[raj]

Hi, I've always liked Pontiac engines and now I've bought one to put perhaps in either a car I have or a car I might buy. I've never built a pontiac before and have a few questions.

First question is what's the advantage to using screw-in studs over press in besides the obvious of using aftermarket studs? Are both adjustable?

Second, I have a 455 that I was going to put fresh bearings and rings into and was wondering what would be a good cam to use. I plan on using stock ~100cc 6X heads for actual compression of around 8.5:1, stock non-EGR intake, straight dual exhaust through manifolds, installed in either a 72 Lemans or a 78 Grand Prix with around a 3:08 gear. I can take a pretty good guess if this were an Oldsmobile built engine but am unsure about a similar Pontiac. Are the rules for the two pretty similar?

[raj]

TTT

Anyone?

[screamingchief]

First question is what's the advantage to using screw-in studs over press in besides the obvious of using aftermarket studs? Are both adjustable?

The stock "pressed in" studs are weak and unreliable,they will either pull out or break at the single worst moment they possibly could,likely when your miles away from a possible solution to that issue...

The fact that they can be made adjustable with a set of the correct poly-locks only decreases that inheirant drawback by the slightest amount.

Besides,you state you plan on using 6X heads for this,those are all screw-in-stud heads anyways,so why sweat that detail,just unscrew the stock "bottleneck" studs and replace with a "straight" 7/16" screw-in-stud and presto,,,adjustable valvetrain,,,no muss,,,no fuss...

Good cams for a combo like you mentioned???

Plenty out there,and everybody has a favorite one,so I'd hafta defer that recommendation to others,my choices would'nt likely be those many would agree with.

I'd likely advise you read the archives some and ask that question in another thread afterwards.

HTH.

[gtofreek]

On a cam selection I think you should call Bullit Cams and tell them exactly what you have and what you want to do and they can suggest and sell you either one of theirs or an old Ultradyne cam. I really like the Ultradyne cams.

[raj]

Originally Posted by screamingchief

Besides,you state you plan on using 6X heads for this,those are all screw-in-stud heads anyways,so why sweat that detail,just unscrew the stock "bottleneck" studs and replace with a "straight" 7/16" screw-in-stud and presto,,,adjustable valvetrain,,,no muss,,,no fuss...

I haven't actually aquired the heads as of yet, but was mostly curious about what if I saw a set I wanted only they're press in studs. Anyways, thanks.

Originally Posted by screamingchief

Good cams for a combo like you mentioned???

I have a Crane 272H in a low comp 455 olds. It has 272/284 adv. duration and 216/228 duration at .050". Most people tell me it's not enough cam, but I like the way it runs. I've considered using a similar cam in this engine and was curious if anyone had run anything similar or if this was too small. I've noticed the lift on Pontiac cams seems to be a little less than an Olds. Is the Ram Air III too small for a low comp 455?

[1971WARBIRD]

years ago i ran a crane blazer cam;218-230,450-465 lift on a 114 cl.it was in a 73 bird,+.030 71 455 ho 4 speed 3.31 posi.low end was unbelieveable,but you could feel it dropping off after about 4500.in a 3.08 auto mostly stock engine it should be okay.i also ran a summit 2802 cam 224-234,468-488on a 114cl, in a 73 ta +.030 455 4x heads 400 turbo 1800 stall 3.08 posi.ran not bad,but you could tell it would have ran better with a little more stall and more gear(2200-2400,and 3.23-3.42)

[screamingchief]

I plan on using stock ~100cc 6X heads for actual compression of around 8.5:1,

You'll probably end up closer to 9.0:1 than 8.5:1 with the 400 6X heads (98-102cc's).

Lots of cam choices for an engine like this,too many really.

It's about the most common pontiac combo going right now.

Like I said,do some searching in the archives,tons of cam info to ponder