Question for Pontiac Engine Guys

[dhallz71]

Hmm, "when the carbs were set up right" indeed.....That's why I'm leaning toward one carb....That's enough for me to try to figure out, let alone three of them....

Nothing equals the sound of a Tri-Power opening up. And nothing equals the gas guage needle falling toward empty too.

 

[ralph7]

'65 GTO. Post (sedan) body.

Best year for the Goat, IMHO.

 

[BigBill]

My buddy had an altered with a big block Chevy running the Hilborn injection. It would constantly run in the high nine seconds in the quarter mile using the fuel injection Chevy cam and valve train. He picked up a new Howard a cam setup and it went only in the mid ten seconds. He reinstalled the Chevy cam and she was back to the high nines again. My point is the original equipment high performance factory stuff can be better engineered for performance. We do degree the cam to the original specs. Some gains can be made by advancing or regarding the cam too. Having the engine tested and run on an engine dune is one way to get results ahead of time. Just one more food for thought. Bb

For today's gas prices a single 780 Holley with vaccumne secondarys would be ok. Years ago we would install a screw and nut in the slot for secondarys before we raced. This is about the best gas mileage you can get.

 

[S&WForty]

Those #96 heads were 8.2:1 on '71 400s. Milling them some may give you the ideal CR. I don't know about the lower compression years ('71+), but the earlier years actually had ~0.5 less CR than advertised. 10.25:1 was closer to 9.75:1.
Those #96s used to be popular for boosting CR on 455s.

 

[MaximumLawman]

The e-barf ad.

Ah, thanks. I never noticed the guy's name. He actually used the machine shop where I was considering having my 400 block built. Glad to hear a similar combo worked well for you. His motor seemed a little pricey but by the time I get done buying parts and paying the machine shop to make one of those engines from the Hands book....

Those #96 heads were 8.2:1 on '71 400s. Milling them some may give you the ideal CR. I don't know about the lower compression years ('71+), but the earlier years actually had ~0.5 less CR than advertised. 10.25:1 was closer to 9.75:1.
Those #96s used to be popular for boosting CR on 455s.

I think the 96 heads would be good on my 400 block but if I went with a stroker crank it might be well over 9.5. Those 6x heads that they like to use on the 461's are over 100 cc's, I think. But DH was right, there were some good combos suggested in the Hands book. I didn't look at that chapter until he mentioned it. I'm going to call a couple of those builders for a price too.

My point is the original equipment high performance factory stuff can be better engineered for performance. We do degree the cam to the original specs. Some gains can be made by advancing or regarding the cam too. Having the engine tested and run on an engine dune is one way to get results ahead of time. Just one more food for thought. Bb

For today's gas prices a single 780 Holley with vaccumne secondarys would be ok. Years ago we would install a screw and nut in the slot for secondarys before we raced. This is about the best gas mileage you can get.

I've heard from quite a few guys (and in the Jim Hands book) that the original equipment intake manifold is hard to beat. Lots of guys put on an Edlebrock and actually lose performance. I have a 650 double pumper holly with mechanical secondaries laying around. I could always try that one too.

Best year for the Goat, IMHO.

It's gonna be Torch Red when I get it done....The original Montero Red was a little too dark for me.

 

[silentflyer]

"The only thing that beats cubic inches is cubic money", a old mechanic once told me, "so how many dollars worth of fast do you want to go"

 

[mr.jbk79]

"The only thing that beats cubic inches is cubic money", a old mechanic once told me, "so how many dollars worth of fast do you want to go"

Very true, and Pontiacs always costed somewhat more than a Ford or Chevy. Actually anything BOP was pricey but well worth it. Never cared for swapping powerplants because your small block Chevy was cheaper. jmo.

 

[MaximumLawman]

Lots of people have told me I should just stick a chevy motor in there since the car's not going to be original anyway. Blasphemy!

How about headers? I've heard that Doug's or Headman are the best for Pontiac but I also understand that any header install on a Pontiac is a biotch. Any suggestions? Will I have to dismantle tie rods and such to squeeze headers in there? And what about mufflers? I want a loud, low rumble. Flowmasters?

 

[dhallz71]

Doug`s are probably the best. With Hedman and Hookers, you have to dimple the #2 tube on the right side to clear the upper control arm. Unless you want to notch the arm a little. Yes, they`re a pain in any case.

 

[MaximumLawman]

The Hands book shows some "shorty" headers that look sort of like the factory cast headers as opposed to the long-tube ones...Heard anything about them??? You think it's best to install headers on the motor and drop it in or after the motor's already in?

 

[J Rich]

Maximum

I don't know if you have heard of these guys or contacted them. I am not a Pontiac guy, but have heard good things from Butler Performance they are the Pontiac Guru's.

Hope they may be able to answer some of your questions.

Butler Performance-Pontiac Engine Masters Challenge