Bill Wise, the owner of this 4400-lb race weight 1974 LeMans Sport, had been very pleased with his Jim Taylor Engine Service-built 0.035- over 455 engine. He was running 12.56s despite the weight, and its street manners were impeccable.
Then he decided that running 11s would be even better, yet he wasn't about to give up the 455's smooth street attitude in the process. The challenge to pull this off was proposed to Jim Taylor Engine Service, so Taylor and Mark Erney got to work.
We covered the methods by which the team approached this project in Part I of "The Devil's in the Details" in the April 2009 issue of HPP. For the May issue, the engine will be put on the dyno to confirm its power making capabilities and then it will be reunited with the LeMans and strip tested.
Check out the specs below and see if you think it will run 11s with the upgrades. Then find out for sure in the May 2009 issue of HPP.
High Performance Pontiac Engine Buildup Worksheet
- Engine Displacement: 463 ci
- Bore/Stroke: 4.185-in bore 4.210-in stroke
Bottom End
- Block description: 1973 455
- Deck Height: 10.215-in
- Crank: 1970-1973 Pontiac nodular-iron
- Balancer: BHJ PO-IB7-S
- Rods: Crower Sportsman forged steel, 6.625-in
- Bearings: Sealed Power HD
- Pistons: JE / SRP forged, flat-top with valve reliefs
- Piston to deck height: -.005"
- Piston pins: JE full-floating with double spiral locks
- Rings: Total Seal TS1 gapless, low-tension oil rings (14-lb pull)
- Fasteners: Crower connecting rod bolts, ARP head bolts
- Balancing: By Hoffman Machine
Oiling System
- Windage tray: Pontiac 455
- Oil pan: Moroso 8-qt
- Oil pump: Melling M54D, Moroso pickup
Heads
- Casting number: 6X
- Chamber open/closed: Open
- Head mods: Ported
- Combustion chamber volume: 90 cc
- Maximum flow at 28 inches of pressure: 255/179 cfm at .550-in
- Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
- Valves: Ferrea SS, 2.11/1.66-in
- Angles used in valve job: 30 to 65-deg int., 45 deg exh
- Retainers: Comp Cams titanium
- Keepers: Crower jumbo locks 10-deg with lash caps
- Valve guides: K-Line liners
- Valve seals: Corteco all-teflon
- Rocker studs: ARP Pro Series 2-in
- Rocker arms: Crower full roller, 1.65 int./1.5:1 exh.
- Pushrods: Smith Brothers seamless chromoly .083x5/16x9.150-in
Cam
- Brand: Crane solid roller
- Duration at .050: 252/256-deg
- Lift: .598/.560 gross, .578/.540 net
- Lobe separation angle: 112-deg
- Installed position: Degreed to cam card by retarding 4 deg
- Lifters brand: Crower roller
- Valvesprings: Comp Cams dual with damper
- Seat pressure: 165 psi
- Open pressure: 425 psi
- Timing chain: Rollmaster -.002-in, double-roller pre-streched
Induction
- Dyno Carb: Holley 850 4781
- Dyno Jets: #83/80
- Mods: Notched rear float, jet extensions
- Intake manifold: Torker II single-plane
- Mods: Port-matched only
Ignition
- Distributor: MSD Pro-Billet
- Amplifier: MSD 6AL
- Coil: MSD Blaster 2
- Wires: MSD
- Total Timing: 36-deg
Exhaust
- Dyno Headers: Hooker 1.75-in primaries, 3-in collectors
1974 LeMans Sport Strip Specs
- Ancillary Engine Components
- Air Cleaner: K&N
- Carburetor: 850 DP set up like dyno carb
- Jets: #82/84 at track
- Spacer: Wilson 1-inch aluminum tapered
- Fuel pump: Mallory 140
- Lines: -10 from tank with sump, -8 to reg, -6 to carb
- Regulator: Mallory set at 7 psi
- Headers: Hooker 1.75-in primaries 3-in collectors
- Exhaust: Kooks 3-in X-type pipe, Spintech mufflers
- Timing: 36-deg
Drivetrain
- Transmission: Ford AOD, done by FB transmissions in Long Island, SFI bellhousing to mate Ford trans to GM
- Converter: Pro Torque 10-in, 3,500, (flash to 3,800 rpm)
- Shifter: B&M Pro Ratchet
- Rear: Factory 8.5 inch, 3.90:1 gears, Detroit locker, Mark Williams axles
Chassis and Suspension
- Brakes F/R: SSBC caliper slotted 11-in rotors / stock drum, ABS Power Brakes master cylinder elect accumulator
- Wheels F/R: Weld Rodlite 15x6 / 15x8
- Tires F/R: Good Year Aquatred 215/70R15 / M/T 275/60-15 Drag Radials
- Tire Pressure F/R: 35 psi / 20 psi
- Suspension Fr: Stock with 90/10 drag shocks
- Suspension Rr: Dick Miller Racing Bolt-On 4-Link, pinion set at 2.5-deg neg., adj QA1 set at 3 soft
- Chassis Mods: 6-point bar