Pontiac 455

Pontiacs are on the Warpath today. How to 600 horses on pump gas sound to you

today on horsepower TV.

We will show you how to build a hot pump gas Pontiac 455 complete with forged pistons Victor intake and 1050 CFM car.

Then we'll test this iron engine on our horsepower shop dyno

in our race of the week. We'll follow a fast moving family competing in three hot classes at the I hr A Empire National

plus, examine some tool, tools, your shop.

So hang on for horsepower TV.

Hi, welcome to the horsepower shop for many of you. The G MA body is a popular platform for just about any kind of street machine build up.

And the

Chevelles are out there in the largest numbers. We'll show you more of this beauty later on.

But did you know it was the Pontiac GTO that launched the muscle car movement back in 1964?

Yeah, just take a look at this 69 judge. Now the carousel red paint and eye popping graphics make this limited edition GTO a real attention grabber. Just check out what's under this Ram Air hood.

What we've got is a 400 cubic inch thumper rated at 366 horse and back by a Munsey four speed. Now, in 1970 Pontiac put a new chief in charge

the 455. Now, today we're gonna show you how to build a 600 horse pump gas poncho using off the shelf parts. Yeah. But first we need to make a trip to Jim Butler performance down

in Lima, Tennessee.

That's where they're machining the building blocks. For our fearsome 455

our freshly baked original block is line honed and bored 30,000 THS over and of course decked before it's ready for new parts.

Meanwhile, here, our 455 S heads are ported, polished and flow tested to give us 320 CFM and 28 inches of water.

They are fitted with new valve guides.

The new valves get a three angle 45 degree cut,

the heads then are milled cleaned and ready for assembly.

Now, for the crank,

before balancing its large rod journals are cut 50 thousands to accommodate big block Chevy rods.

And ultimately, the stroke will be 425 versus the stock 421.

Now, once the block has been washed with good hot soapy water, you can begin the assembly process.

Now, I've already dropped in the federal mogul mains and applied the assembly lube. And back here we're using a rope type seal that seems to work best with these Pontiacs. Now, when I install one, here's a little trick that I like to use,

use an old socket there to just roll the seal down in the receiver groove and see it really well and then trim it leaving about 30,000 sticking up on each end.

Then you can apply this non hardening sealer

that way when we put the main cap back on. Well, there's a little bit of crush there and it'll seal real well.

Well, now we're ready for the crank shaft which has been stroked by Leno

to four and a quarter inches. Now, when you combine that with our 60,000 overboard,

hey, we're gonna end up with 474 cubic inches.

We're using a RP studs on the mains, which means the centers will get torque to 100 ft pounds and the outers get torque to 90 back here on the rear main, we'll torque them to 100 and 20 ft pounds. Now, once all that's done, you wanna go ahead and spin the cranks several times

so you can seat that rear seal.

Now, the rest of the bottom end uses eagle rods and forged pistons from Ross racing. Now, we ordered our Speed Pro Molly Rings oversized so we could file fit them for the proper end gaps. Top rings are 20 thousands. Second rings are 14. Now, the federal mogul race rod bearings are clearanced at 2.5 thousands.

Ok. 75 ft pounds, we can turn this thing over.

Well, our cam shaft selection is crucial to getting big power from our big Pontiac. So we had Leno

grind up this special roller that specs out at 301 degrees duration with a 648 lift on the intake and 309 degrees duration with a 648 inch lift on the exhaust.

Now, we had everything ground on 100 and eight degree lobe separation for a strong midrange.

Now, the thrust plate sets the end play on the cam and keeps it from walking forward out of the block. Plus it eliminates the need for a CAM button

to make sure

our C stays phased in properly. We're using this double roller timing set we got from Jim Butler performance.

The multiple key ways provide timing adjustments up to nine degrees before or after top dead center.

A previous testing tells us the Pontiac makes the most power at four degrees advanced. So

after agreeing in the cam, we made our marks to give us that and we're ready to vote this down,

you know, with a cam as big as ours and some serious seat pressure on those vow springs.

Well, this lifter Valley area, you need some reinforcement. So what we did was we got some bolt in lifter board braces from SD performance. Now, not only did they tie in the entire lifter Valley area, but they also let us run rocker ratios of up to 165.

Hey, I got the drive shaft for that oil pump too right here. It might just need that.

Now, the Pontiac has a pretty decent oiling system, but to make sure iron stays under pressure,

we're gonna use the Speed Pro high volume pump that's been modified with an 80 P si relief valve has a three quarter inch inlet and a moroso pickup welder to the body.

Our oil pan comes from or Roso too

and it's a seven quart low profile piece that gives us plenty of ground clearance and it'll fit just about any Pontiac chassis.

Now on the inside is a special baffling that's gonna help keep the oil down in the sump where it belongs.

Now, the final piece in our short block assembly is the timing cover. We're using a stock GM piece that's been fitted with a Mazier

high flow electric water pump. Now for street use both the motor and bearings are larger than their race version and that's a beautiful pump, but don't tighten it up all the way just yet.

Get a little trick that I wanna show everybody after the break. Now, don't go away. We'll be back with more of our 455 Pontiac build up right after this

for the latest news on horsepower TV. Check us out online at horsepower tv.com.

Hey, welcome back to the horsepower shop where it's time to finish the build up on our 455 Pontiac before we strap it to the engine, dyno.

Hey, what was that trick you were gonna tell us about for a leak proof seal. You wanna install the balancer before tightening up that timing cover that way

the seal can center itself, then you can cinch everything down. Oh, by the way, that balancer bolt there torques down to 100 and 60 ft pounds

great tip. Now to make 600 horsepower, we're gonna need some high flowing heads.

So we started with some of these

brock performer RPM heads and turned Jim Butler performance loose on them.

But one of their street performance porting jobs

this will make them flow 300 CFM on the intake.

Once the grindings done well, you can see the difference here on the intake. Of course, the exhaust gets the same treatment.

Plus they add a set of

via stainless steel valves that measure 211 on the intake 177 on the exhaust set inside a polished 87 cc combustion chamber.

Now, these dual valve springs from Leno

hold them in their seats

for head gaskets. We're using these fell pro Perm

Toques. Now they'll compress to 43 thousands and with our flat top pistons and 87 cc combustion chambers,

well, they're gonna give us a compression ratio of about 9.8 to 1. And hey, that's gonna let us run pump gas in this ferocious 455. Well, you could obviously run your mouth on. No octane, won't you help me here? Gladly.

There we go.

After torquing the head bolts down to 95 ft pounds.

We drop in our roller lifters,

push rods

and 165 rockers.

We're using Leno,

a roller rockers with our 455 and

just lash the valves down to 24 thousands. Now to make sure they hold that setting.

We're using this aluminum stud girdle.

Our high flowing heads are gonna need a good induction system. So what we're using is an Edelbrock Victor intake that's been ported to match our heads. Now, check this out down inside, there's a little turtle that Jim Butler performances added to help redirect that fuel air mixture and give us a few more ponies.

Now, because of the intake manifolds design,

it requires a special valley tray that bolts in. First, of course, we're gonna top the intake off with this 1050 CFM Holly Dominator carb and we're gonna add a one inch aluminum spacer. Now, this is gonna give us a little more plenum volume and a few more horses.

There aren't many choices when it comes to distributors for these Pontiacs. So we're using the stock piece with electronic upgrade.

So, interface with our Holly Annihilator ignition back there on the

dyno.

Now we'll finish it up with a set of their nine millimeter plug wires with these heat shields.

Well, I just rash the valves and once I get this cover type, hey, we're gonna be ready to make some power pulls.

I made it

612 horsepower on pump gas at that. Now that's one potent Pontiac.

Ok. Stay with us. We got more horsepower TV. Coming up.

Hey, welcome back to the shop.

If seven

era muscle cars turned you on or just check out this 72

Chevelle restored and modified by the guys at Car parts.com.

And now you know that I like Chevelle, especially with a big block like this one. Now, they built it just like they did back in the seventies with a recalibrated quadrajet plus a rec curved axel distributor and they're calling wires

and it was won by a lucky viewer, Russ

Ipota from Hebron, Indiana and the car parts.com sweepstakes.

Meanwhile, we've got some real winners when it comes to cool tools. In fact, here are some of the latest additions to our toolbox you might want to add to yours

first. How about these ratcheting A and wrenches from Russell? Now, their special design

lets you tighten a and fittings without removing the wrench and helps prevent overt torquing.

Now, they're machined from billet aluminum and they have a clear

anodized finish. Plus they're available individually in sizes six through 16 or as a full set to help you keep your a and fitting sealed.

Well, keeping your air tool system sealed is a problem for many of us. A leaky seal like this one is not only annoying,

it also cuts down on the efficiency of your tools.

Well, now, Prevost has got these leak free couplings

that are made of a high impact composite designed for one hand use and they're compatible with most of the connectors already on your tools.

Plus, they've got this push button safety system that bends the air circuit before disconnecting to prevent hose whip.

Well, disconnected sockets is something we've all encountered working on our cars. But the link tool system

takes care of that problem with a positive latching mechanism

that'll keep your sockets firmly attached even in the most difficult, hard to reach areas. Now, it's got a one handed release and the kit comes with a driver

hatchet extension and sockets and enough bids to do just about any job around the shop.

One job I hate around this place is when Chuck has me check the temperature of his headers

with my fingers. Looks like I have two choices, scalded skin or one of these non contact infrared thermometers for Raytech. They come in three heat ranges and they're great for checking header temperatures to get the right air fuel mixture

or they've got countless other uses around the shop or strip.

Hey, I can even use it to check the roast beef down to the all you can eat buffet.

I got no beef with that, but our sponsors have a stake in this deal. Here's a word from them.

Horsepower T V's race of the week is brought to you by Edelbrock, the leader in automotive performance for nearly 75 years.

This week New York International Raceway where about 700 cars are about to compete in this year's I hr A Empire Nationals.

Oh, I love my job.

This Carquest sponsored event broke all records for Spectators and drivers who came from all over the States and Canada racing, everything for pro outlaw drag machines to weld this stock bug.

And here is a bug on a bug.

Now, as we've showed you before this season, I hr a competition is very much a family affair

and nobody knows that. Like this trio from Wayne Michigan.

Eddie Lyons competes in pro outlaw. His son, Mike's a modified racer and wife Patty is in quick ride.

Eddie is a Ford motor sports engineer who's been racing all of his life. Considering your background, I guess it was not surprising that we've got a whole racing family here working together. Is it? I suppose that's not too surprising. I dragged my kid out to the track when he was only 12 years old and he started

pit crewing for me early on and started driving when he was 16. I have a great time

when I come to the races. This is my social event. My outing, this is my chance to get out

and meet my friends and hang out and have a good time.

Well, I taught my son, everything he knows.

Just tell him that he loves that.

Yeah, that's pretty much true. Hopefully, I've learned a few things on my own too.

Patty's the neophyte of the family racing team. Her dragster has a 514 crate motor which Eddie helped design.

She says she had a little trouble getting her hubby out of the driver's seat. He always in the back of his mind was gonna put me in the car and him be the wrench. But as it went on, he got to liking it too much

and I could never get him out.

Rick Rods used the delay box to stay within their 890 index

on

this qualifying run. Patty was a couple of hundreds too fast.

So what we'll do, um, is put a couple more numbers in my delay box and try to slow the car down a little bit more.

And, uh, hopefully I'll get up there and put a decent light and, uh,

maybe win that round

your throttle

stop during your 1st and 2nd stage.

That's your first one. That's your second one. If you want to do a down track stutter, you'd

do your 3rd and 4th.

Have it come on at like six seconds into the run for so much time. Like I got time to do all this. Right.

Anyhow, Michael runs the 351 Windsor with several modifications in his dragster

modified is a class he loves for several reasons. True. Sportsman racing where there's no nitrous you run on gasoline,

your bottom

b racing. No electronics. It's, it's kind of an old fashioned class.

Mhm.

So, here on Sunday, the challenge for Patty Lyons is to cut a decent line and stay at or just below that 890 index for quick ride. So, here we go with elimination for the Empire National

so far this season, Patty's been trying to improve her reaction times this time. She may have tried too hard

getting the big red light in her first round. I tried, but

I guess I was too eager on the tree and I let the button go

too early. I had a fat red light.

So,

but I'm getting close to you guys.

It was small consolation but Eddie lost his first round in pro outlaw too.

Not getting enough power from his blown small block so far. We haven't,

we haven't found a thing wrong with it, but there's definitely something wrong.

Ok. Well, Michael, you're the last lions in the hunt

to look.

Well, it's looking good. This is third round for me. Uh, got a tough round this round. In fact, they're all tough from here.

But, uh,

if I can keep my head and be smooth on the tree, I got a shot in his first round. Mike was nearly perfect writing his opponent down with a 762 on a 761 dial in

round two. Mike wins again

as his competition red lines.

Then in round three, the younger Lions runs a 760, breaking out by a mere 1000th of a second. Earlier today, we had some wind, slight tail wind and now we had none. So I didn't think it'd be any faster.

It was every bit as fast.

Oh, well,

you win some, you lose some.

Ok. Let's flash forward to all the sportsman finals under the lights. Mark Bieber's Mustang wins stock.

It's Andy Berta

taking Super stock when his opponent breaks out.

Ferguson wins Hot Rod. Thanks to a red light

then and Sub

Rod, it's Ferguson who red lights losing to Bob

Alaska.

F

fights to win quick ride by 11,000

and modified. It's Berta

again in a double breakout.

Rich Curry gets a free run winning top dragster

and another red light gives the victory to Elijah Morton

in I

hr A top sports

and now hot parts brought to you by car parts.com, everything for your car, truck van or SUV,

if you like to walk softly and carry a big stick. Well, then this 850 CFMQ jet from Edelbrock is the perfect car for your sleeper. Now, it's got a fatter idle circuit for those long duration cams

and a larger needle and seat to feed enough fuel for over 500 horsepower.

It also comes with an electric choke and will only throttle your wallet for about 460 bucks. Well, of course, you gotta get the fuel into your motor

and this Motown 215 head from world products to help you do just that in your small block Chevy

available in aluminum and iron. They feature 2 15 cc intake ports and high flow exhaust ports. Also, they have manly valves, 208 on the intake 160 on the exhaust.

Now, they've got these angle plugs for more efficient combustion

prices start at 900 a pair.

Well, these real seal header gaskets from flow tech will cure your header headaches.

They're made from a multi layered dead soft aluminum with a special coating to help them conform to surface irregularities. Plus they're reusable and they won't burn or blow out like most header gaskets do,

it won't burn out your wallet either. Prices start at $35 for a set. Ok. Well, I have a burning desire to tell you about next week's show.

Here's a look.

It's out with the old in with the new nine inch rear end that is in our 65 pro touring pony

that is before we upgrade the suspension and vote on new disc brakes.

Our race of the week takes us to Cordova Illinois for some hot street car racing

in the Heartland of America.

And remember high performance fun is what this show is all about. Now, do we make another run on the

dyno

for information about the products used in today's show and more? Check us out online at Horsepower tv.com

horsepower TV is an RTM production.