1978 trans am firebird 400cid need more horsepower

[taras hawryluk]

hello everyone...i have a 1978 pontiac trans am firebird y88.i want to add horse power without breaking the bank.it has headers but every thing else is stock...please help and be specific about what it is and how many horsepower it will gain.also what is the horsepower stock and what will it take to make 400 horsepower:::

[MrPbody]

taras,

First things first. Are you certain (keyword) it's a 400 Pontiac and not a 403 Olds? Both were available in '78s. The "plain jane" cars got the Olds, the "performance cars" got the Pontiac. The scoop will "say" "6.6 Litre" on Olds-powered cars, "T/A 6.6" on Pontiac-powered cars. It could also have been replaced, so the scoop isn't a "tell all". The Olds has an oil filler pipe sticking straight up in the front. The Pontiac "fills" oil through the valve cover.

IF it's the Pontiac, the place to start is to get Jim Hand's "How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s", published by SA Designs. This is the only CURRENT study of the ol' Injun. Most newbie questions are answered there, as well as a comprehensive history and "how to" information.

Getting 400 HP from the Pontiac is pretty straight-forward. Head work, cam, compression... But get the book and DO NOT "listen" to Chevy "buddies" with advice. Building the Pontiac "like" a Chevy is a recipe for a slug that won't "live". The Pontiac has tremendous potential IF "tapped" correctly.

The Olds is a good engine. It is not, however, anywhere near the capability of the Pontiac when modified. There are examples of stout and powerful 403s "out there", but there are more falures than successes regarding them. If you have the Olds, mild modifications will make the car more "fun", but serious power could become a liability.

Once you determine for sure, which engine you have, report back here. We can steer you the right direction.

Jim

[taras hawryluk]

Originally Posted by MrPbody

taras,

First things first. Are you certain (keyword) it's a 400 Pontiac and not a 403 Olds? Both were available in '78s. The "plain jane" cars got the Olds, the "performance cars" got the Pontiac. The scoop will "say" "6.6 Litre" on Olds-powered cars, "T/A 6.6" on Pontiac-powered cars. It could also have been replaced, so the scoop isn't a "tell all". The Olds has an oil filler pipe sticking straight up in the front. The Pontiac "fills" oil through the valve cover.

IF it's the Pontiac, the place to start is to get Jim Hand's "How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s", published by SA Designs. This is the only CURRENT study of the ol' Injun. Most newbie questions are answered there, as well as a comprehensive history and "how to" information.

Getting 400 HP from the Pontiac is pretty straight-forward. Head work, cam, compression... But get the book and DO NOT "listen" to Chevy "buddies" with advice. Building the Pontiac "like" a Chevy is a recipe for a slug that won't "live". The Pontiac has tremendous potential IF "tapped" correctly.

The Olds is a good engine. It is not, however, anywhere near the capability of the Pontiac when modified. There are examples of stout and powerful 403s "out there", but there are more falures than successes regarding them. If you have the Olds, mild modifications will make the car more "fun", but serious power could become a liability.

Once you determine for sure, which engine you have, report back here. We can steer you the right direction.

Jim

jim thanx for the help..dont stop lol...the engine is for sure a 400 cid pontiac 6.6.....7.7 compression ratio...180 horse@3600 rpm..no doubt that its a new engine statistic. not a 30 year old engine stat..i will take all the help i can get ..i am very mech. inclined....bring it on

[taras hawryluk]

jim thanx for the help..dont stop lol...the engine is for sure a 400 cid pontiac 6.6.....7.7 compression ratio...180 horse@3600 rpm..no doubt that its a new engine statistic. not a 30 year old engine stat..i will take all the help i can get ..i am very mech. inclined....bring it on