Frosty

Trivia question. What year did Pontiac get it's first V8 engine?

I'm afraid so, this is pretty typical of Pontiac V8 engines. Even if you use something like VHT's High Temperature paint, this will eventually happen. The problem usually starts at the Siamese inner exhaust ports but it will eventually spread to all the exhaust ports. It will stop about 1/3 to 1/2 up the heads. It just looks funky and not as neat as you'd like it to be - especially since you went to the trouble of painting the heads to make them look pretty in the first place. I've heard that famous Pontiac restoration guru Scott Tiemann has some secret paint formula that prevents or highly resists this, but.... 1. This is not your normal, high temperature, off the shelf formula rattle can or commercially available paint gun paint, it's a formula he's developed. 2. You have to pay Scott to paint your engine if you want it. I have not read where he's shared the formula.

I love nearly all college sports, with college football at the top of my list. I enjoy college basketball too, but the NBA - pro season is waaayyyyy tooo loong (so is the NHL season - especially when you add the playoffs). Having Michigan and Michigan State always competing for the basketball crown, it makes things more exciting to watch around here. Having both teams as #3 seeds in different regions should make things fun to watch.

Me too Ringo. The marketing heads at GM still don't understand us RWD bigots and performance fanatics. They think we should rightfully shell out $45k and up for a V8 RWD car just because we want one and they can charge that much. I am not interested in a twin turbo I-4 2.0L anything. I don't think it should cost an arm and a leg and a couple of other extremities to get there either. Now I saw a Regal wagon on the road this weekend for the first time and I did like the lines, it reminded me of a Volvo wagon. Still I want a RWD wagon, none of this AWD junk based on a FWD platform.

I am geeked because this is the only time of year I like basketball. Not mention part of the tournament will be held in Detroit this year. I had a chance to buy tickets but I was not willing to pop for the $3,000 they were asking for the whole weekend package of games, not to mention needing a hotel, food, and parking for the whole weekend. TV coverage is much cheaper.

There are a couple of Tennessee chapters and an Alabama chapter of POCI, but no Georgia chapters. If you want, I can give you contacts for those chapters. There is the Southeastern GTO Association in Marietta, GA. http://www.segtoa.org/ Finally, there is the Pontiac in Pigeon Forge (TN) show - May 31- June 3. It has a swap meet. http://www.pontiacsinpigeonforge.com/ Here are a couple of ads I found on craigslist in your area. eBay is always an option too. https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/pts/d/pontiac-motors-and-parts/6510066939.html - Offer to buy a manifold and a 4-bbl carb for say $150. That's a little less stuff he has to sell. https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/pts/d/pontiac-parts-1960s-70s/6443763017.html

I have mixed feelings about this since I grew up in Flint Michigan - home of Buick. First, I applaud GM for trying to do something daring to break Buick out of the "grandpa" car reputation that it has. However, I doubt few people know what the tri-shield even stands for. It was introduced in 1959 to showcase Buick's all new line up - the Invicta, the LeSabre, and the Electra. Second, I think this could be a mistake because this could have negative consequences or backlash. For example, what kind of car company won't even put its own name on it's own products? Time will tell - just ask Mitsubishi it went for them. However, I think the road to Buick's reputation overall lies with its product mix and styling. Buick is placed squarely between Chevrolet and Cadillac. So entry level luxury is essentially their target customers. Cadillac was turned around in the 2000s with aggressive styling, performance variants, and even trucks (Escalades). Buick needs to stop being just mid-size cars and SUVs. They have to have some performance cars beyond the turbo Regal GS. They need something off the ATS/CTS platform. Bring back a RWD Grand National or RWD Turbo Regal. If GM won't bring back the new Trailblazer that's running around Asia, why not bring it back as the new Buick Rainer - with a V8 option?

I have to agree with stratman. About the only Colonade style Pontiac I see at car shows are: '77 Can-Ams, '73 GTOs, '73-75 Grand Ams, and on a really rare occasion a Lemans or Lemans Sport Coupe.

I Indeed! I love the double entendre.

Nice! Even King Julien would be proud!

Oh gawd, please don't let them bring back the Thing.

Smoke Signals is the monthly magazine for members of the Pontiac Oakland Club International (POCI). The Legend is the same thing for the GTO Association of America (GTOAA). However, you can go to poci.org and look around and download a past issue of Smoke Signals. Ditto for gtoaa.org and the Legend. The back of the magazine has want ads, classifieds, and advertising by various Pontiac vendors. The only remaining Pontiac-themed commercial magazine is Poncho Perfection, published and edited by Don Keefe. Keep up the good work.

Much of this article we already know....particularly his dementia. However,t he articled does a good job summarizing Jim's career. http://www.hotrod.com/articles/jim-wangers-retiring-public-eye-age-91/

Wow! That's some good stuff he's smoking right there. I wonder if I can afford to buy any of it....or at least inhale it. I won't debate the advantages of diesel engines over gasoline engines. However America and most of North America has endured the Oldsmobile diesel quality issues of the late '70s/early '0s and the VW diesel emissions scandal, which has effectively killed demand for diesels in passenger cars for most of North America. So diesels are tough sell here and will continue to be for a long time to come. Diesels in pickup trucks have tons of advantages with none of stigma.

Actually for the money, I would try to find a used iron Pontiac 4-bbl manifold. Nothing against Edelbrock since I run one but so many tests I've seen comparing the stock single plane manifolds to the aftermarket ones, the stock ones holdup extremely well. Pontiac really did a good job designing their intake manifolds back int he day. There are lots of them at the swap meets and Craigslist for around $100. One of the biggest advantages of the Edelbrock is the weight savings - aluminium vs. cast iron. However is it going to make that much difference in the long run? The Quadrajet is a good carb if you know how to jet and tune it correctly. Otherwise a Holly 650/750 cfm vacuum secondary carb might be a good second choice. As for gear ratios the taller the gear (e.g. numerically lower), the better it is for economy. So a 3:08-1 is great for highway mileage but it will be terrible out of the hole. I personally run a 3:55 rear posi gear. The smaller the gear (e.g. numerically higher), the better it is for racing and performance, but it will hurt your fuel economy, that's why a 4:56 gear is popular with drag racers - they don't care about economy. I think that 3:55 is a good compromise between performance and street. I get around 12-14 mpg with the top up running my 455/TH400. I still kick myself for not building a TH200 4R overdrive transmission given all the highway driving I do with Lucy. Next, I'd recommend ditching your stock exhaust. Log style manifolds are very restrictive. Headers are a good choice. Alternatively Ram Air Restorations sells reproduction Ram Air IV / H.O. factory headers (cast iron). These can be connected up to a mandrel bent dual exhaust system. This should help get the air through the motor rather well and still keep it stock looking. Lastly, look at your brakes. If you are uping the "go" factor, you need to consider the "whoa" factor. Consider upgrading your front disc to slotted and perhaps drilled rotors, look at a performance oriented brake pads. Obviously inspect your brake lines and hoses and rear brakes, and repair/replace what is needed. However, nothing that I am suggesting here should break the bank.

I figured you'd be a happy camper stratman.

Nice work. The chassis and motor look clean. So what are the Cragar SS' bolted onto in the background?

Jack - Sprint 6 is spot on with the OHC6 chapter of the Pontiac Oakland Club International. It is one of several specialty chapter that POCI has. Sprint 6 is our resident OHC6 guru too. So he's a great guy to get to know period, and he knows a thing or two about the OHC6 too.

Yup, but Farmtruck and Azn lost in the Gonorail....broke a tie rod or an axle.

Last night, did anyone else besides me notice that Mega Race 2 between Fast N' Loud and Street Outlaws bunch was held at Wild Horses Pass Motorsports Park?

Is this enough of power adder for you? For me, it's a good start!

I agree with JUSTA - we like pictures. Feel free to post some when you get the chance.

How fast do you want to go? What are your goals and budget for the car? It sounds like you are trying to stay close to stock based on the fact that you are using 500 cfm Holly 2-barrel rather than upgrading to a 4-bbl intake and carburetor. The cam specs you've chosen are close to stock 268 degrees intake duration with .420 intake / .442 exhaust lift. Is that at 1.50:1 or 1.65:1 lift? The stock Rochester 2-bbl carbs run around 250-280 cfm, so you've clearly added the potential for more air with the bigger Holley carb. I think you could break 100 mph in the quarter but that means you really have to dial in the carb to the cam. Too much air and leaning out the fuel mixture too much won't help you get down the track - the proper jetting is key here. Get all your mechanical and vacuum advance in as soon as possible too. The 1973 motors were not considered horsepower monsters by any stretch of the imagination. GM had switched to net HP/torque ratings (meaning that engines were rated with all parasitic drag elements in place like A/C and power steering pumps, alternators, and air cleaners and filters in place. Previously, GM used gross HP/torque figures which removed all these items. In 1973, a 2-bbl 400 could expect to make 170-185 HP (at the flywheel), while a 4-bbl 400 would be rated around 200-230 HP. So don't expect any huge numbers at the rear wheels. Also, these cars were coming into the era of (then) new unleaded fuel and emissions. So compression ratios also started coming down to handle the lack of lead (which helped manage engine knock or detonation in those days), which further helped reduced HP figures.

I totally agree with you. I would put the Arias hemi head for the big block Chevy in the same category. This is a total machismo/ego boasting motor. It has everything to do with looks, bragging rights, showing off to people that your LS-powered GM ride is really a Hemi-LS powered beast. Now add a supercharger or twin turbos. This is definitely aimed at the "more money than brains" crowd. Still is might do well.

I will definitely be interested in seeing your results. Good luck.