[Mr. P-Body]

David,

"Your" 98 octane is measured differently than ours. It's more comparable to "our" 93. I agree, a small "dish" in the piston to get the compression down to 9.5:1 is called for.

While that cam is okay, it's an old "generi-grind". We (CVMS) use Comp XE grinds. Your combination is just right for XE262H. If you stay with the RPM intake, XE268H might even work a little better, but the small valves will hurt top-end power. I agree with 68lemans, a Q-Jet and the factory intake are more in line with your goals.

I would also invest in a set of aftermarket connecting rods. The stock cast rods, while good for stockers, aren't tough enough for the rigors of road racing. We use Eagles, but there are others out there for a little less money. Avoid the ones that are a LOT less...

Since this is your first Pontiac, Jim Hand's "How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s", published by SA Designs, is a "must read".

Lastly, the Pontiac engine will have an "onrush" of low-end torque you won't get from the small block Chevy or Ford. Make sure your chassis is set up for it!

Have fun and welcome to the higher echelon of GM performance cars!

Jim