Need help, Traditional or extreme?

[72 GOAT]

I have just started another project. I have a 1972 Lemans Sport convertible with the enduro front end from the factory. My question to you guys is this, should I go with a traditional pontiac mill or go to the extreme with an LS2? It has a 400 with an auto trans, I would just rebuild it and go for about 500 hp or should I pull the poncho power mill and put a 06 LS2 GTO power plant. Right now the car is bone stock, it is one of 1450 convertibles made with the T41 option. The suspension will under go a full up grade to GW uppers and lowers, ATS spindels, Hotchkis TVS rear suspension. Breaks will be 2006 Z06 setup and rims will be 18x9 and 18x10 BOZE mesh. So I need a little help with the power plant. Thanks Dave, I will take some photo's and post them.:dunno:

[72 GOAT]

Anyone have any type of feed back?

[TonyL]

If you are going to go with an upgraded suspension anyway, I'd go with the LS2. you'll be rewarded with all kinds of bonuses, weight, power, reliability, parts availability etc.

[ProTouring442]

I agree, and LS-X sounds like a great idea.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"
www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442 (http://www.fquick.com/ProTouring442)

[rohrt]

I'm of no help on this topic!

[6'9"Witha69]

I hear the Pontiac loyalists moaning from here!

[Roger Poirier]

How much money do you want to spend? Don't you already have the Pontiac engine? I went old school on my engine just to be different. :hah:

R.P.

[parsonsj]

What's your objective? To finish the car and spend lots of time driving it? Or to learn fab skills? Learn more about modern engines? Show what can be done with an old Pontiac?

Answer those questions and you'll have some idea about what to do with your Le Mans.

jp

[BA.]

For the love of all that is sacred in Indian land, Please keep the original 400 and just build it very very well. Maybe even put FI on that 400, then make it corner well with the parts you mentioned!

Hell, I'd be tempted to roll that on some original Rally II's even!

[Kal]

Thats a tough question... I personally kept my pontiac engine because i really like the look of the tri-power carbs. I guess it depends on how much your want to spent. If i had the money I might have went with a LS-X engine with twin turbos. There is something really cool about a pontiac engine tho.

Good luck with your choice..

[72 GOAT]

I have thought long and hard about this and I really appreciate all the feed back. I originally thought that an LsX conversion would not cost that much but I have come to realize that I may be better off rebuilding the 400 with some very good parts and may be putting an EFI setup on it. I was looking at e-bay and I saw a 2006 GTO engine and trans (T56) for a buy it now of $7000.00, so it got me thinking. I could pull the original drive train and store it or just re-build it. I want to enjoy this car and drive it as much as I can, I did not do that with my CUDA. So this is my dilemma.

[72 GOAT]

I am going to stick with the 400 and buid the snot out of it. I'm looking into a Buttler EFI setup as well. I have been busy ordering parts and they are starting to roll in ( my credit card is on fire).
Cant wait until my BOZE wheels come in.:jump:

[novanutcase]

As much of a cheerleader as I am for the LSx platform, in this case I would build up the OG mill...........:bananna2:

[ROAD WARRIOR]

I think sticking w/ the 400 s a cool idea.

[pontiaction]

you could also check out pontiac dude`s supercharger set up.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/pontiacdude428/ATI.html

[72 GOAT]

I had a paxton supercharger on my 68 Cuda, it was real nice but I think with this project I am going to stroke out the 400 and put an EFI system from buttler on it and off to the races we go!!

[larknut]

I'm always a fan of keeping the same make motor

[Chad-1stGen]

Hey a GTO LS2 is a pontiac motor too! hehe...

[rohrt]

They just came out with a 4.00 stroke for the 400 blocks and I hear a 4.5 stroke is comming soon if you want to be different. With your car I would assume you went with Buttlers 4.25 stroker kit? My brother built his 68 GTO with this kit and ported iron Buttler heads, stock RAIV cam, Dougs headers with 3inch exhaust. The car is a blast to drive. 450hp and 500ft/lbs of torque on the dyno. We also put in 150 shot of NOS. You could get more power with one of the aluminum heads and a solid cam but after roasting a set of 9inch slicks all the way through fist and part of the way through second, it would leave me wondering why. It runs 12s all day long and ran a 12.1 on very bad Nitros run, agin with no tracking with the 9inch slicks. My first choice on the heads would be ported KRE heads. But buy them from someone other then KRE.

I look forward to seeing your progress.

[shortrack]

400 with FI would be cool......

[72 GOAT]

I dont think I going to get a kit from buttler, most of his stuff is not made in the USA and a couple of my friends got stuff from him and were not to happy. I will most likely get the EFI setup from him. I am having Jim Taylor build my motor, he has a stroker kit made for him by one of the major manufactures I cant remmember who, it will be an aluminum headed motor with a roller cam.
I ordered the rims from BOZE, installed the exhaust from PYPES and ordered the TVS system from Hotchkis so I'm on my way.

[Hammered]

Great choice on the engine!

Butler's EFI kit is basically an assembly of parts and a map to get you started. I converted my stroked 400 to EFI before they were offering their kit for sale and have posted most of the details here: http://john.my67.net/efi.htm

I would put my own kit together and with the money saved, buy an SS tank with internal pump.

[rohrt]

Is anything made in the USA anymore? If you go with a stroker kit for the 400 all the cranks are cast overseas. At least I have never heard of one being made in the USA. Some places buy the raw forgings and have them machined over hear This is the first I have ever heard anything bad about Buttler. On the same note, I have never heard a bad word about Jim Taylor so I'm sure your engine will be killer. Sounds like a great combination!

[72 GOAT]

I cant wait to see what the engine will look like, sound like or even run like. I am going to keep the original ram air set up so that should look cool.

[72 GOAT]

I placed an order for my brakes today, the C6 Z06 setup for the front and rear. I also ordered my rims from BOZE. I cant wait tillthe parts come in.

[68Formula]

If you are going to go with an upgraded suspension anyway, I'd go with the LS2. you'll be rewarded with all kinds of bonuses, weight, power, reliability, parts availability etc.

I'll give you weight. Reliability depends on how well it's built. Power? It's not too tough to get 450+hp.

Parts availability? I can still easliy get any part I want.

[Jeffrotech]

Well, this thread is 2 years old already.

Got updates???

I'M ALSO BUILDING A 1972 GTO!!!

[72 GOAT]

Wow has it been that long, well things are in full force. The suspension and breaks have been done for a good part of a 1 1/2 as well as the rims and tires. I Love the way it rides and will enjoy the breaks more when the hydro boost is installed. As for the drive train I went the traditional route. The motor a 400 stroked to 462 is at the dyno as I type waiting its turn to get a tune and the car is getting the engine bay as well as the body mounts restored. i went with SD performance for the performance parts and its expert poncho knowledge as well as support. I choose the Kauffman D Port aluminum heads that were CNC ported to 310. I will be going with the 4L80E and paddle shifters from Steve over at Twist machines. As for induction it may be an 870 holly or the new FAST EFI system it all depends on the cash situation.
I hope to have it finished and fully running for the Power tour this year I want to do the long haul. Its a new begging of sorts for me I retired December 31, 2009 and my unwanted unfortunate divorce was finalized in December as well so I will have the time to do the long haul and no one to nag me about it. put the top down and hit the road with a new setup and old friends what else could i ask for.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

so you did the poncho mill.. i bet the P guys are relieved..

[pitts64]

SD is the way to go..

Checkout Cliffs Quadrajet...
http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/

[pitts64]

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