There has surfaced the need for high quality engine kits so local machinist can
build a good Pontiac without having to do all the research for components. Those
of us in the Pontiac crowd are already familiar with the subtleties of building
a "resto" motor with both good street manners and GTO performance.
The available fuel today, pales in comparison to the high octane fuels readily available
during the muscle car era. In order for a vintage muscle car to use today's fuel
(93 octane in USA, 98 in Europe) without damage to the engine from detonation (fuel
igniting itself prior to the optimum point in the compression stroke), certain internal
modifications are necessary.
The key factors are reducing the compression ratio and upgrading to the camshaft
to compensate for the loss of compression. At CVMS, we have developed very good
packages for these applications.
Compression is reduced to at most, 9.5:1. We prefer to take it a little further,
to 9.2, but some of our customers want to "press the edge". The difference
between the two is negligible, from a performance perspective. The camshaft is upgraded
with a modern grind using Comp Xtreme Energy technology. This allows for superior
performance from a "low compression" engine while still providing good
idle and vacuum characteristics.
For completeness of market, we also include Chevrolet and corporate engines that
have appeared in high performance Pontiacs in recent years. Our expertise at building
Chevrolet engines is very well known in our local market. Rest assured, we approach
them every bit as seriously as our Pontiacs, and our level of quality is the same
as our national reputation regarding the Pontiac V8.
These engine kits contain all the necessary parts to do a high quality rebuild on
your Pontiac engine, with "known quantity" results. Some of the kits are
represented by the "engine recipes" found in Chapter 11 of Jim Hand's
"How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s" by SA Designs. CVMS is quite
proud to have been invited to contribute to the most current study of the ol' "Injun".
Our contribution is Chapter 2, "Building Your Shortblock".
All kits contain the following components:
Federal Mogul Power Forged pistons (TRW) dished for the desired compression ratio.
Due to limited availability of certain replacement pistons, "custom" pistons
are required (421/428 being an example). Other applications require less performance
strength and better value. Those will be Sealed Power (Sterling) or Silvolite "stock"
replacements (cast aluminum, not hyper-eutectic). In some Chevrolet applicatioins,
Speed Pro hyper-eutectic pistons are used.
Sealed Power, Hastings or Speed Pro "moly" rings
Sealed Power, Speed Pro or Melling high volume oil pump & screen (standard pump
for small block Chevy applications) CVMS performs the "clean up" and blue-print
modifications to the oil pump, and with the Pontiac V8 pumps, other modifications
for durability are also perfomed.
CVMS hardened oil pump drive shaft for Pontiac, Speed Pro high performance oil pump
driveshaft for Chevrolet
Federal Mogul or Clevite rod and main bearings (for your specified undersize)
Federal Mogul or Dura Bond cam bearings
Sealed Power or Felpro complete gasket set (Victor/Reinz for "correct"
restorations)
Comp Extreme Energy camshaft and lifters (selected for your application)
Comp, Howard's or Sealed Power valve springs (matched to camshaft)
Comp or Speed Pro"true" roller timing set
Pioneer brass expansion plugs (oil gallery plugs modified for oiling the Pontiac
distributor gear and timing set included)
Pioneer harmonic balancer ('68 and newer Pontiac, most Chevrolet)
Pioneer flexplate (automatic transmission only)
ARP rod bolts and nuts
BOP rear main seal (Viton, Pontiac only)
oil pan reinforcement kit (for rear lip, Pontiac only)
PlastiKote Engine Enamel in your choice of colors (3 cans, enough to do a quality
job of painting all engine components)
Assembly lube
Instruction and specification sheet
With these kits, your local machinist will be able to build a high quality, high
performance Pontiac, by simply following all conventions of V8 engine building.
He (or she) won't have to worry about not being familiar with Pontiacs. All the
Pontiac specific research is incorporated in the kit. A complete description of
desired clearances and settings will be included in the kit.
Due to the specialized nature of these kits, and the component combinations, the
sale price may appear to be higher than that of a "rebuilder" kit. True
enough. But you will have everything you need in one box. No last minute chasing
for that "odd" component. You will also have the peace of mind knowing
a true Pontiac shop prepared the entire package.
Special bolt options are available. These kits are designed with the use of your
original bolts in mind (except the rod bolts). ARP are the prefered brand available.
Other options include Eagle H-beam rods, SI stainless steel valves in popular sizes,
and upgraded valve train components from Comp. For Chevrolet engines, hyper-eutectic
pistons are available for most applications.
These kits are NOT designed for racing engines. They are strictly for the resto
and street performance customer. For the concourse restorer, stock replacement camshafts
and pistons are available.
These kits range in price from around $700 to over $3,000, depending on application
and options chosen. We have gone to great lengths to assure only the highest quality
parts are included in these kits. There is no compromise to make them "cheaper".
At CVMS, we have no quarrel with those that sell for less. They know the value of
their product...
The following engines are available in kit form:
-
2.8/3.1/3.4 GM V6 (OHV)
-
302 (Chevrolet)
-
305 (Chevrolet)
-
326
-
327 (Chevrolet)
-
350 (Pontiac or Chevrolet)
-
389
-
396 (Chevrolet)
-
400 (Ram Air III and Ram Air IV engines included, Eagle "stroker" kits
also available)
-
400 (Chevrolet)
-
421 (standard and HO)
-
427 (Chevrolet)
-
428
-
454 (Chevrolet)
-
455 (standard, HO and SD engines)
-
505 (Pontiac)*
.