Bought a 1971 Pontiac Grand Prix today with a 455 / 325 hp engine. Anybody know of a reputable Pontiac guru close to Georgia? BH

Just for a street motor you don't need to do much to them. New ARP rod bolts ( in the old days I use to have to use "direct connection" 383 mopor rod bolts), Forged pistons (flat top, pop ups don't work in a Pontiac), balance, and side clearence the rods. What casting heads do you have? "96" or 7K3". If you can find a set of 1970 "64" casting head that's the best head for a 455. If you don't mind running good fuel bolt a set of Ram Air III heads on it. Back cut the valves for some cheap HP. Make sure you have screw in studs an use poly locks on them. Buy some repo Ram Air III exhaust manifolds. (headers are a pain in the a$$ on Pontiac motors) Block off the heat riser openings in the intake gaskets. Find a 70 or older intake without the ERG or use a old single plane Torquer intake to kill some bottom end. (I think I might have a couple laying around my garage if you need one) Match port the intake to the heads. I always would block off the water port from the timing chain cover to the intake with a quarter and than take out the guts of the thermostat so you don't pump hot water back into the motor without it running through the cooling system first. I would also cap off the the heater hoses too. Use a HEI dist. AND LAST BUT NOT LEST PUT A REV LIMITER ON IT!! Those long stroke Pontiac motors don't live long at high RPM's. Not sure who the guru's are anymore but Nunzi's automotive and Jim Butler performance have been doing Pontiacs for a long time. And cam technology has come such a long way I don't know what is available anymore, I always liked the GP it was like a luxury GTO with the motor set back in the chassis. I've always owned one or more GTO's since high school. Still have a 67 conv. and love driving that car. Put a 78-81 WS6 Trans AM sway bar and steering box on it and you will not believe the difference it will make. 308 or 331 seem to be about the right gear for a 455. Good Luck an enjoy!

Pete

Brian
If you can have the patience, David McIntosh, at McIntosh Perforfance Automotive is very good with with Pontiacs. But bear in mind, he is the reason that you did not see my 41 on the lake this past summer. He IS SLOW! But very good with all the older muscle cars and has all in-house machine work and VERY METICULOUS about what he does. Robinson Racing Enterprizes is right next door if you want a true race car built.

Robert

http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/pontiac...chineshop.html

http://www.nunzi-pontiac-expert.com/


I used them for my 1969 GTO

I got a 71 455 HO intake laying around somewhere that I don't have a project for anymore.
Also have a Comp 305/305 cam still in a box. It's a little wild for a 400 but just the ticket for a hi comp 455.

May not be 'that' close to Georgia, but truck frieght is cheap. If you want the best in the country in Poncho engines messin' with yours, send it to Jim Butler.

I want to keep the car original YC Block / 68 cast on heads - matching number - protec o plate and build sheet intact - 74,000 original miles. I have a 70 GTO HO 455 WA Block with 64 heads. They're all D-port heads until you get into the round port Ram Air 4's. I may want to bump the hp up a bit but definitely want a daily driver and very dependable. Shipping is no problem keep the leads coming. Oh yea I paid $ 750.00 bucks for this beauty. I'll post some pics soon - BH