Nocturne Blue 79 TA

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by Alponcho

Any updates on your project?

Particularly interested in your engine and your thoughts about how it works in your application.

I have an aluminum IAII block for my '70 Formula and I'm at the point in my project where I need to make final decisions regarding the combo (e.g., displacement, cam, etc). Was planning on 535 and shooting for 700/700 type deal, but in the back of my mind wonder whether I might be happier with something a little smaller (505 or even 440) and a little more tame. These days I value reliability and simplicity over max effort--hoping to avoid having to use a vacuum pump, for example. Ideally, would like to demonstrate that although it may cost a bit more, Pontiac is a good alternative to LS in our firebirds and gtos.

I don't think the 700 hp number is anything magical. It is pretty simple to get there these days. I'd focus more on driveability, which to me equated to multi-port fuel injection. I've been working on that project for six months and am installing it now. It takes a while to get a custom intake done, though Mark Luhn at Luhn Performance is the man! I was lucky enough to have him supply me an extra manifold like mine, while he did the work so I could still drive the car.

By the time you send one to be modified and get it all finished you're looking at a 4-6 month deal. You can get some already designed for EFI but if you are using high flow heads most won't fit. A standard Pontiac intake manifold flange doesn't even cover the porting on my e-heads. I think a Victor might have worked but I would have lost my shaker in the process.

That's where our LS friends have a tremendous advantage on us. By the time you take a IA2 motor, put the necessary goodies in it and fuel inject it properly, you're looking a more than you could buy a dual turbo LS for with far more reliability and a better design. I put the IA2 in this car but the other one I'm building, which is lower to the ground with a full AME chassis, gets the LS motor with a dry sump.