The advancement of tuning capabilities, and the use of F.A.S.T. engine management has prevented further damage to the rebuilt engine's vitals. Anderson Performance, for their reputation in the Turbo Buick community and familiarity with the F.A.S.T. system, was chosen to dial in the new motor. The crew from Baltimore has many 8, 9 and 10-second GM EFI builds to its credit and with a little more tuning Bob's truck will be added to that list. The current 112-octane race tune, Bob says, is still a touch too "fat" and will need to be tightened up before improving upon his best of 11.2 at 119 mph. Anderson also provided a safe street tune, which is optimized for 17-18 psi and 93-octane pump gas.
The grim reality of racing a brick with wheels is that Bob is fighting an uphill battle because of poor aerodynamics and weight. However, a tubular front suspension, from the now defunct Precision Engineering Performance, and a few other slimming components have managed to keep curb weight at a manageable 3,800 lbs. Its size doesn't seem evident in the Ty's 1.58 short times, owed to CalTracs traction bars, QA1 shocks at all four corners, beefy Nitto drag radials and 3100-stall converter from The Converter Shop. The billet converter helps the 63mm turbo spool, while being both capable of holding the massive torque and staying streetable thanks to the 9-inch converter and 11-inch clutch combination. The stock 700R4 has been beefed up significantly after having broken the output shaft. Using TCI's five-pinion front and rear planetary gear set and input housing along with Alto red clutches and 2-4 band, Bob installed his own custom shift kit and the Hydramatic tranny was better than new. Despite having broken his share of parts, the only time his Ty has ever required a tow has been when the transmission went and the front prop shaft bent like a bow. A stronger piece from Dynotech has since replaced it along with the rear driveshaft.
Unquestioned reliability, along with streetability, is no doubt what Bob loves most about his 11-second Typhoon, which enables him to put 5-6,000 miles on the odometer every year. In years past, this is something completely unthinkable for a 10- or 11-second car-further proof of how late model GM EFIs are changing the face of drag racing.
 |  A PTE T63E turbo creates up...  A PTE T63E turbo creates up to 25 psi of detonation-free boost at the track thanks to an ATR air-to-water intercooler and the Anderson Performance tune. A custom intake was fabricated to gulp air through a 9-inch K&N, meanwhile an ATR wastegate vents unneeded boost. |  Despite ported iron heads,...  Despite ported iron heads, the big turbo and increased boost the stock intake and throttle body has managed to keep up. Only a TPI airfoil separates it from its factory condition, though, Precision Turbo 50-lb injectors and an ATR fuel pressure regulator now enhances the tuned port injection. |