How to Rebuild Pontiac V-8s - Updated Edition. Rocky Rotella
I found that the complete line of Pontiac engine colors from OEM Paints are a close match to Pontiac originals. OEM Paints engine paint is specially formulated and contains ceramic and other proprietary materials. The company states the materials deliver increased bonding strength that flexes during thermal expansion and contraction and actually get stronger with use. OEM Paints engine colors resist gas, oil, rust, and grease and are dyno proven to withstand intermittent engine temperatures up to 500°F. OEM Paints has any shade of Pontiac blue available in an easy-to-use aerosol can.
Documentation
Documenting certain vehicles can be impossible without original paperwork. It usually wasn’t saved by the original owner or passed on to the next. That can leave the authenticity of many vehicles in question. That’s not the case for Pontiac hobbyists. Pontiac saved the vehicle billing history or invoices that it sent to its dealerships for many years. Enthusiast Jim Mattison was fortunate enough to take possession of the documents up to the 1986 model year.
Mattison’s company, PHS Automotive Services, provides hobbyists with production data, technical information, and detailed paperwork that can be used to document a specific Pontiac from 1961 to 1986 for a nominal fee. It’s an excellent resource that can verify the authenticity of a certain Pontiac or its optional equipment and possibly prevent a potential buyer from purchasing a misrepresented example. General Motors of Canada offers a similar service for any Canadianbuilt or Canadian-shipped Pontiac from 1945 forward.
An engine rebuild presents the perfect opportunity to correct any underhood issues. Often the original wiring harness has weathered from years of use, which can cause it to deteriorate or fray. M&H Electric Fabricators reproduction wire harnesses fit and function just like an original, and even contain original-type connectors for correct appearance and easy installation. M&H can also replace the original resistor wire in points-type harnesses with a 12-volt source when converting to HEI.
Publications
There is one Pontiac-specific magazine available to subscribers today. In addition to providing various vehicle features, Don Keefe’s Poncho Perfection has been delivering detailed articles on the technical aspects of the Pontiac V-8, new components and product reviews, and high-performance engine buildups to its readers since the demise of High Performance Pontiac magazine in 2015. It is an excellent monthly publication available in print or web-based formats.
National Clubs
In addition to local owners clubs, there are several national clubs that serve the Pontiac hobby. The three major Pontiac organizations host annual national conventions, drawing attendees from across the country. The clubs distribute publications, have major shows where vehicles are judged for complete correctness, and provide members with knowledgeable advisers who are willing to provide detailed technical support. For those just beginning in the hobby, joining such a club may be a very worthwhile investment.
The Firebird was Pontiac’s most popular vehicle in the late 1970s. More than 211,000 were produced in 1979 and more than half of them were Trans Ams. Several thousand 400s were stockpiled during 1978 model year production for use as T/A 6.6 engines in 1979 Trans Ams. These were the last 400-powered Pontiacs ever produced.
The GTO Association of America (GTOAA) is comprised of a large group of GTO owners sharing a common interest: preserving and promoting GTO heritage. Its award-winning publication, Legend, contains technical information about GTOs, club and hobby news, and member features. The annual GTOAA convention is an event that any Pontiac enthusiast—even more specific, any GTO enthusiast—should attend. The show field is routinely comprised of several hundred GTOs, some of which are the rarest and most desirable ever produced.
The National Firebird and Trans Am Club (NFTAC) is an organization comprised solely of Firebird enthusiasts. The club provides a wealth of technical information about Firebirds of all years for its members. Its annual convention, the Trans Am Nationals, is held in Dayton, Ohio, each August and attracts several hundred Firebirds from around the country. The show includes specific classes where Firebirds can be judged for correctness. The NFTAC is an excellent organization for any Firebird enthusiast.
The 1968–1972 A-Body vehicles remain an excellent foundation for performance enhancements. Unique GTOs and those with The Judge package are likely too valuable to modify, but entry-level Tempest and LeMans models can be purchased reasonably. The aftermarket abounds with restoration and suspension components.
The Pontiac-Oakland Club International (POCI) boasts the largest membership of any Pontiac-related club. Its goal is to pool resources to provide members with the best opportunity to preserve and restore any Pontiac. Its publication, Smoke Signals, is an excellent resource full of club and hobby news, technical information, member features, and classified ads. The annual POCI national convention features several hundred Pontiacs gathered in a single location. Many of the individual specialty chapters hold their own events throughout the year as well.
The Cruisin’ Tigers Pontiac Club was once a regional GTO club that recently relaxed its membership rules to include all Pontiac models and has become a national organization. In addition to a bimonthly publication containing hobby news, technical and feature articles, and classified ads, its annual event—the Indian Uprising held in the greater Chicago area—draws several hundred Pontiacs with attendees traveling several states away to attend.
Internet Web Forums
The internet information age is upon us and it has fueled the Pontiac hobby to some degree. A quick web search on a Pontiac topic provides a number of links to enthusiasts’ personal web pages. While those personal pages are only as accurate as its owner’s knowledge, there are several web-based forums where hobbyists can interact—posting real questions and receiving accurate replies.
There are a number of web forums that can provide information on how to improve your Pontiac’s appearance or performance. I regularly visit Bill Boyle’s pontiacstreetperformance.com, Chris Casperson’s maxperformanceinc.com, and Rich Miller’s classicalpontiac. com. There are many others that are model specific such as Mike Barefoot’s transamcountry.com and Joe Richter’s 301garage.com. Any of these online forums and many more can be an invaluable resource when rebuilding, restoring, or modifying any Pontiac. I also have my own website, Pontiac V8.com, that I use for blogging and to post past articles that I’ve penned over the years.
CHAPTER 2
PREPARING FOR THE REBUILD
When Pontiac designed its V-8 packages, each engine type was subjected to an endurance test, which consisted of static operation at 4,500 rpm on a dynamometer for 100 consecutive hours without shutdown. The engine was then completely disassembled and inspected for any signs of abnormal wear. If nothing of significance was detected, it was one step closer to reaching production.
An engine dynamometer is an excellent tool for breaking in an engine and measuring output under full-throttle load. The best machine shops or engine builders use a dyno to ensure a completely assembled engine operates properly before delivering it to a customer. Measured