Ram Air IV versus 455 HO

[Charley Lillard]

I will be fine.. @##$%%crash bang boom@#$%^&...Now does anybody know where I might find NOS SD intake gaskets ?

[Belair62]

They just have their own set of tricks and don't respond to the things a big block responds to....am I close here Poncho dudes...

[supergonzo]

You can find Intake gaskets no problem.. fel pro makes them.I find the exact number Charlie if you want.
As far as ass backwards from chevy?? Yes the distributor turns the other way, and you can take it out of the car without pulling the intake manifold and draining all of your antifreeze out of the radiator. Pontiacs are much easier than most engines to work on, and any competent engine builder should be able to work on any brands.

As far as what makes them go or special tricks?? Most engines regardless of brand respond to mostly the same things...which is the right combination of parts. And careful building techniques, I am not sure what you guys think makes an engine tick. They all are just blocks, heads, intakes & exhaust and camshaft. Air pumps if you will, the more efficient you can make any brand the better.

Putting that discussion aside, everybody has a few tricks up their sleeve(that probably work on all brands), but that comes later, if you have a good engine builder your 455SD will make you very happy.

[supergonzo]

I kind of worded the above incorrectly, but hey it was midnight my time. Here's some things you will find different about a Pontiac versus a Chevy:

1.All Pontiac performance heads used screw-in rocker studs from 67+
2. Pontiac performance heads have some of the largest valve sizes in the auto world 2.11/1.77 ,only the BBC performance heads 2.19/1.88 are bigger in a wedge head, except Ford cleveland intakes were 2.19
3. Pontiac engines all use a valley pan, which seperates the hot oil from hitting the bottom of the intake manifold. A definite BIG performance boost. You could also cut off the water neck and change the intake manfold and distributor within 15 minutes at the track and never drain any antifreeze!
4. No dirt, antifreeze or gasket parts can get inside the motor when changing the intake manifold.
5. You do not have to pull the distributor to change the intake manifold.
6. The (balancer) comes off without a pulley.
7. All engines are internally balanced already, no mis matched externally balanced nonsense.
6. The timing cover can be removed without loosening up the oil pan.
7. Changing a timing chain in a pontiac takes 1/3 of the time as a chevy.
8. Pontiac bottom ends are very strong and beefy, all main caps are centered and go in one place only. No snapping them into the block and hope they stay in one place.
9. Todays Rod technology puts the strength of all rods on an equal basis, Some older non-performance Pontiacs had somewhat weaker rods. It has been claimed, although they were probably over revved.
10. All Pontiacs use 4/5 to full lenght very good windage trays. Only the Highest performance chevys had them and they were of inferior design.
11. All Pontiac combustion chambers are machined not cast
12. No Pontiac head bolts go into water jackets like most Chevy's. Cylinder head distortion because of uneven heating is not a problem in a Pontiac.
13. Pontiac stock rods are already among the longest in the industry, a recently recognized slight performance advantage. (basically more leverage)
14.Pontiac holds in the camshaft with a separate retainer plate, not relying upon the timing cover & chain to do the job.

Thats all I can think of for now, I am sure I am missing quite a few things. Anyway Charlie, you will find your Pontiac 455 SD will give you very good performance, last forever without needing a valve job or any other annoying big problem and be very easy to work on.
--------------
For you Chevy guys about to cry Foul!! I own 2 BBC Chevy's and do not have anything against them, I am just pointing out different building techniques which make the Pontiac engine much easier to work on and very well designed.
-------------------------

A an example: When I run my RAIV 69' Judge at the track, I use the stock aluminum intake with the heat crossover removed, just as the factory had already designed it. I constantly get Chevy guys coming over to look at the motor and asking if that is the "new" Holley Air Gap intake manifold. I have to explain to them that Pontiac designed this 35 years ago. And it is not a aftermarket intake. Lots of shaking heads and grumbles as people walk away, seemingly insisting that I MUST have a non-stock part.

I like all muscle cars, they all are cool to me www.kingofmusclecars.com

[Charley Lillard]

"6. The (balancer) comes off without a pulley." ..Ha.. When tearing down the engine I spent about 15 minutes scrounging around for the right length bolts to bolt my puller onto the balancer. Ended up going to the hardware store. I bolt it on and then the balancer just slid right off into my hands..... Where were these tidbits a couple weeks ago........

[supergonzo]

Sorry Charlie I wasn't here !

All Pontiacs are internally balanced (like any good motor really should be). In fact in the later years Pontiac discarded the dampner as it is called in the Pontiac world altogether. And used hubs. Their only purpose is to to show where the timing marks are. As a side benefit you can find any dampner and stick it on any engine that fits without throwing the engine out of balance.

[yellowjudge]

I think the 68/9 birds would of been quicker than GTOs. I have a 69 raiv TA, it seems like it is faster than my 70 raiv judge.

[supergonzo]

Should be its about 200-250lbs lighter. probably 2 tenths quicker

[DaJudge]

Use the Ram Air IV valve cover gaskets they are thicker because the IV's use 1:6 rockers stock. Ames or Performance Years have them in their catalogues.

[supergonzo]

RAIV valve cover gaskets are the same as any other valve cover gaskets. The rockers are 1.65 ratio stock, but they were stamped steel and not any bigger than 1.50 ratio rockers. Only Aftermarket Roller Rockers need 2 valve cover gaskets to fit.

To add one more thing to Mike Noun's point about the 455SD motor in 1973-1974. Most performance cars with lowered compression and added emissions at this time were solid mid-high 15 second cars. The 455SD was burdened with the same problem, but was running at least 2 seconds faster than the competition in a 4000lb car!! That is really almost unbelieveble. Too bad it wasn't made in 1970 with high compression & less emission garbage, with an open hood scoop.....it probably would have been considered the ultimate muscle car mass produced engine.