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Old 05-09-2026, 02:15 PM
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433lemans 433lemans is offline
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Default Pete McCarthy

Just received word of the passing of another Pontiac Great One! Passed of natural causes on Wednesday May 7 at 92 years old. RIP

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Old 05-09-2026, 03:13 PM
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Pete was a great one!
Condolences do his family and friends.

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Old 05-09-2026, 03:54 PM
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Default Rest In Peace Pete M.

I remember the first time that I read his Pontiac Racer's & High Performance Handbook in the very early 1980s and could not put it down.

Someone had given it to me in place of a book I loaned him. It was the Fabulous Firebird.

Then his second book had even more information and pictures too.

I bought his head porting DVD.

God bless him and his family.

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Old 05-09-2026, 04:57 PM
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Sad news.... RIP

He was one of the great ones!

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Old 05-09-2026, 05:19 PM
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RIP......a true Pontiac man.

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Old 05-09-2026, 05:49 PM
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He has passed on to that great dragstrip in the sky. RIP Pete!

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Old 05-09-2026, 06:12 PM
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RIP Pete. A Real Pontiac guy and a big influence in my "Pontiac Career". Learned an awful lot about Pontiac engines and particularly iron cylinder heads from him. He spent an entire week with me porting heads in Riverside, CA. Openly shared his vast knowledge with whoever wanted to learn about our prized Pontiacs. He will certainly be missed. Godspeed.

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Old 05-09-2026, 06:20 PM
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Prayers sent ,RIP .I spent a day with him over at the shop he hung out at, gee, forget the name. He was flowing, finishing up a set of heads I think they were 61 SD heads. As first eyes for anyone I gave him the SD455 dyno sheets. He was grateful.

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Old 05-09-2026, 06:29 PM
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Another legend in our hobby gone. Years ago I called Pontiac Enthusiast Magaziine to subscribe and Pete picked up. I spent 1/2 hour speaking with him about Pontiac engines and Ram Air IV heads in particular. He told me he was originally from Brooklyn and his family moved to California when he was young. Also have an autographed copy of one of his books. Still remember that conversation till this day. RIP Mr. McCarthy.

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Old 05-09-2026, 07:23 PM
Carl S Carl S is offline
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Has anyone seen Bruce Fulper's McCarthy bashing post he just put up on Facebook?

Unbelievable that you can say things like that about someone who hasn't even been put to rest yet.

I had commented in there but he had my comment removed and now he me blocked from commenting again.

Just sad.

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Old 05-09-2026, 08:06 PM
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Pete was a real gentleman. He cared about the hobby. RIP.
Bruce blocked me and I am glad. If BF bashed him, it speaks volumes of how great Pete was.

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Old 05-09-2026, 08:16 PM
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Sorry to hear of Pete's passing. RIP

Sad another Pontiac legend has passed on.

I met him years ago . He was a real nice guy with a lot of info . Got his books with several pages loose after years of use.

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Old 05-09-2026, 08:19 PM
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Pete, it was nice knowing you.

My sincere condolences to your family and friends.

Rest In Peace.

Bart

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Old 05-09-2026, 09:31 PM
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Rest In Piece old friend.

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Old 05-09-2026, 09:43 PM
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Not sure if i ever met Pete, but got his two Engine books, read em, so it felt like i did.

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Old 05-09-2026, 10:08 PM
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Met him a few times in the’90’s. I believe Dave at SD got his porting philosophy from Pete.

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Old 05-09-2026, 11:00 PM
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Our hobby would not be where it is today without Pete's great knowledge of the Pontiac V8. He was a true gentleman who was always willing to listen and help out when it came to making a Pontiac run! Another great one has left us to carry the Pontiac banner forward. RIP, Pete

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Old 05-09-2026, 11:55 PM
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RIP!
Hard to think of anyone else who has done so much for the Pontiac brotherhood!

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Old 05-10-2026, 03:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PunchT37 View Post
Met him a few times in the’90’s. I believe Dave at SD got his porting philosophy from Pete.
RIP Pete McCarthy

Yes SD Dave was a study of Pete's work.

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  #20  
Old 05-10-2026, 06:27 AM
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Mr. McCarthy was the type who went to the time, trouble and much labor of creating a significant benchmark for Pontiac faithful to build a respectible engine if not the best possible combination for his era.

It is a hell of a lot easier to follow a true expert who gladly shared his knowledge than to pathfind a trail to actual success.

Like the saying "run your car, not your mouth", he showed a true, tested approach that would garner respectable results. Others here have done the same: Jim Hand, Tom S, Darbikrash.

I was inspired by their efforts to do the best I could with my brake stuff.

Godspeed, Mr. McCarthy.

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