[Alvin]

"Since when is a Pontiac Engine equal to a Flathead Ford?"

Is it Already time to scrap all Pontiac engines and drive trains?

[Alvin]

Check out this thought progression link that many times suggests the anti-Pontiac drivetrain OP theme.
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=756394

Lots of anti-Pontiac dialog there. Which I do not agree...

Carpe Diem!

[pontiac1981]

There will never be a substitute for or an equal to a real Pontiac engine.

[72projectbird]

Well the flatheads were scrapped like crazy, but now almost everybody in the hotrod world wants at least one.

Maybe if everyone scraps their Pontiac engine, ours will go up in value

[geeteeohguy]

Everybody scrapped out their inefficient flatheads for cheap, durable small block Chevies that produced much more power for very little money. There's still about a 90% chance that the fiberglass '32 Ford your looking at has a 350/350/9 drive train. Ho-Hum.

[big hammer]

of course modern engines are significantly better. however, the only engine that would be in my 2nd gen or earlier Pontiac, is a Pontiac. it's already getting more and more cool to still have poncho power in your Pontiac. hp\liter is a useless measure of performance, and fuel efficiency means very little on a car I only drive several times per year.

[yak]

I wish every 5.4 ford ever built was scrapped

[NBF823]

I don't know. It is what it is. Motors are machines, and they don't know how old they are. They work on physical principles, and don't really care when they were manufactured.

You'll meet a lot of people who simply believe all that is new, is better. Heck, I once met a fellow who believed that the highest reading on the speedometer was how fast the car would go.

The pontiac has its flaws to me, but for the drag racers it has less flaws, and guys keep making more stuff for ponchos. They're probably faster now than the ever were before.

Don't sweat it.

[i82much]

Hey I put an IA2 engine in my car, so my money is where my mouth is. The difference is, while I love Pontiac engines and cannot see putting a modern engine in my car, that does not mean I am going to pull the wool over my eyes and pretend that the new engines are not superior.

[77 TRASHCAN]

The new engines are superior, no doubt.
Problem is that many here, and others don't really know the awesome potential their "old school" engine has. A perfect storm of parts, modifications, and assembly would shock those, that don't really know.

I see "alleged" Pontiac experienced (75 year old) builder (that I don't know who he is) advising the use of a X/E 268 cam in a 455 street engine, and another experienced Pontiac builder, seconding the cam selection. The cam will work, but leaves a ton of power on the table. End customer is happy because the things runs pretty good, after all, a 455 cube engine should gitty up and go, at least a little...
The car owner thinks he's got the killer of killer engines, the problem is WHAT HE DOESN'T know. Worse thing is, that not much extra money was needed to do it correctly, instead of taking outdated advice from some "behind the times" folks at an engine shop....

My friends, 25 year old son built a 6.0 LS engine for his old 67 Chevy pickup. It runs, performs great, jr. is always bashing anything "old school"....he just doesn't know...

[rtanner]

268h is and was a great cam for stock or bolt on mid- late 70s smogger motors, but its not the ticket for a optimized version of those motors

[NBF823]

I like the LS motors. Someday I may get one. Thrice i passed on the opportunity. My boss is building one, and I examined it with my novice eyes pretty good. When I think modern, I think variable lobe separation, 4-valve, better than 15mpg across town. I don't know, maybe I'm weird.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

"Since when is a Pontiac Engine equal to a Flathead Ford?"

Is it Already time to scrap all Pontiac engines and drive trains?

N-O-P-E!

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by pontiac1981

There will never be a substitute for or an equal to a real Pontiac engine.

Yea yea, there are some aircraft radial engines that I'd trade up to. Otherwise you're correct.

[71SportRagtop]

I run down the middle of the road.

For starters, I'm a purist when it comes to classic cars. What does that mean....well a classic Ford MUST have a Ford motor, a classic Mopar MUST have a Mopar motor, Pontiac...Pontiac motor, ect...

However I think that the idea of a new modern fuel injected motor along with a 5 or 6 speed manual trans in a 60's Musclecar is awesome and something I'd like to have one day.

I was at a car show last year and saw a 69 Mach I with a supercharged mod motor out of an 03-04 Cobra with a 5 or 6 speed manual trans. The attention to detail and craftsmanship was beyond fantastic. I can only imagine how much fun that car was to drive.

However, I am a simple working guy with a mortgage and 2 kids. I don't have gobs of money burning a hole in my pocket but this idea definitely is on my radar.

[Formulabruce]

Last year I ran some numbers on a Pontiac FI 355HO build. Seemed close to a 5.3 LS engine with the right AL. heads and roller equipment, and a PRO injection system with a stock air cleaner on top!
The kicker.. The Poncho had 40 more TQ through a 1900 rpm range near the lower end...
I am guessing with a TH2004R and 3.42 gears, the FI 355HO could still grab 26-29 MPG in a Firebird and still go like a banshee... Pun intended
Not likely to see this because Almost ALL builds are for performance and rarely do folks consider BOTH... But ......never know...
Its a Pontiacs only hope to live in the modern world in a driver...
keep in mind a 71 Pontiac 350 2bbl had 350 FT-lbs of TORQUE , yes that blows away the chevy..

[goatwgn]

I would rather walk down the street carrying a set of Pontiac V8 valve covers than to put an "LS" engine in my older Pontiac V8 powered car.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Yea yea, there are some aircraft radial engines that I'd trade up to. Otherwise you're correct.

What, no inlines? No Merlins or Griffons? Allisons?

[big hammer]

Originally Posted by yak

I wish every 5.4 ford ever built was scrapped

pretty much all modular fords for that matter.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by goatwgn

I would rather walk down the street carrying a set of Pontiac V8 valve covers than to put an "LS" engine in my older Pontiac V8 powered car.

I like your attitude!