Wouldn't trade my 31 Pontiac for the world. Here's what I started with. Her first year on the road at the first HAMB Drags. And how she looks today. I use five spokes on the rear for the street.
I care and my uncle(87 years old) is really pissed! When he heard there would be no more Pontiac he went on a rant. He is a die hard Poncho man. He had a 37,47,53,58(with tri-power no less, he gave it to me when the body rusted away, the 370 3X2 engine is now in my 54 Olds Super 88) 63,68,72,78,81,89,96 and 2002. He said GM can go to hell, he ain't buying a new car, he will just keep his 02 til he kicks off. It now has 14k miles so he should be good.
This may not be 100% H.A.M.B. worthy but it is one of the nicest '32 Pontiac Rods I've seen in a long time. This car was built by a guy in his mid to late 60's. He had worked on the car over a 30 year period. This is his dream car. Much/most of the "shinny" metal is not chrome or billit, it's polished stainless.
Why so slow? My stock built 400 in my 3810lb 1968 firebird with a cheap TH350 and stock 1979 8.5" rear end does 12.50s all day long on pump gas. Thankfully its a very good time for Pontiacs with many different heads being cast now, nice rods, pistons etc ect. Even Bolcks are being cast. Pontiac died in 1978 when they discontinued the PONTIAC block. 1979, they used up the last pontiac blocks.
Correct. Many think that it was '78 or '79 but, it was indeed 1981. For those who say that only the standard deck Pontiacs are 'real' Pontiacs.. then I guess you also do not consider the '69era 303 Trans Am engines real either? They had the same deck height as the 301 and 265 ( where do you think it came from). 301s and 265 may not be popular with all but, they are, unquestionably, real Pontiac V8s.
What about the iron duke?? Was made till the late 90's in Canada. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Iron_Duke_engine
CRH- thanks for this thread and your words on the Pontiac engine. Others, like me, agree with you! Please understand this post. I am not intending to brag or boast here, just wish to show my commitment to the Pontiac engine. Want to share with others and glad to read others share enjoying this great motor and make from days gone by. It is important that this does not pass on with time. We must influence younger generations about this great motor. Almost everything I own is powered by a Pontiac engine. Even built a 10,000 watt generator powered by a 4cyl '61 Tempest. Not to blow my own whistle but, I have spent most of my life dedicated to the Pontiac V8 era, 1955-1981, and the cars they powered. as a kid, built models, read everything I could find. Then by 15 had saved up enough to buy my first GTO. In the 90s, started designing and building and selling speed equip for Pontiacs that was not available. things like cam driven fuel pump drives, competition supercharger drives, magneto bases, front crank snout supports, 6 bolt main lower ends, higly modified heads and the list goes on. Some of it shown here. In '95 bought an acreage, had it rezoned and got permits for car storage. Since then have bought 600-700+ Pontiacs. Currently, I own over 400 of them as I have been scaling down for the move. Saved hundreds of them from the crusher myself. Have been providing parts and info the best I can to serve the hobby as best I can and for the planned museum. In '98, went another step further, started my own event dedicated to the Pontiac engine. Many told me it would not work but, we just celebrated its 14th year and now planning for 2013. People attend from all over, including these examples from California & Colorado. It is the only event in existance exclusively dedicated to Pontiac Power. The type of vehicle does not matter, the engine does. multiple days of car shows, drags, exhibitions and parts exchange. We had had national magzine coverage since 2003. Then, there is the rare collecting side of me. 1962 blown/injected M/T HEMI Pontiac engine, the only known running original one to exist. the '68 Tyree all glass Firebird funny car, another '66 tempest all glass body from the day. Just to name some highlights of the collection. Have also collected a stash of HEMI parts to build more engines. Have 2 blown Pontiac powered speed boats ( one with the HEMI mentioned ). Then, there is the racer side of me. Besides organziing Pontiac drags in the west for 14 years, built and tune a front motor 389 blown, injected, nitro burning AA/Fuel Dragster. It had the absolulte Pontiac ET record from '06-'08 at 6.77. There is more coming, much more. A second race car, a blown, injected altered wheelbase '65 Tempest altered wheelbase Funny Car is under construction. Ultimately, will powered by this '59 389 that has been bored and stroked to 577". In 2006, I purchased a second, larger, acreage and now have 2 places to store and work on Pontiacs. In 2007, I made, what I believe, is the longest distance road trip in a Pontiac and possibly, in anything else. My ultra rare 1972 GTO 455HO WW5 with many upgrades, made a wild 7 week 11,000 road trip all around the US and did it all towing to boot! This was one of the first legs of the trip where I towed a '75 TA I had sold from Arizona to Ohio. then hauled parts from here to there and towed a '68 GTO back to Arizona that I had bought. Several years before this, the idea had come around for a Pontiac museum. One not dedicated to Pontiac motor division but, to the Pontiac engine. the orignal plan to to have in in Maricopa at my main property but, several decisions have had me purchase another, larger acreage in eastern Arizona south of I-40. This Pontiac Heaven museum, as it is called, will feature every year of Pontiac from 1955-1981. This includes full size, mid size and Firebirds. It will also feature engines on stands, chassis, memorabilia, rare exotic stuff and more. So far, close to 60 Pontiacs have been set aside, including every year GTO and most every year full size and Firebirds. There will be a race car and restoration shop as well. Eventually, everything will be moved to this new property with room for 1,000 Pontiac parts and project cars and as large a building as I can afford. I am looking for help with this Pontiac Heaven Museum project. Mainly help with your time. The property will be paid off this year, then a building will go up. I will not have enough of my lilfe span to finish all of this so, with help, we can get more done before this is all passed on to my successor ( who is another major Pontiac fan so, it will be in good hands). There will be living quarters, RV space avail in the coming years. Am hoping that certain dedicated people will volunteer a week or a weeked to a certain project. Those who do, will be recorded on that car or project that they helped contribute to the cause of preserving Pontiacs 'glory days'. Along with the Pontiacs will be memorabilia from the same era- bicycles, hot wheels, model kits, posters, dealer items, music, boats, etc from the era to compliment the Pontiacs. Here are a few waiting their turn- '64 GTO in background, '65 Tempest Funny Car in foreground There will also be a 1954 straight 8 flat head restored on a stand to show where Pontiac was at the end of the 6volt era. There will be a slant 4 Tempest display, an OHC 6 display, plus soe station wagons and 4 doors too. Not just the performance side of Pontiac but, that will be its focus. The end will be a 1981 Turbo Trans Am ( or Turbo Formula if I can find one ). If anyone has possible interest in this massive project, please save my contact info 480-899-7873 steve@pontiacheaven.org Again, just wanted to show my background to show my sincerety and dedication to the hobby, not boasting. That is all, looking for some help on this project now and in the coming years and decades, Lord Willing. Sorry for the size of this post. I also wish to mention Tim & Penny Dyes Pontiac museum in IL. It is highly recommended when you are in the area, make a point to see it. http://www.pontiacoaklandmuseum.org/ my site is www.pontiacheaven.org not much on there now, but, much more is coming. If this all isn't enough, I have strong aspirations to run Bonneville with a streamliner.... hmmmm
No need to be sorry for the size of your post, Steve, as with us Pontiac people, it is like reading a good book! Pontiac may be dead as far as GM is concerned, but in the aftermarket world, there are more performance parts being produced tor the traditional Pontiac design than there ever were when it was being made by GM. Bill
Actually no! The original poster included the overhead cam six. So why not the Iron Duke 4 banger as a lot of rodders use this Pontiac engine in Track T's and such?
I care. My first car was a 1967 GTO Convertible. 400 single 4, turbo 400, Hurst His/Hers shifter, 10 bolt rear, totally stock but at 16 damn I was terror.
I know 1981 was the last year but the 301 was an anemic POS so I don't include those. Sorry. Being a full blown Pontiac fanatic since 1979 and having been the tech writer in a 200+ member Pontiac club including the go to guy . I do know my Pontiac's. Mostly 1965-1979 blocks. Here are just a few Firebirds I have. I have owned at least 8 other 4sp 400 Birds. These ones I still have except for the 67 400 sp. 1967-1969 are my expertise but Pontiac engines of the 1967-1979s I know in my sleep.
Depends. The RA IIs and RA IVs do 12s no problem in stock trim. My car is a stock build with a cheap manifold, carb change with a used Th350 and 3:73s . Non ported heads . The big thing between the 60s and todays cars are gearing and traction. I have traction (Barely!!!)with Caltracs and BFG Drag radials. Now I have a taller tire MT ET Drag radials and Nitrous. Again the engine is just a stock D port motor with stock heads but a different intake and carb. The cam is way smaller than a RAIV and close to an HO Cam. With a poor nitrous shot its 11:75s . I don't hit the button until at least the 60ft mark due to traction isues but still pull a 1.6 0-60ft time. My car dyno'd at 325 rwhp but the torque is over 472 from 3000-6200. Thats why Pontiacs ruled!!! Torque baby, Torque!!! Heres a RA II at the Pure Stock Drags http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89LtzFMtnFM How about this one? http://www.fastraces.org/members/fa...161b6251a6681dc885257579007c3663!opendocument As far as Im concerned Pontiacs died in 1979 when a good engine design died. No other manufacturer built a design that could keep growing with cubic inches and still stay the same dimemsions externally. From the 265-455 cid. All the same external dimension. Actually all connecting rods are the same size from 1956 on up. You could take a 1978 180 HP engine and throw a different cam and some late 60s heads and have the same performance as the sixties cars. The compression change with Pontiacs were in the heads. The heads had a fully machined chamber and used flat top pistons so running 91 octane pump gas with 10:1 compression is easy. As far as missing Pontiac, I like what has happened in the last 10 years. You can pretty much buy any engine parts including the blocks with the Pontiac enthusiasts that have put their time and money out for manufacturing Pontiac parts. Ace Brewer, Butler, All Pontiac. DCI, KRE, Kaufman all have contributed so much in the last few years. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and the other thing is that I have switched my energy now to Hotrods, 1929 Whippet Desoto hemi powered and a 1936 Ford . I still love my Pontiacs but my eyes have opened to other adventures in building and am loving it. I did just drive up to the local cruise in, in my 1968 Convertible 400 4 sp Firebird with 1966 GTO tripower.
Quote "The economic recession (putting it easily) is of course reasonable as to why." End quote. There are probably some who belive that statement; however, there are a couple of other statements that probably had more to do with the decline and fall of Oldsmobile and Pontiac: (1) "Its not your father's Oldsmobile"! (it certainly wasn't!) And (2) "The new GTO is not targeted to sell to the traditional Pontiac buyer". (why not???) Too bad the so-called "corporate engine" wasn't Pontiac! My opinion, others will differ. Jon.
some good info there on the pontiacs !!! i wouldnt buy a buick if it was the only car made...... they should have kept PONTIAC !!!
My first car was a 1958 Tri Power Pontiac. It needed a speedometer that went a lot higher than 120. Lots of fond memories!
Applekrate!!! I have been secretly jealous of your awesome collection and the work you do! I also keep wanting to come to the Pontiac gathering you do. Thanks for the awesome post letting us know how serious your work is with Pontiacs. Also, I think the museum is an amazing idea! I would love to see the museum!!!!!
Howdy Great pictures and story, and you are right,Pontiac was King late 50s too late 60s, untill Chevorlet pulled the plug, chey couldn't beat Pontiac. My brother inlaw own'a a 64 Bonnevile he's redoing,I have lots of his parts on my front porch. I hve owned a few Poncho's myself, had a great 65 GTO Convertible, and a 70 Firebird,. had a little help but did most of the work myself. Moved out of the east coast many years ago, now they have a Big Pontiac Parts House in the western part of the state, go figure. Thanks again for the look see and story. happy motorin Sandy....sanford graham
In 1970 bought a '65 GTO 4-speed car and after that one bought a '67 GTO also a 4-speed car. The '65 GTO is my all time favorite Pontiac with the '67 coming in second. Wish I still had them, they were both great cars to have fun with.
I've been a ponitac nut since 1968. I've owned Chevys, Buicks, Fords, but I always came back to a Pontiac. I've become good friends with Steve (applekrate) and his passion is real and infectious. I'm in the process of building what will probably be my last car build. So I'm building what I've always wanted to do. I'm building a 1963 Catalina street freak (gasser). Not traditional by any means but what I want to do. Twin turbo charged '60 389 (406) block, twin intercoolers and tunnel ram with twin 750 blow thru carbs. Original Dearborn Top loader 3 speed trans but I had to use a Ford 9 inch rearend (because I already had it.) It's a blend of old and new. Although not everyones cup of tea, it is what I've always wanted to build. I too will never buy another GM product. I know big whoop! But that is the only way I can slap GM in the face for being stupid and bad, bad business people. Mark L
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