Engine Building - V-8 Power Trends And Best-Selling Engine Combos

Butler Performance can build complete Pontiac crate engines between 400 ci and 600 ci-it all depends on how big and how much grunt you want to put to the ground. Its pump-gas 467ci stroker can thump out 550 hp, depending on cam timing.

Butler Performance can build complete Pontiac crate engines between 400 ci and 600 ci-it a

Pontiac 467 CI
The desirable Pontiac 455 blocks are becoming so hard to find that the big move now is to stuff a 4.250-inch-stroke aftermarket crank into a 400 block. Butler Performance knows all about this and has several options for the aspiring Pontiac power-monger. The company offers a stroker-crank rotating assembly that includes a cast crank, 6.800-inch H-beam rods, and a set of Ross forged pistons for a reasonable price. You can purchase an assembled short-block, or you can commission Butler Performance to build the complete engine, which includes blueprinting. According to owner Jim Butler, the 461/467ci package will easily make 530 to 550 hp depending upon the camshaft selection. The most popular and streetable choice is the Comp Cams Xtreme Energy 274 hydraulic flat-tappet cam that specs out at 230/236 degrees of duration at 0.050 inch along with 0.488/0.491 inches of lift using a 1.5:1 rocker ratio. For cylinder heads, Butler recommends a set of BP-ported-and-assembled Edelbrock heads complete with 2.11/1.77-inch valves, polished chambers, and 10-degree locks and retainers. Cap that off with an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and a Holley 850-cfm carburetor along with a set of Doug's 171/48-inch headers.

Building a 406ci Pontiac is actually pretty easy and far more affordable than a 455.

Pontiac 400 Ci
Let's face it: Not every Pontiac guy is into 600hp stroker motors. Some just want to have fun with a torquey street engine. For the money, the 400 is the way to go, so we called Ken Crocie at H-O Enterprises to get his take on a good-running Pontiac. The 400 is just an over-bored 389, so the stock 4.12-inch bore can be easily punched to 4.15 with a set of Speed-Pro forged flat-top pistons to make 406 inches. The Edelbrock Pontiac Performer RPM heads are the way to go with 2.11/1.66-inch valves and 72cc chambers to make an honest 10:1 compression. Crocie did warn us that these heads require Ram Air IV-style round-port headers that are generally more expensive. The more plentiful D-port Pontiac headers won't work with the Edelbrock heads. Among the stock-iron heads, Crocie recommends the 64 casting number '70 455 iron head as the best production piece, but he says in stock condition these heads give up a bunch of power to the Edelbrocks. As for a cam, Crocie spec'd a Crane 296 PowerMax flat-tappet hydraulic with 234/242 degrees of duration at 0.050-inch along with 0.473/0.488 inches of valve lift. Combined with an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and a 750-cfm carburetor, you're looking at roughly 440 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

By Shifty Photo Sales

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