What engines were available in a 1963 Pontiac Tempest?
This new V8 option for 1963 was Pontiac’s 326 cubic inch (5. L) V8, an engine with the same external dimensions as the venerable Trophy 8 389, but different internal components designed to produce more torque relative to displacement. The engine was produced in 406 and 427 cubic-inch competition versions and famously powered Ford GT40 MkIIs to endurance-racing domination in the 24 hours of Le Mans during the mid-1960s.The first engine to power the Ford GT40 Mk I was a 255-cubic-inch aluminum-block V-8 borrowed from Indy cars of the time, swapping out its overhead cam valvetrain for a pushrod setup that was deemed to be more reliable for Le Mans–type endurance racing: Displacement: 255 cubic inches (4.All chassis versions were powered by a series of American-built Ford V8 OHV engines modified for racing. In the 1966 Le Mans, the GT40 Mk II car broke Ferrari’s winning streak, making Ford the first American manufacturer to win a major European race since Jimmy Murphy’s Duesenberg in the 1921 French Grand Prix.The Big Leap: A 7. Liter Beast In 1966, Ford unleashed the 7. V8, a NASCAR-bred powerhouse, in the GT40 Mark II. Delivering around 485 horsepower and massive torque, this engine clinched a historic 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans that year.
What is the rarest Pontiac engine?
Pontiac 421 Super Duty Production Numbers Between 1962 and 1963, approximately 185 cars were powered by the 421 Super Duty V8, making it the rarest Pontiac engine in a muscle car. Like the small-block Chevy, it was well designed from the onset to have longevity and produce excellent horsepower and torque. In this series of articles our goal is to rebuild a 421 destined for a ’64 Catalina 2+2, but much of what will be presented is applicable to all muscle car era Pontiac V-8s.
How much horsepower does a 1972 Le Mans 350 have?
The base engine was a 350 cubic-inch V8 with 160 SAE net hp (rated at 250 gross hp the year before). Also, the full range of 400 and 455 CID V8s was available at extra cost but for one: the 300 hp 455 CID HO V8, which was available on all LeMans models except the Luxury. The Super Duty 455 engine was hand-assembled with reinforced internals, a radical camshaft, and special heads. Rated at 290 net horsepower, it made far more in reality—well over 370 gross hp. The SD-455 was the closest thing to a factory race engine in 1973.