Pontiac crate engines

[Jack Gifford]

{Since there's no PY "GMC Truck" forum, I settled on this "Business Entities" forum to place this thread}

I had decided to let my subscription to "Custom Classic Trucks" expire due to very little coverage over the years of '55-59 GMC trucks with Pontiac engines. Upon receiving my final issue today and reading a "Crate Engines" article, lo and behold- I could barely believe this lead-in to a few paragraphs about Butler Performance-

"... a GMC fanatic would prefer to have the original V-8 his GMC left the factory with, a Pontiac V-8."

This was followed by a useful rundown on Butler "crate" offerings- 389 Tri-Power, SD421, RAII/III/IV/V, SD455, HO455, etc. in a range of 500-750+ HP on pump gas.

Certainly, Butler isn't the only source of good Pontiac crate engines, but it was a pleasant surprise to finally see some recognition of the traditional Pontiac V8 in a "trucks" magazine. Hmm... have they suckered me in to re-subscribing??...

[PITTSBURGH 64]

Ain't that a s.o.b. when that happends! :D
That happend to me when I let my High Performance Pontiac run out. But the new Smoke Signals is great and all I need.

[SD425A]

Jack -- what other crate engine guys do you like. Jim

[Jack Gifford]

Jim- I've built all my own Pontiac engines, never bought a 'crate' engine. But there are a number of builders with great reputations on these forums. Were I buying, I'd be especially interested in the 383 from PPR that showed 462 HP on the dyno- I just happen to like engines around that displacement.

[Jack Gifford]

Jim- Thanks for the call the other day. Meade Machine is at 32 Ford Street in Clyde, 315-923-7700. As I said, he does very precise bore/hone work with with a Sunnen CK10. He doesn't own a Pontiac torque plate, but you're welcome to borrow mine. I don't remember whose equipment he uses for valve seats, but he can do good work- full-radius exhaust seats, etc.

[SD425A]

Hey thanks a lot --I'm in Buffalo this week, hi is in florida--mother dying--I may go there
friday if he is home--you saved me a lot of time. May take you up on that plate. heading to Lima -- more later thanks again Jim