Pontiac Engine Myths

I know this is a Chevy slot, but I wanted to toss out a bone to any of you chevy guys thinking about building a Pontiac engine, or worse putting a Chevy in a Pontiac.

I'm not trying to start a fire, so don't take this the wrong way.

http://www.geocities.com/ramairgto72/TIPS/MYTH.html

Pontiac is as close to Chevy as GM, in my opinion..

Did you know that Pontiac heads are machined, Chevys are cast.

Pontiacs have dowles on the mains, Chevys just use the bolts.

Pontiacs have been useing Air Gap intakes from day one.

Pontiacs can change intakes without takeing out the Dist. and with a simple cut on the intake you dont even have to crack the cooling system.

Pontiacs can use the same intakes from 350 to 455.

Pontiacs use the same heads from 350 to 455.

Pontiacs use the same rods from 350 to 455.

Pontiacs use the same valve covers from 350 to 455.

Pontiacs use the same timing chain from 350 to 400 and same from 421 to 455.

Pontiacs use the same timing cover from 350 to 455.

Pontiacs use the same hedders from 350 to 455.

No such thing as a BB Pontiac.

Lots of other stuff can be used from 350 to 455, you cant do that with a Chevy.
Also changing spark plugs and running wires are alot better then Chevy as well as your "Cam Button", Pontiac cams use a plate bolted to the bock to keep the cam from walking.

That being said I think Chevy has a better lifter valley then Pontiac, setting the backlash on a Chevy is better then Pontiac.

I think If Pontiac had a Truck line, the Tables may have turned for the SBC, as the interchange ability of Pontiac is way better then Chevy.

I'll be.. I didn't know a lot of that. When i referred to Chevy n Pontiac, i meant the newer one's. I'd like to nab an old 455ci...

I see, in 1978 PMD stopped casting Pontiac engines. And in 79 it was the last year a Pontiac V8 was used in a Pontiac. Now we had a bastard 301 V8 but it was junk and had little to do with the real V8 or going fast.

The 455s are nice, but some suffered from core shift and had thin walls. The 400 tho can be stroked to 467 cubes and spins easyer then a 455 with a 3" 1/4 main, see the 455 has a 3 1/4 main and the 400 has a 3" main, so less area= less friction.

The 455's to have are the SD and HO engines, they had extra webbing and dry sump connections, it was a race engine with all the corections of the older blocks, they came late 1973-1974.

Tho in the last few years PMD fans now have lots of aftermarket blocks that can be stroked to over 688cubes, and mid 05 a set of heads called tiger heads that outflow RAM AIR V heads, it's good to be a PMD guy today then it was in 1970.

Also another thing I like is that Pontiac didnt do coded numbers on it's engines to find out what size it was. All V8s besides the 389 have the size cast into it in 2 places, one is the drivers side of the block tward the front, and the other is under the belly pan on the lifter vally.

I allways best my Chevy friend when we are at junk yards, he takes his book, a rag and some gum out, and I bring a rag lol.

If more people knew the power to be had from Pontiac engines, and not the old rap that sticks with it, i'm sure more Pontiacs would be built, and maybe you would see as many 70-72 Pontiacs as you see 70-72 Chevys at car shows, but chevys still have Pontiacs beat in the price wars, building a Pontiac is like builing a BB Chevy in price.

I like you signature. LOL

Displacement casting? Thats needed on the SB chevy's!! Last old Pontiac i seen was on a flatbed with a 502 Ram-Jet engine. Forgot what model it was, though. I remember the car was pretty big......