The body rules for GT are quite liberal. The small body cars, such as the Sunfire & Cobalt can be used. Front wheel drive cars can be converted to rear wheel drive.
From the GT section of the 2020 NHRA rule book:
"...Reserved for foreign and domestic factory-production two-door coupes, two-door sedans, sports cars, convertibles, or station wagons with any production V-8 engine of the same make. Year of engine optional.
Engine
V-8 only; must be same make as body. Year optional...Corporate engines permitted. Truck engines prohibited..."
I consider the word "make" to mean either Chevy, or Pontiac, or Buick, or Olds, or etc.
But, apparently, NHRA interprets it to mean either General Motors, or Ford Motor Corp, or Chrysler Corp, or etc. So, using THAT interpretation, it means that any GM V8 listed in the NHRA classification guide, could be used in any GT legal GM body.
That's why a 428 Pontiac engine is legal in a Chevy Cobalt. I suppose it would also be legal in a Camaro, Corvette, Nova, or Chevy wagon, as well as many Olds, Buick, & Caddy models. The 428 Pontiac is not a "corporate" engine, but it IS from the GM "make".
Don't know why they don't just make the rule clear by saying any NHRA legal Super Stock GM V8 in any GT legal GM body. But, whatever. Pontiac V8 engines are legal in most GT legal GM bodies.
If the engine claimed was available ONLY with a manual trans, then that engine can NOT be claimed in a GT car, if using an auto trans. Same goes for engines that came ONLY with an auto trans. Can't be claimed in a manual trans GT car.
The '77 350 & '79 400 Pontiac engines are examples that come to mind. We all know that the '79 400 came ONLY with a manual trans. The '77 350 came ONLY with an auto, according to NHRA. Sal Piacentini & Mike Morgan have done really well with that engine, in SS.
http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...3&MAKE=Pontiac
So, anyhow, we'll look closer at 4 of the "small body" Pontiac powered GT cars.