newbie here

[97sierraz71]

Just joined today and love this site. I have had my 69 GTO for a couple of years now and it is an incredibly fun car to drive and even to work on. Hope to "meet" many of you soon!

[MrPbody]

Welcome aboard! You'll find me to be one of the least popular guy around here. But I'm a Pontiac bigot and damn proud of it! Had GTOs back when it wasn't "cool" to have them. Beat up on a WHOLE lot more cars than ever beat up on me!
When they give you a hard time about the "Pontiac", remind them, GTO did NOT earn a reputation for losing...

Have you read Jim Hand's book "How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s"? It's a curent study of the Injun engine, and is very good information. No myth or superstition there!

[76455Firebird]

Welcome to the muscle car forum, what engine do you have in that 69?
Hope you enjoy the forums.

[65Ponchoboy]

welcome man its always good to have another poncho lover around

[97sierraz71]

Thanks for the welcome! I haven't got Jim Hand's book, but will get it soon. Appreciate the advice. The 400 engine I think is original to the car, at least the date matches. Was rebuilt a few years ago, has the roller cam, edelbrock intake, holley carb, headers, bored over 30 thousands, not exactly stock I guess...haha. I was told it was a ram air III, (it is done up as a carousel red judge clone), but turns out the WT block was not ram air. Didn't matter to me, I just wanted something dependable and fun to drive, not a show car or trailer queen. Keep up the good work guys, thanks again!

[MrPbody]

That WT block is a 350-horse 400 w/manual trans. A very solid basis for a performance build. Which heads are on it? 62s or 48s? Often confused as "Ram Air" heads, 48s were on most 366 horse 400s (nicknamed in '69 as Ram Air III, but not formally named that until '70). 48s are good performance heads, but "D-ports", nevertheless. True "Ram Air" heads (in the vernacular) are the "round port" (exhaust only) heads. In '69 they would be 722s and in '70, 614s. The 48s were on most 350-horse and larger 400s and the 428 HO when equipped with the manual transmission.
You could also check out the Pontiac websites.

performanceyears.com
classicalpontiac.com
boyleworks.com (muscle cars)

There are more, but these three are where the Pontiac "family" hang out. Unlike Chevy, Ford and Mope "crowds", Pontiacers are a "family". The all-Pontiac races are more like a family reunion and picnic, than they are a real race. While there is some sibling rivalry, we take more pride in beating those "crowds". The look on the face of a hemi-powered 'Cuda bracket car, running 10s, is priceless when one of those "stone" Pontiacs clicks off a high 9 second run with half the money invested... "But I always heard Pontiacs didn't run!" is usually the whine. Yup, and GTO earned its reputation by losing... Right... When we have good parts, we make power with the best of them! Much to the shagrin of the Chevy and Ford crowds, we have MANY good parts today! And watch for the splash when the new Tiger head is released. It's rivalled ONLY by Big Chief and Hemi, in flow capability and chamber design. We could be looking at some nitro (not nitrous) Pontiacs in the near future! Exciting times to be a fan of the Injun.

[97sierraz71]

Thanks for the info, MrPbody it has been awhile since I looked and now I cannot remember the head's number....I know the date code is K 68 on the heads....and the block number was for a 69. I will have to check on the head number. I have been installing new intake gaskets in the pickup truck (which brought me to this forum to start with, hence my user name). It was a whole lot easier in the goat.....lol.......when I had to replace the water pump and timing chain. And when friends talk of how much it cost to buy parts for the old cars, I always show them the pontiac catalogues and compare those prices to what things on the new cars cost. Keep up the good work, talk at ya later!............Steve

[97sierraz71]

the heads on my car 62's, lol you dooo know your pontiacs.......Am guessing you still own one (or more) pontiacs yourself. What do you have? and what are your favorites?

[MrPbody]

Well, I have a raft of cars, but most are just crusty old hulks awaiting either the lottery or the right buyer. I have a '69 Firebird 400 (4-speed car!), a '68 Firebird "HO" (350, 4-speed), a '66 GTO coupe (post body), a '62 Catalina (NHRA Stock Class record holder in '65, "The Squaw Chaser"), and two Fiero GTs. The '88 GT is a pretty nice car. The '86 needs interior, but otherwise very nice. Both have stock drivetrains, and will remain so.
I know a bit about Pontiacs, it's true. I wrote the chapter "Building Your Shortblock" in Jim Hand's book. I run a machie shop where we specialize in muscle car engines, and Pontiacs are the second most popular, behind the Chevy big blocks.
We do a few more "race" Dodges than Pontiacs, but more Pontiacs than Fords. We do a large number (everyone in our business does) of small blocks (Chevy) for performance cars and racers. No muscle cars had small blocks.
You're welcome to look at our website. Not much commercialism there. (www.centralvirginiamachine.com)

For some pure Pontiac performance "tricks" and specs, try "mr-p-body.cc" Nothing commercial there, just good info and pics of real Pontiac performance mods and parts.

[97sierraz71]

wo.......that is a great place you have..and a great website! If it wasnt so far from charlotte to richmond, I'd know where to have my engine balanced and blueprinted this summer. As it is, a local builder down the road from me (Bob Reed, you may have heard of him) has agreed to do it when he gets time. But if I am ever up that way, I will definetly stop by.

[MrPbody]

Actually, we have a fair number of Pontiac customres from Charlotte and Raliegh. As one of the "national" Pontiac shops (we get good press on the net), we get people from all over. One man just came up from Atlanta yesterday, to have us straighten out a nightmare of a 455 he had built in Atlanta (Chevy builders strike again!).
Nope, never heard of Bob Reed. Is he a Pontiac man? Or someone familiar with them? Always looking for new contacts. Make sure he has a deck plate for the Poncho.
Drop by any time!

[eastside racer]

Whats up? Im a newbe here too.

[eastside racer]

If anyone reads this, I got a 1980 Firebird Limited Edtion, but, call me stupid if you like, Whats the difference between it and a regular bird of the smae year?

[MrPbody]

Well, I read it. What is a "limited edition"? Are you refering to the Indy pace car? The "SE" (black and gold like Smokey and the Bandit)? Never heard of an LE...