[ponyakr]

Of the real Pontiac engine models, I'd have to guess a '69 RAIV Bird, assuming it is the lightest car that came with a RAIV engine. One reason I think it might be faster than the '68 RAII, is because the 041 cam had 1.65 rockers in the RAIV engines. I've read that the Bird Q-jets were fixed, so that the butterflies would not open all the way. So, was this enuff to make a heavier A-body quicker or faster ?

One reason I think a RAIV might be quicker than a RAII is because Scott Burton's '70 RAIV Bird is the quickest Pontiac powered Stock class drag car. It is quicker than Leo Glasbrenner's '68 RAII. I realize these are not street cars. But I have to assume that it represents the potential of each engine.

There were Pontiac engines with more rated horsepower. But those engines came only in heavier cars. I think the 421SD cars went well over 150mph in NASCAR trim, & won lots of races. And the 421SD cars also won lots of drag races. Some of these cars were not very streetable, but they made enuff of 'em to make 'em legal for racing. Definitely NOT "mass produced".

There was a 428 rated at 390hp. But they came in heavier cars.

The SD455 would have been a contender, but it had low compression & a cam that was too small.

It's interesting tho, to think about combos that could possibly have been ordered, with either real tall or real short gears. For example: some 2nd gens had 2.41 gears. These would give a Bird a lot of top speed, if it had enuff engine. Don't know what the lowest numerical number gears were that could have been ordered, behind the stronger engines. And, is it possible that a car with a 3-speed manual & 2 series gears might have had the most top speed ?

And, for 1/4 mile times, I know 4.33 gears were available in at least some of the RAIV vehicles. So, I assume that one of the 4-speed RAIV cars, with 4.33 gears might have been the quickest 1/4 mile Pontiac ?