[GoOrdnance]

Can anyone recommend an engine shop with Pontiac experience in the southern California / Las Vegas area? My '68 XH (YH? hard to read) 400 + 0.030 block has ruined cam bearings after 5000 miles since a rebuild. Before that it was a bad rod bearing after just 4000 miles on a rebuild. Purchased the bare block in 1995 sitting on a floor. Beginning to think the block is cursed. Ran hot (215 degrees on the highway, fine in town) from day one even with a BeCool aluminum radiator and full shroud kit, with oil and trans coolers.

I live near Barstow, CA. Closer is better, but quality is more important. I do not want / need a race motor. Just a nice daily driver with a four barrel that runs on pump gas.

Thanks

GoOrdnance

[larry davis]

Absolutely not BF.

[larry davis]

Ace Brewer at Pacific Performance.

[SD73]

I would give Ken a call at HO-Racing. He did a terrific job on my SD and knows Pontiac engines very well. The downside is it can take some time. Mine was out for nearly a year. I'd also recommend not giving him the final payment until you get your blueprint documentation if that's important to you. Sadly, I'm still waiting for mine. He's in Rancho Cucamonga, pretty close by. http://www.hoenterprises.com/WSFF/ho...?vCompID=27383

[Ken -Ace- Brewer]

Thanx Larry!
Be Cool,
Ace
http://www.pacificperformanceracing.com

[Bryan Jensen]

3 words:


PORT FLOW DEVELOPMENT in Lancaster, CA

he's a 5 minute drive from my house. Located in the Cali Mojave Desert. He does everything but he's a genius with the Pontiac engine. He's building an EFI KRE headed 600 horse motor.

www.portflowdevelopment.com

661-974-8022, ask for Gregg, the owner.

Good luck.

[Red67GTO]

Whichever you decide, make sure they know Pontiac's inside and out. Pontiac Engines have not been built for a long time. There are few out there that really have the experience to build a door slammer without problems. It may cost a little extra but will save you money down the road.

[racegto65]

P.M. sent

[JSAauto]

GoOrdinanace.....

I do Pontiac engines. Our turn around time is usually 2-4 weeks depending on what you need doing. We use only the finest parts and take painstaking steps to make sure everything is where it needs to be. I've got 20 years of Pontiac engine building experience.

I had a problem with a 455 HO block once and the cam bearings getting wiped. You can kiss the bores ever so slightly to try and re-align the bores sans losing the press fit that must exist for proper cam bearing retention. Sometimes it could be caused by the cam bearings not installed correctly also. A simple check of making sure the cam spins freely before assembling the rest of the valve train may have un-covered a potential problem.

I've swapped cam bearings/manufacturers in the past to alliviate this problem on other blocks. I even made a tool out of an old Pontiac cam whereas I can "clearance" the cam bearings by shaving them to thwart fixing the bores in the block. Cam bearings are very "forgiving" in that manner.

As far as cooling goes.... the problem may be in the clearance of the separator plate and your water pump veins. This is crucial to water flow using a stock style water pump in a Pontiac engine and makes a HUGE difference in running temp. The current thinking is around .110 clearance between the impeller and the center hole of the separator plate.

John Stevenson Automotive
Chatsworth, Ca. 91311
(818) 772-1737

[jamaca85]

fultz machine shop. in las vegas. takes time but he does a great job... get mr fultz to do all the work for you.............