We use the term Pontiac here with a bit of a wink because the engine you are about to see make some big power on the dyno does not have a single stock Pontiac part in it. What it does have it is a K&M Perofmance MR-1A aluminum block, Kauffman Racing Engines wild Warp 6 heads, a sheetmetal intake, a pair of mondo carbs, probably a billet crank, and some really tough connecting rods and pistons. The 428ci displacement is actually pretty small for this block as we have seen combos well over 500ci built out of these. The good news is that what this thing lacks in physical displacement, it makes up for it in revs and that means some totally sweet dyno noise.
Noted Pontiac engine builder Kaufmann Racing Engines is responsible for the construction of this engine and the notes on the video say that the motor eclipsed 1,000hp at 9,500 RPM. That is impressive stuff and it sure speaks to the effectiveness of the parts involved. This is probably one of the more extreme naturally aspirated Pontiac engines out there and after this testing the word is that this engine landed in an old Pontiac station wagon drag car. How neat is that?
While this engine doesn’t stand as a budget build by any means, we still love it. There’s proof that you can make stupid power with the brand of your choice if you want, even if the parts of the brand of your choice aren’t technically in the engine. The platform is close enough and we have no qualms about calling this a Pontiac.. Anyone who thinks that a stock Pontiac engine could see 9,800 RPM probably could not ID one anyway!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE A RAGGED EDGE 1,000 HP, naturally aspirated Pontiac SCREAM!
Nice to see a Pontiac making some big horsepower numbers.
“does not have a Pontiac part in it”, really sick of hearing that. No one ever says that about any other brand when they are modified to the max.
“We use the term Pontiac here with a bit of a wink because the engine you are about to see make some big power on the dyno does not have a single stock Pontiac part in it”
Neither does the Chevy, Ford, or Mopar engines using wedge heads and turning the same RPM to make the same HP, so why mention it? Was it a “dig” on Pontiac?
Need you be reminded that in 1962-63, Pontiac was at the pinnacle of performance and none of the other makes had anything comparable to the 421-SD? In fact, during those years before GM’s self imposed “ban” on racing, when Smokey Yunick was dominantly winning NASCAR races with Pontiacs, Chevrolet dropped off their then new 409 (the best they had to offer at the time) for his evaluation…and after 3 days, Smokey called them back and said “come get this piece of shit out of my garage”. True story.