Judges

[442w30]

No, I owe the gov 20 grand for school. It'll be years till I get a second collector car. My consolation is that prices will go down when the Baby Boomers start dropping like flies.

[yellowjudge]

I have a pretty good magazine collection, including musclecar reviews back to 1985. If anyone needs any articles or info let me know.

[supergonzo]

gtaa9 wrote:"This is to anybody that can answer this question:What was the most potent and strongest pontiac engine?I hear alot about the 455HO's RAlV's and 455SD's???"

They are all round port headed motors, which means the exhaust ports were round, instead of standard GTO D-port heads. They are all very similar, and MUCH stronger than D-port head engines.

1969
400 RAIV...Good flowing heads,10.75 compression, 308/320 duration .520 lift camshaft, 1.65 ratio rockers,screw-in studs,thick pushrods,4 bolt mains, beautiful aluminum 4 bbl intake, removeable heat crossover, Special Q-jet carb.
This was one of the musclecar era's strongest combo. Well tuned stock examples regularly run very low 13's.
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1971
The 455 HO motor is basically a stroked low compression (version of the RAIV motor with a much milder 068, slightly inferior heads. This motor made tons of torque. Did the cubic inches make up for the loss of compression and camshaft?? This is a long debate, with even Pontiac themselves trying to say that it did. I think Pontiac knew the end of the muscle car era was upon them, and did the best they could, this was still a potent motor, however the cars they were installed in were getting heavier.
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1973
The 455 Super Duty, Best flowing round port heads to date, however still low compression, still mild cam, aluminum intake now made of iron. Beefed up block, was ready to be raced. Headers helped this engine breathe tremendously as now it was only in the 73' Firebird/TA line with restrictive crossflow mufflers. Still an EASY mid-13 second performer, right off the showroom floor. A set of headers, step-up camshaft and a better intake and carb... and you had a bonefide street cleaner.
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I think if Pontiac had made a High compression round port 455 motor in 1970, with the same attributes as the 69' RAIV engine, That would have cemented Pontiac's round port designed motors as one of the strongest ever built.
Instead we are left with debate as to which is better:
Smaller cubes and higher RPM. OR
More cubes and low compression, lower RPM.
Any one of the three, will put a smile on your face quick when you mash the pedal down.

[DaJudge]

Well said

[JLP]

You left out the 68 1/2 RA-II which was the fore runner of the RA-IV. Cast intake and 1.5 rockers. Intake side (I think) did not flow like RA-IV. Jim Mino has probably the quickest PS Firebird around w/RA-II power and not RA-IV.

I am posting this just to make the controversy go on and on.

[Belair62]

Let me help you......

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Any one of the three, will put a smile on your face quick when you mash the pedal down.

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I have seen that smiling face in my rear view mirror. Sorry Poncho guys...I had to.

[gtaa9]

Thanks for the information I appreciate it.I would think the smile on the face is a given.

[DaJudge]

You are soooo right Bob, That's why I am looking for a Chevy now. I have finally seen the light and it is good

[442w30]

Bite your tongue!

[CopoCrunkus]

[ QUOTE ]
Bite your tongue!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a common occurrence when Driving a Chevy