Anyone have some engine building books they recommend?
Chad82
04-19-2008, 06:35 PM
As I am working on doing the interior, I want to start reading up on engine building (will be my first one).
Anyone have any Pontiac specific or general books to suggest? I've done some research and "How to Build Max Performance Pontiac V8s" by Jim Hand looks to be decent enough. Anyone read it or have other ones to suggest?
Anyone have any Pontiac specific or general books to suggest? I've done some research and "How to Build Max Performance Pontiac V8s" by Jim Hand looks to be decent enough. Anyone read it or have other ones to suggest?
MrPbody
04-22-2008, 12:46 PM
Chad,
I helped write it... Chapter 2, "Building Your Shortblock", to be specific. It's the only CURRENT study of the old Injun. It's quite good, but aimed specifically at street engines, not "race" engines. If you want a 500-600 HP driver, it has plenty of good stuff. Not much attention paid to aluminum heads, as there weren't many proven ones yet available in '04 when the book was released. There are five now, and another just around the corner.
There are a couple other older books that have good info. Pete McCarthy's "Pontiac Racer's Handbook" and HO Racing's pair of books with all the high performance parts (factory) and stuff we did in the late '70s. Most of the modifications described there are obsolete.
With all the new "goodies" available, and more arriving every month (or so it seems), Pontiacs are indeed "back"! There's a company in Midlothian. Virginia (just outside Richmond) known as "AllPontiac.com" (not a pointer to a site guys, really, that's their name!) that has a large selection of high-end parts and a very good reputation. Kaufmann Racing Equipment in Glenmont, Ohio is another with a healthy selection of race parts. Reports about their blocks and business practices are mixed.
There are several websites dedicated to the old Injun, too, but rules here prevent me from naming them.
We have two of the IA-II blocks in here now, for customer builds. One is a bracket motor making about 700 HP at 545 CID. The other is a bit more "rowdy" at 505 CID, it's sceduled to make 800. We have customers that rev their aftermarket block versions to well past 7,500 RPM.
If you want a lot more specific information, PM me. I can help!
Jim
I helped write it... Chapter 2, "Building Your Shortblock", to be specific. It's the only CURRENT study of the old Injun. It's quite good, but aimed specifically at street engines, not "race" engines. If you want a 500-600 HP driver, it has plenty of good stuff. Not much attention paid to aluminum heads, as there weren't many proven ones yet available in '04 when the book was released. There are five now, and another just around the corner.
There are a couple other older books that have good info. Pete McCarthy's "Pontiac Racer's Handbook" and HO Racing's pair of books with all the high performance parts (factory) and stuff we did in the late '70s. Most of the modifications described there are obsolete.
With all the new "goodies" available, and more arriving every month (or so it seems), Pontiacs are indeed "back"! There's a company in Midlothian. Virginia (just outside Richmond) known as "AllPontiac.com" (not a pointer to a site guys, really, that's their name!) that has a large selection of high-end parts and a very good reputation. Kaufmann Racing Equipment in Glenmont, Ohio is another with a healthy selection of race parts. Reports about their blocks and business practices are mixed.
There are several websites dedicated to the old Injun, too, but rules here prevent me from naming them.
We have two of the IA-II blocks in here now, for customer builds. One is a bracket motor making about 700 HP at 545 CID. The other is a bit more "rowdy" at 505 CID, it's sceduled to make 800. We have customers that rev their aftermarket block versions to well past 7,500 RPM.
If you want a lot more specific information, PM me. I can help!
Jim
Chad82
04-23-2008, 10:38 AM
Wow, small world. I am sure I will have a million questions come when I actually get ready to build, but for now I think I will order it up and try to absorb the info. I am going for a street build with around 400-450 hp, at least to start. I would prefer to keep the 350 in it now, but I wouldn't be opposed to getting a 400, though that is mostly from a cost perspective since I am trying to do as much of this on the cheap as possible.
MrPbody
04-23-2008, 01:59 PM
Chad,
Keep the 350 in it now to "drive". Don't waste time or money trying to make that level of power with it. 350 Pontiac bears zero resemblance to 350 Chevy. That includes it's ability to "make power". In stock form, it will out-live any small block by a good margin if properly maintained, but it will never be a power house. Torquey is a better descripton. One positive thing, though. All the external "bolt-ons" that fit 350 fit 400... Just be sure to buy good stuff and not "cheap" stuff.
Put your budget towards a 400 Pontiac and you will see the difference. GREAT street engine and making 450 HP is a piece of pie... And don't fall into the "bigger is better" trap. A 455 block is less desirable for performance than a 400 block, and the core value is much higher (go figger...).
Have some fun!
Jim
Keep the 350 in it now to "drive". Don't waste time or money trying to make that level of power with it. 350 Pontiac bears zero resemblance to 350 Chevy. That includes it's ability to "make power". In stock form, it will out-live any small block by a good margin if properly maintained, but it will never be a power house. Torquey is a better descripton. One positive thing, though. All the external "bolt-ons" that fit 350 fit 400... Just be sure to buy good stuff and not "cheap" stuff.
Put your budget towards a 400 Pontiac and you will see the difference. GREAT street engine and making 450 HP is a piece of pie... And don't fall into the "bigger is better" trap. A 455 block is less desirable for performance than a 400 block, and the core value is much higher (go figger...).
Have some fun!
Jim
Chad82
05-12-2008, 07:41 PM
So Jim,
Do you have any Pontiac performance shops you would recommend? Specifically in the Seattle/Portland area. I am wanting to try to decide which route would be better to take, buy a built engine from someone that I know did it right or do it myself with the machine work done by someone else. My total budget for my powertrain is 5K, though obviously if I could get it for less I would love to save money. I've been reading through Jim Hand's book and a lot of this is new territory for me so I am wanting to weigh the options.
Do you have any Pontiac performance shops you would recommend? Specifically in the Seattle/Portland area. I am wanting to try to decide which route would be better to take, buy a built engine from someone that I know did it right or do it myself with the machine work done by someone else. My total budget for my powertrain is 5K, though obviously if I could get it for less I would love to save money. I've been reading through Jim Hand's book and a lot of this is new territory for me so I am wanting to weigh the options.
MrPbody
05-13-2008, 07:51 AM
Chad,
The "safest" "Pontiac shop" nearest you is SD Performance in Vancouver, BC. There are a couple in SoCal, but their reputations vary, depending on who you talk to. When dealing with SD, beware the "the ONLY way" or the "you can't get more than..." arguments. We've had to deal with that a bit lately. CVMS is well known on the East Coast for our Pontiacs. We started using solid roller lifters on hydraulic roller cams about three years ago, but if you listen to folks on other sites, you would think SD "invented" it. All because I recommended it to a friend who was having them do a pair of heads. They thought it was a bad idea until we posted "real world" results and Comp backed us up. Anyway, just be aware, there's a lot of marketing and BS in the Pontiac "world". You're too far away for us to be practical, so I will not attempt rationalize shipping it this far. I will, however, help you avoid the "land mines".
$5K is enough to get 500 hp from a 406. It's also enough to get 450 hp and 550 lb. ft. from a 455. PM me and I'll give you a "list".
Jim
The "safest" "Pontiac shop" nearest you is SD Performance in Vancouver, BC. There are a couple in SoCal, but their reputations vary, depending on who you talk to. When dealing with SD, beware the "the ONLY way" or the "you can't get more than..." arguments. We've had to deal with that a bit lately. CVMS is well known on the East Coast for our Pontiacs. We started using solid roller lifters on hydraulic roller cams about three years ago, but if you listen to folks on other sites, you would think SD "invented" it. All because I recommended it to a friend who was having them do a pair of heads. They thought it was a bad idea until we posted "real world" results and Comp backed us up. Anyway, just be aware, there's a lot of marketing and BS in the Pontiac "world". You're too far away for us to be practical, so I will not attempt rationalize shipping it this far. I will, however, help you avoid the "land mines".
$5K is enough to get 500 hp from a 406. It's also enough to get 450 hp and 550 lb. ft. from a 455. PM me and I'll give you a "list".
Jim
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2025