[goatless]

There are wrongs out there in the world that have been committed against Pontiac, and us- the Pontiac faithful. The biggest, of course, was GM killing off Pontiac... and before that the Pontiac V8. But, there are smaller wrongs... things that, though they may annoying, Pontiac guys just need to let go!

These two immediately come to mind, but I know there are others. Feel free to add to the list.... Or tell me I'm stupid and these things deserve to be hung onto, to complain about all the time.

Big Bock Pontiac. Yes, I know it's wrong. You know it's wrong. I don't need to hear you rant about it every time some doofus says it in the Craigslist ad for a rusty hunk of crap that's been sinking into his front yard for the past 20 years.

Air Cleaner Displacement Stickers, aka "Buick Stickers". Again, I know they are not "correct". Why does it matter so much to some guys if a car owner put a sticker on his air cleaner lid? Sure, if you're judging at a concourse show, mark off a point for non original equipment, otherwise who cares? "Gee, that '69 Judge on Ebay looks real nice- too bad I won't buy it because it has a sticker on the air cleaner lid". I see people bitching about this so much on here that I want to start putting them on my cars just to piss people off!

[dhcarguy]

Agree. I never comment on those two things anymore...I don't even correct people. I just shake my head,

Dave

[salem1912]

Points well made! Next should be the guy that puts a GTO hood on his LeMans. If I had a Tempest/LeMans I would.

[Sirrotica]

These are the important points................



The elusive small block Pontiac denoted by the orange color.......................
Very rare, and only came in Canadian chevies.............LOL



What the letters P-O-N-T-I-A-C really stand for.

[mgarblik]

I think it's interesting and instructional to be correct about the cars and the hobby. No to be insulting, not to be a know it all. It can be tricky, especially today with the internet completely full of dead wrong information and now two generations using it as their only source for information. When someone is standing in front of their Pontiac extolling the virtues of it's "big block engine", I guess you can jump in and try to educate or walk away. That's an individual choice. It's painful to listen to total incorrect information about our traditional Pontiac engine. The truth is much more interesting in that the Pontiac engineers designed a masterpiece of an engine in the mid 1950's that handled stock displacements from 287 CU IN to 455 CU IN with the same basic block. As far as incorrect stickers go, fake GTO's and engine transplants, that's up to the individual. If someone wants to argue their "LS engine swap is the modern alternative to the engine that came in their classic Pontiac", I will be happy to argue that logic all day. I would agree it's the "lazy way to ruin your classic Pontiac". But that's what provides passion in the hobby. In the end the owner can put whatever stickers and engine they want into their car. If they misrepresent a Tempest as a GTO, that becomes a legal matter if buying or selling.

[johnta1]

Goatless, what do you say when someone says "Nice Chevelle!" or "Nice Camaro!" when looking at your car?

[bird72]

I have never heard of people referring to Poncho engines as Big Bocks until this thread

[goatless]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Goatless, what do you say when someone says "Nice Chevelle!" or "Nice Camaro!" when looking at your car?

Never had that happen. I must associate with a higher class of people than you're used to. ��

To be clear, my original post has to do more with guys on here or the countless Pontiac pages I've been added to on Facebook. Invariably, someone will post a link to a car for sale and a dozen guys will start ranting about how there is no such thing as a Pontiac big block and the seller must be a total idiot for saying it. I have to admit that when I see it in ad, I think that the seller must not be Pontiac knowledgeable, but I don't feel the need to rant about it every damn time!

When it comes to real life- it depends on who I hear saying it and the context. If it's someone young or just getting into the hobby, I'll explain it to them... If they are a know-it-all, blowhard type I'll generally ignor them. Life is too short to deal with them.

[BOB VIDAN]

I have never heard of people referring to Poncho engines as Big Bocks until this thread. Don't get out much, do you? LOL

[David Jones]

I've been asked if I had the big block 455 and have been complimented on my Chevelle.
I generally make one shot at a brief explanation and then move on.

On here, folks should know better and should be subject to merciless harassment.......

[johnta1]

Never had that happen. I must associate with a higher class of people than you're used to

Usually out in public, so it's basically everyone?
Usually the same ones that call the Pontiac engine 'big block' and have the decals on the air cleaners.

[RocktimusPryme]

"Camaro" spoilers on first gen birds. Deck lid or front. . A whole lotta "what's up with the snowplow?" Remarks. I don't have a problem with either. That rear spoiler is a styling cue chevy got right over Pontiac IMO.

[Simple Man]

We should also get over the fact that every 69 Camaro was a Z28....

[Carmine]

Interesting thread. I never knew about the "Buick" decal on my air cleaner lid, until someone told me about it. Regardless, I still like it and I'm going to leave it there. Even if I knew, I would do the same again. It's very natural looking. Just like it belongs there, Carmine.

[ta6point6]

Pontiac people need to get over the fact that GM did not kill Pontiac alone. People who ran Pontiac did plenty to throw dirt on the brand as well. The Aztec is/was one of the ugliest vehicles ever made. The marketing strategy to try and lure BMW guys to the modern GTO/Pontiac was a total fail. The 4th gen 2002 35th Trans Am, Yellow and black paint scheme paid tribute to what car..........a taxi cab maybe a bumble bee???????
Does it sound cool to walk up to another Pontiac guy and say "Hey Bud nice intermediate block you have there." I don't think so
Lets face it in the world of cars there are many cars that had a big block and small block vehicles and so someone to use that term is fine.

[goatless]

Well, based on the one star rating this thread has gotten, I've found at least one guy that likes to bitch about people saying "Pontiac Big Block" and the air cleaner stickers.

[goatmanmitch]

Pontiac never made a big block.

[GT182]

Originally Posted by salem1912

Points well made! Next should be the guy that puts a GTO hood on his LeMans. If I had a Tempest/LeMans I would.

I did on my 66 Tempest Custom back in 1972. Looked even better with the 65 GTO hood, 66 GTO grills and parking lights. I do know it was the only Pontiac in Rochester and Massena, NY that was done that way.

Got a lot of good comments on it too. Back in the mid 90s I even saw it again in a guys front yard a few miles from where we lived in Ft. Covington, NY with current NY plates on it. Before I could talk to him he moved and I never saw it again.

[Held for Ransom]

Jeremy,
I don't have a problem where I would comment on a Craigslist ad. But I do have issues with magazines that do. I let my subscription end because of this faux pas. Criticize me all you want, but "they" are the problem when they should be the solution.

[goatless]

A magazine saying it is waaaaaaayyyy different than some schmoe in an online ad! Obviously they should be held to a higher standard.

I'm not saying that we need to forgive the usage- just that we don't need everyone to make the same comments every time it shows up!