For the two previous months, High Performance Pontiac has brought you some of the latest and greatest products from the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, the automobile industry's largest showing of aftermarket products. This month, we're back with engine components and accessories for your vintage and late-model Pontiacs. (Note: There was a very-limited number of new Pure-Pontiac products at this year's show, as the aftermarket industry continues to build more products for the LS-series and less for the Pontiac engine.)
This '69 Judge is owned by Surf City Garage and was one of few classic Pontiacs displayed at SEMA. According to Surf City Garage CEO Tim Miller, "It's an original GTO Judge with a numbers-matching Ram Air III engine, a Turbo 400, and a Safe-T-Track rear. It's painted in the original color of Carousel Red with a black interior. We use it on display to demo our Surf City Garage line of Enthusiast-Grade car-care products. Surf City Garage maintains over 125 original American musclecars. You can see some of them on our virtual tour at
www.surfcitygarage.com."
Proform/Specialty Auto Parts, USA
(586) 774-2500
www.proformparts.com
What is it?
770-cfm Street Series carburetor
Why you need it.
When every pound counts, these 100-percent aluminum carburetors are a practical upgrade for your Holley-flanged intake. They're extremely lightweight, feature changeable idle air-bleeds and fuel-level windows in the aluminum float bowls, and come with performance-calibrated metering blocks out of the box.
Applications
Any Pontiac with a Holley-style four-barrel intake
MSRP
$321
Mast Motorsports
(936) 560-2218
www.mastmotorsports.com
What is it?
Black Label LS3 complete engine
Why you need it.
If you're planning on entering your late-model Trans Am, GTO, or G8 into the horsepower wars, you'll want some serious ammunition. This turnkey engine displaces 416 cubes, is rated at 575 or 605 hp, and has daily-driver street manners. According to the manufacturer, it's an easy bolt-in swap to replace your tired LS1.
Applications
Any late-model rear-wheel drive Pontiac, vintage Pontiac LS-conversions
MSRP
Prices start at $12,595
Big 3 Performance
(920) 621-1779
www.big3performance.com
Jim Wangers Signature Edition valve covers
Why you need it.
Relive the classic muscle-car days of Pontiac with these Jim Wangers-signature valve covers. They'll give your GTO, Firebird, Grand Prix, or other Pontiac a custom look, and are also a salute to one of the all-time Pontiac greats.
Applications
All Pontiac V-8 engines from 326-455 ci
MSRP
$375 a pair
Hedman Performance Group
(562) 921-0404
What is it?
G-Body LS-Engine Conversion Kit
Why you need it.
Let's face it, you've never been too happy with the anemic Chevrolet and Buick engines that came in the '82-'87 Grand Prixs (and some '78-'81 models, too), and the thought of beating late-model Camaros at their own game is pretty tempting. This kit will allow you to install an LS-series engine into your fifth-generation Grand Prix, and finally get rid of its understressed and undertuned smog motor. The kit includes motor mounts, the transmission crossmember and mount, headers, reducers, gaskets, hardware, and installation instructions.
Applications
'78-'87 Grand Prixs
MSRP
$1,733 (with 1 7/8- to 2-inch stepped headers, 3-inch collectors)