Prepping This Pontiac G8 For a Drag-and-Drive Debut in 2024 with a 4-Link, Twin-Turbo LS, and 7-Second Time Slips
Although Pontiac stopped building new cars in 2010, we sometimes wonder what they would be producing with the big power offerings the Big 3 manufacturers have been offering the last several years.
In the case of Chris Merry’s 2009 Pontiac G8, he’s been refining and enjoying it for the last eight years, and among the stories it’s been a part of, an interesting one involves Chris’ longtime friend and a name some drag-and-drive enthusiasts may recognize, Nick Diehl.
You could win this bitchin’ 1971 Chevy dually pick-up, plus the Harley bike in the bed and $5000 CASH!! Find out more by clicking here for Sick The Mag’s latest giveaway!
“In 2022 I was attending a Street Car Takeover event at my home track,” said Chris. But before he participated in that event, he made some test passes in a private track rental. “On the second pass, I launched the car and ended up bending the driveshaft. The next pass around 135 mph the car started vibrating really bad. So, the next morning I talked to Nick about what was going on. He said he would make a couple calls. I was going to throw in the towel and just hang out with my racecar friends.”
But Nick wouldn’t allow the Plan B for Chris, finding a fix for the driveshaft so they could make it to Saturday eliminations, where Chris ended up winning the heavyweight class. “It was my first time winning an event like that, and it wouldn’t have been possible without my family, friends, and especially Nick as he kicked my butt in gear to get the car fixed up and running again.”
Now into 2023, and Chris was making changes to the G8 to prepare for Hot Rod Drag Week. “But work and family life slowed the process down on getting the car ready,” said Chris. “So, when Drag Week was close to the deadline, Nick had sent me a text to ask if I’d be interested in taking their blue Mustang.
Since I was already signed up and had a ticket to go, I gladly accepted.” Chris completed his first drag-and-drive event behind the wheel, averaging 8.55 over the week to finish third in the Street Race Small Block Power-Adder class.
The Pontiac G8 is in the process of getting upgrades for 2024 and a debut for its first drag-and-drive at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks. To provide the power, Chris turned to fellow Sick Summer competitor Fonzie Novelo to build him a potent LS engine.
A 388 cubic inch bullet is based on a Dart block, and wears Frankenstein cylinder heads and tickles the valves with a Martin Smallwood custom camshaft. A Holley low ram intake gets the air from a Shearer Fab 1800 air-to-water intercooler, which is fed by a pair of Forced induction s376 turbochargers. A FuelTech FT600 ECU controls it all.
A Turbo 400 3-speed automatic passes the power to a Quick Performance custom built 9-inch rear end, which is suspended by a Tin Soldier 4-link kit, including their do-it-yourself brackets, plus an anti-roll-bar kit.
“My goals for 2024 are to compete and complete Sick Summer, and at the end of the year turn the car up to see if we can squeeze out a 7-second pass,” said Chris. “But for that to happen going to need some more seat time and continue to work with all the people in my corner to make that happen.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Chris Merry.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com