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:
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2.8/3.1/3.4 GM V6 (OHV)
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302 (Chevrolet)
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305 (Chevrolet)
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326
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327 (Chevrolet)
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350 (Pontiac or Chevrolet)
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389
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396 (Chevrolet)
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400 (Ram Air III and Ram Air IV engines included, Eagle "stroker" kits also available)
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400 (Chevrolet)
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421 (standard and HO)
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427 (Chevrolet)
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428
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454 (Chevrolet)
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455 (standard, HO and SD engines)
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505 (Pontiac)*
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