Topic: Pontiac 400 W72 build-up

[dschroederw72]

Does anyone have any good suggestions for building-up a 1978 Pontiac 400 W72?  I want to get more power but maintain drivability and pump gas (I want to drive the car and enjoy it, not tinker with the engine all the time).  I was thinking aftermarket intake, bore 30 over, maybe increase the exhaust valve size to 1.77 vs the stock 1.66 and putting a cam in it.  Any comments?  Any cam suggestions?  Thanks![/b]

[eroc022]

that all sounds good, but while your at it go with  some good pistons too, i havent done my poncho motor yet, im starting this weekend on teardown, but if you want easy power, just get the edelbrock heads......thats where all the power is, but i also recommend picking up "how to build a high performance pontiac motor" they give you all sorts of build combos and you can choose from one of those and it lists pricing.....

[BadBirds]

another way to go is to buy a stroker kit. butler performance sells a 462 cid stroker kit for a 400 block with 3" mains for about $1,699. this includes crank, rods, and pistons. heads and all work great but theres no replacement for cubic inches.

[HughJass]

I just picked up Jim Hands book on Pontiac V8's and in the back there is about 25 different engine combos based on proven buildups. Plus the book has a ton of information, well worth the $14 at Amazon