car will remain true to its Pontiac roots.  We'll be using traditional Pontiac power, based on the IA2 block from AllPontiac.com.  Count on us to show up at the track with a supercharger and a big load of nitromethane; just like Arnie ran in 1971.  Nitro cackle, header flames at night, big Arnie-style burnouts, 6-second quarter miles....this car will have it all!

Preliminary Parts List

body:  "71 Trans Am, fiberglass from VFN Fiberglass

rear axle assembly: Strange 9.5" drop-out live axle with Richmond 4.10 large pinion 9.5" Pro gears and 85W-90 gear oil

brakes:  Strange 4-wheel disc

front spindles:  Strange steel funny car spindles

wheels:  15x3.5 front, 16x16 rear beadlocks

engine block:  IA2 from AllPontiac.com

head studs:  9/16" diameter ARP studs and 12-point nuts

pistons and connecting rods:  Bill Miller Engineering aluminum

blower: 14-71 standard helix

ignition:  front-driven MSD Pro Mag 44 and universal crank trigger

headers:  Hooker Super Competition funny car zoomies

bellhousing:  Lakewood steel bellhousing with clutch pedal.

clutch:  Crowerglide centrifugal, titanium

transmission:  Lenco CS1 air-shifted 2-speed.  1.25  1st gear ratio.  reverser does not have neutral.

tires:  Hoosier  34.5/17.0-16 slicks, C2055 compound

fire system: (2) 10 lb. halon "FireBottle" systems from Safety Systems, Inc.

driver safety:  SFI-20 gloves, SFI-20 funny car boots, HANS device

fuel:  80% nitromethane + 20% methanol from Torco Racing Fuels

Stay tuned for ongoing details.