sweet fellas. Well I do believe that there is a 350 Pontiac BB. Whether it is called a BB or not, and whether it is a true BB or not I still believe it. The pontiac 350 BB has 265hp and 325 ft/lbs torque. I know cause I have the book on the pontiac engines.

NOTE - THE HP NUMBERS FOR THE 1970+ ENGINES ARE STRICTLY UNDER-RATED! They did this because of the fuel/economy ratings. The green people wanted to save the earth, so they rated these engines at a lower hp to make them happy. Peace out!

Moose

 

Please read my statement above there is no such thing as a bb pontiac. All pontiac blocks used the same exernal dementions they are all medium blocks if you wish you varify this go to any of the pontiac forums they will tell you the same thing. I'm not exactly sure what you are using as your definition for bb. As for 1970+ engines being unrated this isn't true either, as of 72 the american car companies changed their rating system to net hp and torque ratings as apposed to the highly inaccurate gross rating system used before. The 72+ hp are not unrated its the 71 and earlier than were overrated

 

There were "big" and "small" block Pontiac V-8's, at least in the 1960's. I cannot give you exact deck hights and bore spacings, but they are different. The 326 and oddball slant four "half a V-8" were used in the Tempest. The 389 and 421 was used in the Catalina, Grand Prix and Bonneville, and way too heavy for a compact car. The reason the GTO could hold a 389 is because in 1964 the GM compacts became much bigger "mid size" cars.

Another Pontiac "oddity" of that era was the OHC six that was based on the Chevy 230ci I-6, but with a SOHC arrangement. It was the standard engine in Tempests and Firebirds some years.

Jim

 

There were not big and small block pontiac v8's ever not in the 60's or any other time. The 389 and the 421 weigh almost exactly the same wieght at the 326 or 350. The deck heights all all exactly the same and are direct swaps which is why my people drop in a 455 in place of the smaller displacements and now one can tell with out a consultation of the serial numbers.If you don't believe me go and consult any of the pontiac forums I"m sure they would be pleased to straighten you out

 

Thanks for the info. I looked at some Pontiac sites and one of them called it a "mid-block", listed at 590 lb for the complete engine. My dad's first new car was a 1955 Pontiac. That was the first year for the "Stratostreak" V-8. BTW, the 1961 Tempest slant four was half of a 389.

Now I can see how John Delorean "got away" with building the GTO. Then the other GM divisions whent crying to upper management for permission to put big blocks in "compact" cars.

Jim