More '78 Special Edition Pontiac Trans Am Episodes
Detroit Muscle Featured Projects
Detroit Muscle Builds
Want more content like this?
Join the PowerNation Email NewsletterParts Used In This Episode
ARP
Assembly Lubricant, for Engine Assembly and Fastener Installation, Ultra Torque, 1 Pint, Each
Comp Cams
Rocker Arms, Ultra Gold, Aluminum, 7/16 in. Stud Mount, Full Roller, 1.65 Ratio, Pontiac, Set of 16
Edelbrock
Cylinder Head, Performer, Aluminum, Assembled, 87cc Chamber, 195cc Intake Runner, D-Port, Pontiac, Each
Edelbrock
Head Bolt Kit, Bolt, Hex Head, Chromoly, Black Oxide, Pontiac, Performer Cylinder Heads, Kit
Edelbrock
Intake Manifold, Performer RPM, Dual Plane, Aluminum, Natural, Square/Spread Bore, Pontiac, 326-455, Each
Summit Racing
FLOWKOOLER, Water Pump, Mechanical, High-Volume, Aluminum, Natural, Pontiac, 265/301/400/455, Each
Butler Performance
1969-1979 Pontiac Timing Cover -11 Bolt 350-455
Butler Performance
Butler Performance Pro Series oil pump
Butler Performance
Pontiac 400-455 BP Head Gaskets (Set)
Comp Cams
Custom Grind Roller Cam, Comp Cams, Pontiac
Eagle Specialty Products
ESP Armor Crankshaft, 2-Piece Seal, Internal Balance, Forged 4340 Steel, 4.250 in. Stroke, Pontiac, 455, Each
Eagle Specialty Products
ESP Armor Eagle Forged 4340 Steel H-Beam Rods (Set of 8)
Ross Racing Pistons
Ross/Butler 4.211 X 1.295 CH Flat Top Forged Pistons-1/16 1/16 3/16- .990 X 2.500 (Set)
The Industrial Depot
The Industrial Depot - Fasteners, Hardware, and Shop Supplies
Episode Transcript
(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY ON
DETROIT MUSCLE WE'RE GONNA GET OUR STROKE ON. ITS PONTIAC POWER PLANT
PALOOZA AS WE DUMP THE DOGGY 400 INCH ENGINE IN OUR
GIVEAWAY TRANS AM IN FAVOR OF 550 HORSEPOWER WORTH
OF STROKED AND BORED FURY. PLUS A TREASURE HUNT FOR
ANOTHER LEGENDARY PONTIAC.
(JOE)>> WITH UNMISTAKABLE LINES AND AN ICONIC LEGACY,
THE '77 AND '78 TRANS AMS WERE AMONG THE MOST BELOVED PONY CAR PLATFORMS EVER BUILT. THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO BURT REYNOLDS AND JACKIE GLEASON. BUT BURT ISN'T GONNA BE DRIVING THIS ONE, ONE OF YOU GUYS ARE BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING IT AWAY.
(TOMMY)>> THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE OLD RED DRAGON INCLUDE A CHANGE OF SKIN, GIVING IT THE ICONIC BLACK AND GOLD SPECIAL EDITION LOOK. IN ADDITION TO THAT ALL THE PERFORMANCE SPECS ON THIS CAR ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
EVERYTHING FROM THE REAR END TO THE RADIATOR IS GONNA GET AN UPGRADE. AND THAT INCLUDES THE POWER PLANT. WE WERE ABLE TO SNEAK OUR OLD CAR UP ONTO THE CHASSIS
DYNO, DO A LITTLE BIT OF TWEAKING, AND GETTING ABOUT 150 HORSE OUT OF IT. I'LL TELL YOU, THAT'S NOT TOO IMPRESSIVE AT ALL.
(JOE)>> YOU'VE GOT THAT RIGHT. WELL TODAY IS ENGINE DAY FOR THIS OLD BIRD, AND THE PLANS TOMMY AND I HAVE INCLUDE GIVING IT QUITE A POWER BOOST. TRY OVER 300 PERCENT OF WHAT IT HAD BEFORE. WELL, TIME TO START TINKERING ON THIS TRIBUTE TRANS AM.
(TOMMY)>> NOW WHEN IT COMES TO PONTIAC PERFORMANCE, WE
KNEW EXACTLY WHO TO CALL. I WANT YOU GUYS TO MEET RODNEY AND DAVID BUTLER WITH BUTLER PERFORMANCE OUT OF LEOMA, TENNESSEE.
HOW YOU GUYS DOING?
(DAVID)>> GOOD, GREAT TO BE HERE, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AGAIN.
(TOMMY)>> JUST IN CASE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T HEARD OF BUTLER PERFORMANCE, LET US INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.
(JOE)>> IF THERE'S ONE NAME THAT'S SYNONYMOUS WITH PONTIAC POWER, IT'S THE GUYS AT BUTLER PERFORMANCE. KNOWN ACROSS THE WORLD AS THE GO TO GURU'S FOR PONTIAC ENGINE BUILDING, WORKING UP ANYTHING FROM A FACTORY
RESTORATION TO HIGH END DRAG RACING MOTORS. WE'VE USED THEM BEFORE ON SEVERAL BUILDS AND ARE NEVER DISAPPOINTED IN THE POWER AND RELIABILITY THEY CAN BUILD INTO ONE OF THESE LIGHT BLUE BLOCKS. SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHO THESE GUYS ARE, LETS GET DOWN TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF.
DAVID WHAT YOU'D BRING WITH US TO PLAY WITH?
(DAVID)>> WE BROUGHT A PONTIAC 455 BLOCK TO REPLACE THE TIRED 400 THAT WAS IN THE TRANS AM. THE GOOD THING ABOUT A PONTIAC ENGINE, THERE ARE NO BIG BLOCK OR SMALL BLOCKS, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME SIZE. THE 455'S A DIRECT BOLT IN WHERE THE 400 WAS.
(JOE)>> SO HOW DOES A GUY KNOW HE'S GOT A 455?
(DAVID)>> FIRST IN THE VALLEY YOU'LL HAVE TWO FIVES, THIS IS 455. IF IT'S A 400 YOU'LL HAVE ZEROS HERE.
ALSO ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE YOU'LL SIZE CAST RIGHT AT THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK.
(JOE)>> OKAY, WHAT ABOUT YOUR MACHINE WORK?
(DAVID)>> WELL WENT WITH A 60 OVER BORE.
DID AND HONE WITH A TORQUE PLATE, WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL ON A PONTIAC ENGINE. WE ALSO SQUARE DECKED THE BLOCK. AS FAR AS THE BOTTOM END GOES, WE REPLACED THE FACTORY DIAL PINS TO LOCATE THE MAIN CAPS, REPLACED THE STOCK BOLTS WITH ARP MAIN STUDS. THEN WE LINE HONED THE MAINS.
(JOE)>> WELL I KNOW THE '78 TRANS AM CAME WITH A 400 INCH BLOCK.
USING IT INSTEAD OF A 455, WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR?
(DAVID)>> WHEN USING A 400 THE MAIN THING YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR IS A THICK MAIN VERSUS A THIN MAIN BLOCK. A THIN MAIN BLOCK WON'T HANDLE THE HORSEPOWER WE'LL BE MAKING WITH THIS BUILD. MOST '75 AND LATER 400'S WERE THIN MAIN BLOCKS, JUST LIKE YOU HAD IN YOUR TA OVER THERE.
(JOE)>> OKAY, I THINK WE'LL KEEP WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.
(TOMMY)>> AS FOR A CRANK SHAFT, WHAT DO YOU GUYS LIKE TO USE?
(RODNEY)>> WE'RE GONNA USE THIS EAGLE ARMOR COATED CRANK SHAFT. IT'S GOT A 4.250 STROKE. SO WITH OUR BORE SIZE IT'S GONNA END UP AT 474 CUBIC INCHES.
(TOMMY)>> NOW WHEN HE SAYS STROKER, FOR YOU GUYS AT HOME THAT DON'T KNOW, THIS IS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. AN ENGINE'S DISPLACEMENT IS BASED AROUND THE VOLUME OF THE CYLINDERS AND IT'S RATED BY EITHER CUBIC INCHES OR LITERS. THE MORE DISPLACEMENT YOU HAVE, THE MORE POTENTIAL FOR POWER. THIS IS WHY YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY THERE'S NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT. YOU CAN INCREASE THAT AMOUNT BY INCREASING THE TRAVEL OF THE PISTON WITH A LONG STROKE OF THE CRANK, HENCE THE NAME STROKER. NOW YOU CAN'T JUST BUY A CRANK SHAFT, THROW IT IN SOMETHING, AND MAKE BIG BUNCH OF POWER. ALL THESE COMPONENTS HAVE TO MATCHED ALL TOGETHER FROM TOP TO BOTTOM TO MAKE BIG POWER THAT'S GONNA LIVE
FOR LONGER THAN A DAY. AM I RIGHT?
(RODNEY)>> THAT'S CORRECT. NOT ONLY MATCH COMPONENTS, BUT THIS CRANK SHAFT'S PERFECTLY BALANCED TO THESE RODS AND PISTONS. AS FOR RODS WE'RE USING THIS EAGLE HBEAM DESIGN. NOW THIS ROD IS CONSIDERED A LONG ROD FOR A PONTIAC, SIX POINT EIGHT INCHES LONG.
(TOMMY)>> NOW WHEN YOU GUYS WERE UNBOXING THESE I WAS CHECKING THEM OUT. YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY PRETTY PROUD OF THOSE AREN'T YOU?
(RODNEY)>> YES WE ARE. THIS IS A BUTLER PERFORMANCE EXCLUSIVE FORGED PISTON. IT FEATURES A FLAT TOP DESIGN AND THE LATEST STRUT DESIGN FOR STRENGTH AND DURABILITY. IN THE END TOM WE DEVELOPED A LINE OF PISTONS FOR A NUMBER OF PONTIAC APPLICATIONS THAT ARE STRONG, DURABLE, AND THEY MAKE POWER.
(TOMMY)>> I GUESS THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS DROP THIS CRANK SHAFT... OH WAIT, THAT THING'S HEAVY AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THE
MAIN CAPS OFF. SO I GUESS WE BETTER DO THAT.
(ANNOUNCER)>> STILL AHEAD, WE BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THE ENGINE FOR OUR GIVEAWAY TRANS AM AND GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY ABOUT MAKING BIG POWER WITH NATURAL ASPIRATION. THEN LEARN HOW TO DECODE A GTO TO SEE IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR HANDS ON A JUDGE.
(JOE)>> OKAY WE ARE BACK AND READY TO PUT TOGETHER THE BOTTOM END OF OUR 474 PONTIAC ENGINE. AND FOR A REAR MAIN SEAL ON A STREET ENGINE THE BUTLERS RECOMMEND A GRAPHITE IMPREGNATED TEFLON REAR MAIN
SEAL, AND I GUESS WE'RE READY FOR THE CRANK SHAFT.
(RODNEY)>> YES SIR!
(JOE)>> BY THE WAY, THIS 4340 FORGING IS A BIG UPGRADE FROM THE TRANS AM'S STOCK CAST CRANK. AND THE ESP ARMOR COATING, WELL IT'S GONNA REDUCE FRICTION AND BUY US ANOTHER 30 HORSEPOWER. AFTER LUBING UP THE BEARINGS WITH ROYAL PURPLE MAX TUFF, THE MAIN CAPS CAN GO ON.
RODNEY PUTS A DAB OF ARP ULTRA TORQUE ON THE STUDS
AND NUTS BEFORE CINCHING DOWN THE MAINS, AND TORQUING THEM FROM THE CENTER OUT.
END PLAY SHOULD BE WITHIN FOUR TO EIGHT THOUSANDTHS, AND OURS IS RIGHT AT FOUR, SO WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
(TOMMY)>> RODNEY'S HAD PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE ASSEMBLING RODS AND PISTONS FOR STREET AND ALL OUT RACE ENGINES. HE USES PLENTY OF LUBE AND SPIRAL LOCKS TO KEEP THE PINS IN PLACE. OH AND TO KEEP FROM BUTCHERING UP THOSE THUMBS AND FINGERS WHILE INSTALLING THOSE LOCKS, A SMALL FLAT SCREW DRIVER CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND.
THEN HE DOES SOME FILING TO SET EACH OF THE END GAPS, CHECKING EACH ONE INSIDE THE BORE WITH A FEELER GAUGE. THE GAP HAS TO BE LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR EXPANSION WHEN HOT BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO CONTROL BLOW BY GASES.
NEXT HE'S INSTALLING ONE PISTON ROD ASSEMBLY.
FOLLOWED BY THE CAM SHAFT, WHICH IS A CUSTOM GRIND
HYDRAULIC ROLLER FROM COMP. IT'S DESIGNED TO MAKE PLENTY OF POWER AND TORQUE FOR THE STREET AND PROVIDE AMPLE VACUUM FOR THE POWER BRAKES.
(JOE)>> WITH SOME LOCTITE THREAD LOCKER ON THE RETAINING BOLTS, THE DOUBLE ROLLER TIMING SET GETS INSTALLED. AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, DEGREEING THE CAM'S THE ONLY WAY TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF YOUR CAM GRIND. AND ALTHOUGH IT'S RARE THE CRANK KEY OR TIMING CHAIN COULD BE OFF A BIT.
(TOMMY)>> BUTLER'S TIMING GEAR RETAINING WASHER REPLACES THE FUEL PUMP DRIVE THAT YOU WOULD BE USING IF YOU WERE RUNNING A CARBURETOR. NOW HE CAN INSTALL THE REST OF THE PISTONS AND ROD ASSEMBLIES INTO THE BLOCK. THEN ADD THE ROD CAPS AND TORQUE THE
ROD BOLTS TO SPEC. NOW RODNEY'S JUST ABOUT GOT OUR BOTTOM END FIXED UP,
AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE OIL PUMP. NOW BUTLER PERFORMANCE OFFERS AN EXCLUSIVE PUMP THAT'S PERFECT FOR OUR BUILD.
ONE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STOCKERS IS THIS LITTLE THIN PLATE. WHENEVER YOU COMBINE THE HIGH PRESSURE IN A QUICK
REVVING ENGINE THIS THING WILL FLEX AND CAUSE YOU TO LOSE PRESSURE. AND THEY'VE SOLVED THAT PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS PUMP FLOW TESTED AND BLUE PRINTED, THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER MODIFICATIONS THAT MAKE THIS THING ONE GREAT PIECE.
(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT UP WE'LL TAKE A BREAK FROM ALL THAT DRIVETRAIN STRAIN AND GO ON THE HUNT FOR A PIECE OF DETROIT TREASURE. SEE WHY YOU HAVE TO BE ON YOUR GUARD IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR EYES ON A GTO JUDGE. THEN IT'S BACK TO MAKING HORSEPOWER FOR THE TA.
(TOMMY)>> HEY GUYS, AS YOU CAN TELL, WE'RE NOT IN THE
SHOP, WE'RE OUT ON THE HUNT AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE COOL CARS, EXPENSIVE CARS, RARE CARS, HECK EVEN THOSE ONES THAT NOBODY WANTS.
(JOE)>> THERE MIGHT BE A FEW OF THOSE HERE. YOU KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN MOTOR CITY TO GO HUNTING FOR DETROIT TREASURES. AND WELL WE GOT WORD THAT THERE MIGHT BE ONE OUT HERE THAT IS VERY DESIRABLE, BUT YOU BE THE JUDGE.
WITH ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCT GRAPHICS PACKAGES THAT'S EVER BEEN LAID DOWN ON A CAR, AS WELL AS SOME OF
THE NEATEST OPTIONS TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THEM, THIS CAR WAS DESTINE FOR GLORY FROM LOOKS ALONE.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS WAS NO SHEEP IN A WOLF'S CLOTHING BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET SENT DOWN THE RIVER IF YOU EVER DECIDED TO TANGLE WITH A JUDGE.
(TOMMY)>> IN 1969 PONTIAC DECIDED THEY WANTED TO STEAL SOME OF THE THUNDER FROM MOPAR'S TECHNICOLOR SCAT PACK. SO THE DREAMED UP ONE OF THE MOST DESIRED MUSCLE CARS EVER, THE GTO JUDGE. WITH EVERY MODEL INCLUDING PONTIAC'S RAM AIR THREE OR THE SUPER HOT RAM AIR FOUR OPTION. THIS BABY WAS A SERIOUS CONTENDER IN THE MUSCLE CAR WARS. OVER THE YEARS THESE CARS HAVE BEEN CLONED THOUSANDS OF TIMES FROM ITS SISTER MODELS LIKE THE LE MANS AND THE TEMPEST, AS WELL AS THE STANDARD GTO.
(JOE)>> AND IT'S EXACTLY BECAUSE OF THAT THAT YOU HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL WHEN YOU GO ON THE HUNT FOR THESE CARS. WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING A FEW TRIPS AROUND TO VARIOUS JUNKYARDS AND DECODING WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE SOME OF THE MORE DESIRABLE CARS. A LOT OF THESE CARS ARE TOO FAR GONE AND NOT VALUABLE ENOUGH TO DOO ANYTHING ABOUT BUT THERE ARE THOSE OCCASIONAL DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH. AND IF WE CAN UNCOVER A FEW OF THEM THAT MIGHT BE WORTH SAVING AS WELL AS DISCOVERING JUST WHAT THEY MIGHT BE WORTH, WELL IT'S WORTH THE TRIP.
(TOMMY)>> TODAY OUR TARGET IS THIS '69 PONTIAC, AND WE BROUGHT ALONG ONE OF THE BEST PONTIAC EXPERTS THAT WE KNOW TO HELP US DECODE THIS SUPPOSED GTO JUDGE, MISTER BILL STOVAL.
(BILL)>> IT LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE IT'S A JUDGE. SAYS JUDGE ON THE FENDER, IT'S GOT THE JUDGE STRIPES,
GOT THE COLOR THAT'S POPULAR WITH JUDGES. THE FIRST 1,500 WERE PAINTED THIS COLOR, ORANGE, CAROUSEL RED. SOMEBODY'S FAKING ONE CAUSE YOU GOT AN EMBLEM ON THE DASH, YOU'VE GOT DECALS ON THE FENDERS. YOU CAN BUY ALL THAT STUFF.
(JOE)>> THIS CAR'S VIN NUMBER STARTS WITH THE NUMBERS 242, WHICH INDEED TELLS US IT'S A GTO ACCORDING TO THIS BOOK AND BILL. HOWEVER IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A JUDGE. TO DETERMINE THAT WELL WE'VE GOT TO DO A LOT MORE HOMEWORK.
(BILL)>> THAT 242 NUMBER WOULD COME BACK, THAT AUTOMATICALLY MAKES IT A GTO. THE JUDGE DOES NOT HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER PER SE.
(JOE)>> WITH THESE PARTICULAR CARS THE VIN DOESN'T DETAIL IF IT HAD THE HIGHLY DESIRED JUDGE OPTION. AND IF THE CAR'S ORIGINAL BUILD SHEET OR PAPER WORK CAN'T BE FOUND, WELL THERE'S ONLY ONE ALTERNATIVE.
(BILL)>> YOU SEND OFF TO PONTIAC HISTORICAL SERVICES, AND I THINK IT MAY BE $50 OR $60 DOLLARS NOW, THEY'LL SEND YOU THE PAPER WORK BACK ON THAT CAR AS IT WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY, THE DEALER THAT ORDERED, THE PRICE OF THE CAR, AND WHAT OPTIONS THAT CAR HAD ON IT. AND ONE OF THE OPTIONS ON THAT CAR WOULD BE THE JUDGE, IT'S WRITTEN OUT, THE JUDGE ON THAT SHEET.
(TOMMY)>> ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE CAN BE SOME TELL TALE SIGNS THAT LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT A REAL JUDGE.
(BILL)>> IT'S GOT THE WRONG ENGINE IN IT. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AT LEAST A RAM AIR THREE OR A RAM AIR FOUR TO BE A JUDGE, BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A GTO. YOU CAN HAVE THAT MOTOR IN A GTO. I THINK I'VE SEEN ENOUGH THAT I'D BE CAUTIOUS. IF YOU'RE SEARCHING JUNKYARDS AND ALL AND YOU SAY, MAN I FOUND ME A JUDGE. WELL UNLESS YOU CAN VERIFY IT, YOU BETTER BUY IT AT A GTO PRICE AND HOPE WHEN YOU GO HOME YOU FIND OUT IT'S A JUDGE INSTEAD OF PAYING A JUDGE PRICE FOR IT AND GOING HOME AND FINDING OUT YOU GOT A GTO. HERE'S A CAR I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. PRETTY QUESTIONABLE WHAT YOU WERE GETTING. NO GTO MARKINGS EXCEPT THE SIDE LIGHTS ON THE BACK, AND OF COURSE THE 242, AND NO JUDGE EMBLEMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON IT. SO IT'S A SHOT IN THE DARK, BOUGHT IT AS A GTO CAUSE I KNEW IT WAS A TRUE GTO BY THE NUMBERS ON IT.
AND AS IT TURNED OUT I SENT OFF TO PONTIAC HISTORICAL SERVICES TO GET MY PAPER WORK. IT CAME BACK AND ONE OF THE THINGS UNDERLINED WAS THE JUDGE. SO THIS IS A TRUE JUDGE, THIS IS A TRUE PROJECT CAR. IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU WON THE LOTTERY YOU KNOW, BUT LOOKS ARE DECEIVING. YOU KNOW, THE CAR WE LOOKED AT EARLIER, IT HAD ALL THE SIGNS OF A JUDGE. AND THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE ANY SIGNS TO IT.
(JOE)>> WOULD THIS MAKE A GOOD PROJECT?
(BILL)>> THIS WOULD MAKE A GOOD PROJECT, IT'S WORTH SAVING.
(JOE)>> THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT EVEN WHEN YOU FIND IT SOMETIMES. LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING, I MEAN LOOK AT TOMMY AND ME AFTER ALL. COME ON, LETS GO.
(TOMMY)>> WELL OUR CURIOSITY WAS MAXED OUT
REGARDING THAT ORANGE CAR. SO WE SENT OFF FOR THE PAPER WORK AND IT TURNS OUT IT'S A GTO, NOT A JUDGE, BUT IT IS A REALLY HIGH OPTION CAR. AT LEAST IT'S GOT THAT GOING FOR IT. MAN I THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING.
(ANNOUNCER)>> STICK AROUND FOR SOME SHINNIES AS WE PUT THE TOP END ON OUR PONTIAC POWER PLANT AND TIE A BOW ON THIS ENGINE THAT'S GONNA TURN OUR TRANS AM INTO A ROCKET.
(TOMMY)>> ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT OUR OIL PUMP INSTALLED, JUST ABOUT GOT THE OIL PAN DONE, AND I'VE GOT ANOTHER COOL PART I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU ALL. BUTLER PERFORMANCE OFFERS AN EXACT REPRODUCTION OF THE TIMING COVER. NOW WHETHER YOU'RE DOING A HIGH PERFORMANCE APPLICATION
OR A RESTORATION, OFTEN TIMES THE TIMING COVERS HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PITTING HERE AROUND THIS GASKETS WHERE
THE WATER PUMP SEALS. GETTING ONE OF THESE CAN SAVE YOU A BOAT LOAD OF TIME.
(JOE)>> WELL THIS IS ONE OF THE EDELBROCK PERFORMER HEADS WE'RE USING IN OUR PONTIAC ENGINE BUILD. IT'S A TRUE DPORT DESIGN, WHICH REQUIRES
A DFLANGE HEADER. NOW THAT'S NOT TO BE MISTAKEN WITH THIS OTHER HEAD THEY MAKE WHICH IS A ROUND PORT DESIGN THAT REQUIRES A ROUND SHAPED HEADER DESPITE THE INVERTED "D'S" HERE IN THE MIDDLE. THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS HAVE A NEW FAST BURN DESIGN TO
MAKE MORE POWER, AND BUTLER PERFORMANCE GOES THE EXTRA
MILE PORTING THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST PORTS. MACHINING THE DECK SURFACES, AND ADDING NEW STIFFER COMP SPRINGS. THESE HEADS ARE RESTING ON HIGH PERFORMANCE GASKETS THAT BUTLER DESIGNED FOR THIS SETUP.
OH AND EDELBROCK NOW OFFERS ITS OWN ARP BOLTS SPECIALLY MADE FOR THEIR HEADS.
(TOMMY)>> AFTER LUBING UP THE BORES, WE CAN DROP IN A
SET OF HYDRAULIC ROLLER LIFTERS. SO DAVE, IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THESE PUSH RODS YOU GUYS OFFER?
(DAVID)>> YEAH, WE USE A RESTRICTED PUSH ROD FOR THESE HYDRAULIC ROLLERS. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT'S ONLY FOR RACE MOTORS BUT FOR ANY ENGINE WE WANT TO KEEP PLENTY OF OIL IN THE BOTTOM END AND STILL GIVE ENOUGH OIL TO THE TOP TO LUBE THE VALVETRAIN.
(TOMMY)>> YEAH CAUSE ONE FO THE WORST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS PUMP THE PAN DRY ISN'T IT?
(DAVID)>> ABSOLUTELY!
(JOE)>> TOM COME HERE, I'VE GOT A LITTLE TRIVIA FOR YOU.
(TOMMY)>> WHAT YOU GOT?
(JOE)>> DID YOU KNOW THE FIRST ROCKER ARM WAS INVENTED BY A GUY NAMED JONATHAN RUNDLE BACON BACK IN THE MID 1800'S?
(TOMMY)>> I CAN'T SAY THAT I DID, DID YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HIM?
(JOE)>> NO I DIDN'T KNOW HIM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY CALL THE TIP A RUNDLE FOR A LONG TIME, HOW ABOUT THAT?
(TOMMY)>> WELL I'VE GOT TO SAY, THESE THINGS RIGHT HERE ARE QUITE A SWEET PIECE AND I'D BET HE'D GIVE HIS RIGHT ARM OR LEG FOR A SET OF THESE DUDES.
(JOE)>> COMP ULTRA GO, NOTHING BUT THE BEST.
(TOMMY)>> THESE ARE STUD MOUNTED FULL ROLLERS WITH A
ONE POINT SIXFIVE RATIO.
TO HELP OUR PONTIAC KEEP ITS COOL WE'RE USING A MECHANICAL WATER PUMP WITH A BILLET IMPELLER THAT WE GOT FROM SUMMIT RACING.
AND TO HELP KEEP ALL THEM MOVING PARTS HAPPY, SIX QUARTS OF COMP BREAK IN OIL. THEN WE CAN PRIME TO INSURE WE'VE GOT AMPLE OIL FLOW.
(JOE)>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO USE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT COMPLIMENTS THE MORE AGGRESSIVE CAM WE INSTALLED AND THE FREE FLOW EXHAUST WE'LL BE USING. THIS PERFORMER RPM FROM EDELBROCK IS A DUAL PLANE THAT'S MADE FOR PONTIACS THAT OPERATE IN THE 1,500 TO 6,500 RPM RANGE. PLUS THE BUTLERS HAVE GONE IN AND OPENED THE RUNNERS TO MATCH THE HEAD WORK THEY DID. AND WITH THAT NICE ALUMINUM FINISH, THIS THING'S GONNA MAKE THE ENGINE LOOK LIKE A PIECE OF PONTIAC JEWELRY.
(TOMMY)>> WELL DAVE AND RODNEY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR HELPING US OUT ON THE BUILD, AND I TELL YOU, I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING TO DRIVE THIS THING. NOW AS FOR DYNO'ING THIS THING JUST TO GET THE POWER, WELL THESE GUYS HAVE PUT BETTER THAN 100 OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER. SO THEY OUGHT TO KNOW.
(DAVID)>> 474 WILL MAKE 550 HORSEPOWER BUT CLOSE TO 600 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE.
(TOMMY)>> WOW, WELL THAT OUGHT TO MOVE THAT OLE TA AROUND PRETTY EASILY. YOU PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT?
(JOE)>> THAT'S VERY STOUT!
Show Full Transcript
(JOE)>> WITH UNMISTAKABLE LINES AND AN ICONIC LEGACY,
THE '77 AND '78 TRANS AMS WERE AMONG THE MOST BELOVED PONY CAR PLATFORMS EVER BUILT. THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO BURT REYNOLDS AND JACKIE GLEASON. BUT BURT ISN'T GONNA BE DRIVING THIS ONE, ONE OF YOU GUYS ARE BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING IT AWAY.
(TOMMY)>> THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE OLD RED DRAGON INCLUDE A CHANGE OF SKIN, GIVING IT THE ICONIC BLACK AND GOLD SPECIAL EDITION LOOK. IN ADDITION TO THAT ALL THE PERFORMANCE SPECS ON THIS CAR ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
EVERYTHING FROM THE REAR END TO THE RADIATOR IS GONNA GET AN UPGRADE. AND THAT INCLUDES THE POWER PLANT. WE WERE ABLE TO SNEAK OUR OLD CAR UP ONTO THE CHASSIS
DYNO, DO A LITTLE BIT OF TWEAKING, AND GETTING ABOUT 150 HORSE OUT OF IT. I'LL TELL YOU, THAT'S NOT TOO IMPRESSIVE AT ALL.
(JOE)>> YOU'VE GOT THAT RIGHT. WELL TODAY IS ENGINE DAY FOR THIS OLD BIRD, AND THE PLANS TOMMY AND I HAVE INCLUDE GIVING IT QUITE A POWER BOOST. TRY OVER 300 PERCENT OF WHAT IT HAD BEFORE. WELL, TIME TO START TINKERING ON THIS TRIBUTE TRANS AM.
(TOMMY)>> NOW WHEN IT COMES TO PONTIAC PERFORMANCE, WE
KNEW EXACTLY WHO TO CALL. I WANT YOU GUYS TO MEET RODNEY AND DAVID BUTLER WITH BUTLER PERFORMANCE OUT OF LEOMA, TENNESSEE.
HOW YOU GUYS DOING?
(DAVID)>> GOOD, GREAT TO BE HERE, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AGAIN.
(TOMMY)>> JUST IN CASE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T HEARD OF BUTLER PERFORMANCE, LET US INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.
(JOE)>> IF THERE'S ONE NAME THAT'S SYNONYMOUS WITH PONTIAC POWER, IT'S THE GUYS AT BUTLER PERFORMANCE. KNOWN ACROSS THE WORLD AS THE GO TO GURU'S FOR PONTIAC ENGINE BUILDING, WORKING UP ANYTHING FROM A FACTORY
RESTORATION TO HIGH END DRAG RACING MOTORS. WE'VE USED THEM BEFORE ON SEVERAL BUILDS AND ARE NEVER DISAPPOINTED IN THE POWER AND RELIABILITY THEY CAN BUILD INTO ONE OF THESE LIGHT BLUE BLOCKS. SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHO THESE GUYS ARE, LETS GET DOWN TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF.
DAVID WHAT YOU'D BRING WITH US TO PLAY WITH?
(DAVID)>> WE BROUGHT A PONTIAC 455 BLOCK TO REPLACE THE TIRED 400 THAT WAS IN THE TRANS AM. THE GOOD THING ABOUT A PONTIAC ENGINE, THERE ARE NO BIG BLOCK OR SMALL BLOCKS, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME SIZE. THE 455'S A DIRECT BOLT IN WHERE THE 400 WAS.
(JOE)>> SO HOW DOES A GUY KNOW HE'S GOT A 455?
(DAVID)>> FIRST IN THE VALLEY YOU'LL HAVE TWO FIVES, THIS IS 455. IF IT'S A 400 YOU'LL HAVE ZEROS HERE.
ALSO ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE YOU'LL SIZE CAST RIGHT AT THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK.
(JOE)>> OKAY, WHAT ABOUT YOUR MACHINE WORK?
(DAVID)>> WELL WENT WITH A 60 OVER BORE.
DID AND HONE WITH A TORQUE PLATE, WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL ON A PONTIAC ENGINE. WE ALSO SQUARE DECKED THE BLOCK. AS FAR AS THE BOTTOM END GOES, WE REPLACED THE FACTORY DIAL PINS TO LOCATE THE MAIN CAPS, REPLACED THE STOCK BOLTS WITH ARP MAIN STUDS. THEN WE LINE HONED THE MAINS.
(JOE)>> WELL I KNOW THE '78 TRANS AM CAME WITH A 400 INCH BLOCK.
USING IT INSTEAD OF A 455, WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR?
(DAVID)>> WHEN USING A 400 THE MAIN THING YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR IS A THICK MAIN VERSUS A THIN MAIN BLOCK. A THIN MAIN BLOCK WON'T HANDLE THE HORSEPOWER WE'LL BE MAKING WITH THIS BUILD. MOST '75 AND LATER 400'S WERE THIN MAIN BLOCKS, JUST LIKE YOU HAD IN YOUR TA OVER THERE.
(JOE)>> OKAY, I THINK WE'LL KEEP WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.
(TOMMY)>> AS FOR A CRANK SHAFT, WHAT DO YOU GUYS LIKE TO USE?
(RODNEY)>> WE'RE GONNA USE THIS EAGLE ARMOR COATED CRANK SHAFT. IT'S GOT A 4.250 STROKE. SO WITH OUR BORE SIZE IT'S GONNA END UP AT 474 CUBIC INCHES.
(TOMMY)>> NOW WHEN HE SAYS STROKER, FOR YOU GUYS AT HOME THAT DON'T KNOW, THIS IS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. AN ENGINE'S DISPLACEMENT IS BASED AROUND THE VOLUME OF THE CYLINDERS AND IT'S RATED BY EITHER CUBIC INCHES OR LITERS. THE MORE DISPLACEMENT YOU HAVE, THE MORE POTENTIAL FOR POWER. THIS IS WHY YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY THERE'S NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT. YOU CAN INCREASE THAT AMOUNT BY INCREASING THE TRAVEL OF THE PISTON WITH A LONG STROKE OF THE CRANK, HENCE THE NAME STROKER. NOW YOU CAN'T JUST BUY A CRANK SHAFT, THROW IT IN SOMETHING, AND MAKE BIG BUNCH OF POWER. ALL THESE COMPONENTS HAVE TO MATCHED ALL TOGETHER FROM TOP TO BOTTOM TO MAKE BIG POWER THAT'S GONNA LIVE
FOR LONGER THAN A DAY. AM I RIGHT?
(RODNEY)>> THAT'S CORRECT. NOT ONLY MATCH COMPONENTS, BUT THIS CRANK SHAFT'S PERFECTLY BALANCED TO THESE RODS AND PISTONS. AS FOR RODS WE'RE USING THIS EAGLE HBEAM DESIGN. NOW THIS ROD IS CONSIDERED A LONG ROD FOR A PONTIAC, SIX POINT EIGHT INCHES LONG.
(TOMMY)>> NOW WHEN YOU GUYS WERE UNBOXING THESE I WAS CHECKING THEM OUT. YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY PRETTY PROUD OF THOSE AREN'T YOU?
(RODNEY)>> YES WE ARE. THIS IS A BUTLER PERFORMANCE EXCLUSIVE FORGED PISTON. IT FEATURES A FLAT TOP DESIGN AND THE LATEST STRUT DESIGN FOR STRENGTH AND DURABILITY. IN THE END TOM WE DEVELOPED A LINE OF PISTONS FOR A NUMBER OF PONTIAC APPLICATIONS THAT ARE STRONG, DURABLE, AND THEY MAKE POWER.
(TOMMY)>> I GUESS THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS DROP THIS CRANK SHAFT... OH WAIT, THAT THING'S HEAVY AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THE
MAIN CAPS OFF. SO I GUESS WE BETTER DO THAT.
(ANNOUNCER)>> STILL AHEAD, WE BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THE ENGINE FOR OUR GIVEAWAY TRANS AM AND GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY ABOUT MAKING BIG POWER WITH NATURAL ASPIRATION. THEN LEARN HOW TO DECODE A GTO TO SEE IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR HANDS ON A JUDGE.
(JOE)>> OKAY WE ARE BACK AND READY TO PUT TOGETHER THE BOTTOM END OF OUR 474 PONTIAC ENGINE. AND FOR A REAR MAIN SEAL ON A STREET ENGINE THE BUTLERS RECOMMEND A GRAPHITE IMPREGNATED TEFLON REAR MAIN
SEAL, AND I GUESS WE'RE READY FOR THE CRANK SHAFT.
(RODNEY)>> YES SIR!
(JOE)>> BY THE WAY, THIS 4340 FORGING IS A BIG UPGRADE FROM THE TRANS AM'S STOCK CAST CRANK. AND THE ESP ARMOR COATING, WELL IT'S GONNA REDUCE FRICTION AND BUY US ANOTHER 30 HORSEPOWER. AFTER LUBING UP THE BEARINGS WITH ROYAL PURPLE MAX TUFF, THE MAIN CAPS CAN GO ON.
RODNEY PUTS A DAB OF ARP ULTRA TORQUE ON THE STUDS
AND NUTS BEFORE CINCHING DOWN THE MAINS, AND TORQUING THEM FROM THE CENTER OUT.
END PLAY SHOULD BE WITHIN FOUR TO EIGHT THOUSANDTHS, AND OURS IS RIGHT AT FOUR, SO WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
(TOMMY)>> RODNEY'S HAD PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE ASSEMBLING RODS AND PISTONS FOR STREET AND ALL OUT RACE ENGINES. HE USES PLENTY OF LUBE AND SPIRAL LOCKS TO KEEP THE PINS IN PLACE. OH AND TO KEEP FROM BUTCHERING UP THOSE THUMBS AND FINGERS WHILE INSTALLING THOSE LOCKS, A SMALL FLAT SCREW DRIVER CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND.
THEN HE DOES SOME FILING TO SET EACH OF THE END GAPS, CHECKING EACH ONE INSIDE THE BORE WITH A FEELER GAUGE. THE GAP HAS TO BE LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR EXPANSION WHEN HOT BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO CONTROL BLOW BY GASES.
NEXT HE'S INSTALLING ONE PISTON ROD ASSEMBLY.
FOLLOWED BY THE CAM SHAFT, WHICH IS A CUSTOM GRIND
HYDRAULIC ROLLER FROM COMP. IT'S DESIGNED TO MAKE PLENTY OF POWER AND TORQUE FOR THE STREET AND PROVIDE AMPLE VACUUM FOR THE POWER BRAKES.
(JOE)>> WITH SOME LOCTITE THREAD LOCKER ON THE RETAINING BOLTS, THE DOUBLE ROLLER TIMING SET GETS INSTALLED. AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, DEGREEING THE CAM'S THE ONLY WAY TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF YOUR CAM GRIND. AND ALTHOUGH IT'S RARE THE CRANK KEY OR TIMING CHAIN COULD BE OFF A BIT.
(TOMMY)>> BUTLER'S TIMING GEAR RETAINING WASHER REPLACES THE FUEL PUMP DRIVE THAT YOU WOULD BE USING IF YOU WERE RUNNING A CARBURETOR. NOW HE CAN INSTALL THE REST OF THE PISTONS AND ROD ASSEMBLIES INTO THE BLOCK. THEN ADD THE ROD CAPS AND TORQUE THE
ROD BOLTS TO SPEC. NOW RODNEY'S JUST ABOUT GOT OUR BOTTOM END FIXED UP,
AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE OIL PUMP. NOW BUTLER PERFORMANCE OFFERS AN EXCLUSIVE PUMP THAT'S PERFECT FOR OUR BUILD.
ONE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STOCKERS IS THIS LITTLE THIN PLATE. WHENEVER YOU COMBINE THE HIGH PRESSURE IN A QUICK
REVVING ENGINE THIS THING WILL FLEX AND CAUSE YOU TO LOSE PRESSURE. AND THEY'VE SOLVED THAT PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS PUMP FLOW TESTED AND BLUE PRINTED, THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER MODIFICATIONS THAT MAKE THIS THING ONE GREAT PIECE.
(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT UP WE'LL TAKE A BREAK FROM ALL THAT DRIVETRAIN STRAIN AND GO ON THE HUNT FOR A PIECE OF DETROIT TREASURE. SEE WHY YOU HAVE TO BE ON YOUR GUARD IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR EYES ON A GTO JUDGE. THEN IT'S BACK TO MAKING HORSEPOWER FOR THE TA.
(TOMMY)>> HEY GUYS, AS YOU CAN TELL, WE'RE NOT IN THE
SHOP, WE'RE OUT ON THE HUNT AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE COOL CARS, EXPENSIVE CARS, RARE CARS, HECK EVEN THOSE ONES THAT NOBODY WANTS.
(JOE)>> THERE MIGHT BE A FEW OF THOSE HERE. YOU KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN MOTOR CITY TO GO HUNTING FOR DETROIT TREASURES. AND WELL WE GOT WORD THAT THERE MIGHT BE ONE OUT HERE THAT IS VERY DESIRABLE, BUT YOU BE THE JUDGE.
WITH ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCT GRAPHICS PACKAGES THAT'S EVER BEEN LAID DOWN ON A CAR, AS WELL AS SOME OF
THE NEATEST OPTIONS TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THEM, THIS CAR WAS DESTINE FOR GLORY FROM LOOKS ALONE.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS WAS NO SHEEP IN A WOLF'S CLOTHING BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET SENT DOWN THE RIVER IF YOU EVER DECIDED TO TANGLE WITH A JUDGE.
(TOMMY)>> IN 1969 PONTIAC DECIDED THEY WANTED TO STEAL SOME OF THE THUNDER FROM MOPAR'S TECHNICOLOR SCAT PACK. SO THE DREAMED UP ONE OF THE MOST DESIRED MUSCLE CARS EVER, THE GTO JUDGE. WITH EVERY MODEL INCLUDING PONTIAC'S RAM AIR THREE OR THE SUPER HOT RAM AIR FOUR OPTION. THIS BABY WAS A SERIOUS CONTENDER IN THE MUSCLE CAR WARS. OVER THE YEARS THESE CARS HAVE BEEN CLONED THOUSANDS OF TIMES FROM ITS SISTER MODELS LIKE THE LE MANS AND THE TEMPEST, AS WELL AS THE STANDARD GTO.
(JOE)>> AND IT'S EXACTLY BECAUSE OF THAT THAT YOU HAVE TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL WHEN YOU GO ON THE HUNT FOR THESE CARS. WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING A FEW TRIPS AROUND TO VARIOUS JUNKYARDS AND DECODING WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE SOME OF THE MORE DESIRABLE CARS. A LOT OF THESE CARS ARE TOO FAR GONE AND NOT VALUABLE ENOUGH TO DOO ANYTHING ABOUT BUT THERE ARE THOSE OCCASIONAL DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH. AND IF WE CAN UNCOVER A FEW OF THEM THAT MIGHT BE WORTH SAVING AS WELL AS DISCOVERING JUST WHAT THEY MIGHT BE WORTH, WELL IT'S WORTH THE TRIP.
(TOMMY)>> TODAY OUR TARGET IS THIS '69 PONTIAC, AND WE BROUGHT ALONG ONE OF THE BEST PONTIAC EXPERTS THAT WE KNOW TO HELP US DECODE THIS SUPPOSED GTO JUDGE, MISTER BILL STOVAL.
(BILL)>> IT LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE IT'S A JUDGE. SAYS JUDGE ON THE FENDER, IT'S GOT THE JUDGE STRIPES,
GOT THE COLOR THAT'S POPULAR WITH JUDGES. THE FIRST 1,500 WERE PAINTED THIS COLOR, ORANGE, CAROUSEL RED. SOMEBODY'S FAKING ONE CAUSE YOU GOT AN EMBLEM ON THE DASH, YOU'VE GOT DECALS ON THE FENDERS. YOU CAN BUY ALL THAT STUFF.
(JOE)>> THIS CAR'S VIN NUMBER STARTS WITH THE NUMBERS 242, WHICH INDEED TELLS US IT'S A GTO ACCORDING TO THIS BOOK AND BILL. HOWEVER IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A JUDGE. TO DETERMINE THAT WELL WE'VE GOT TO DO A LOT MORE HOMEWORK.
(BILL)>> THAT 242 NUMBER WOULD COME BACK, THAT AUTOMATICALLY MAKES IT A GTO. THE JUDGE DOES NOT HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER PER SE.
(JOE)>> WITH THESE PARTICULAR CARS THE VIN DOESN'T DETAIL IF IT HAD THE HIGHLY DESIRED JUDGE OPTION. AND IF THE CAR'S ORIGINAL BUILD SHEET OR PAPER WORK CAN'T BE FOUND, WELL THERE'S ONLY ONE ALTERNATIVE.
(BILL)>> YOU SEND OFF TO PONTIAC HISTORICAL SERVICES, AND I THINK IT MAY BE $50 OR $60 DOLLARS NOW, THEY'LL SEND YOU THE PAPER WORK BACK ON THAT CAR AS IT WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY, THE DEALER THAT ORDERED, THE PRICE OF THE CAR, AND WHAT OPTIONS THAT CAR HAD ON IT. AND ONE OF THE OPTIONS ON THAT CAR WOULD BE THE JUDGE, IT'S WRITTEN OUT, THE JUDGE ON THAT SHEET.
(TOMMY)>> ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE CAN BE SOME TELL TALE SIGNS THAT LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT A REAL JUDGE.
(BILL)>> IT'S GOT THE WRONG ENGINE IN IT. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AT LEAST A RAM AIR THREE OR A RAM AIR FOUR TO BE A JUDGE, BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT A GTO. YOU CAN HAVE THAT MOTOR IN A GTO. I THINK I'VE SEEN ENOUGH THAT I'D BE CAUTIOUS. IF YOU'RE SEARCHING JUNKYARDS AND ALL AND YOU SAY, MAN I FOUND ME A JUDGE. WELL UNLESS YOU CAN VERIFY IT, YOU BETTER BUY IT AT A GTO PRICE AND HOPE WHEN YOU GO HOME YOU FIND OUT IT'S A JUDGE INSTEAD OF PAYING A JUDGE PRICE FOR IT AND GOING HOME AND FINDING OUT YOU GOT A GTO. HERE'S A CAR I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. PRETTY QUESTIONABLE WHAT YOU WERE GETTING. NO GTO MARKINGS EXCEPT THE SIDE LIGHTS ON THE BACK, AND OF COURSE THE 242, AND NO JUDGE EMBLEMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON IT. SO IT'S A SHOT IN THE DARK, BOUGHT IT AS A GTO CAUSE I KNEW IT WAS A TRUE GTO BY THE NUMBERS ON IT.
AND AS IT TURNED OUT I SENT OFF TO PONTIAC HISTORICAL SERVICES TO GET MY PAPER WORK. IT CAME BACK AND ONE OF THE THINGS UNDERLINED WAS THE JUDGE. SO THIS IS A TRUE JUDGE, THIS IS A TRUE PROJECT CAR. IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU WON THE LOTTERY YOU KNOW, BUT LOOKS ARE DECEIVING. YOU KNOW, THE CAR WE LOOKED AT EARLIER, IT HAD ALL THE SIGNS OF A JUDGE. AND THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE ANY SIGNS TO IT.
(JOE)>> WOULD THIS MAKE A GOOD PROJECT?
(BILL)>> THIS WOULD MAKE A GOOD PROJECT, IT'S WORTH SAVING.
(JOE)>> THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT EVEN WHEN YOU FIND IT SOMETIMES. LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING, I MEAN LOOK AT TOMMY AND ME AFTER ALL. COME ON, LETS GO.
(TOMMY)>> WELL OUR CURIOSITY WAS MAXED OUT
REGARDING THAT ORANGE CAR. SO WE SENT OFF FOR THE PAPER WORK AND IT TURNS OUT IT'S A GTO, NOT A JUDGE, BUT IT IS A REALLY HIGH OPTION CAR. AT LEAST IT'S GOT THAT GOING FOR IT. MAN I THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING.
(ANNOUNCER)>> STICK AROUND FOR SOME SHINNIES AS WE PUT THE TOP END ON OUR PONTIAC POWER PLANT AND TIE A BOW ON THIS ENGINE THAT'S GONNA TURN OUR TRANS AM INTO A ROCKET.
(TOMMY)>> ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT OUR OIL PUMP INSTALLED, JUST ABOUT GOT THE OIL PAN DONE, AND I'VE GOT ANOTHER COOL PART I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU ALL. BUTLER PERFORMANCE OFFERS AN EXACT REPRODUCTION OF THE TIMING COVER. NOW WHETHER YOU'RE DOING A HIGH PERFORMANCE APPLICATION
OR A RESTORATION, OFTEN TIMES THE TIMING COVERS HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PITTING HERE AROUND THIS GASKETS WHERE
THE WATER PUMP SEALS. GETTING ONE OF THESE CAN SAVE YOU A BOAT LOAD OF TIME.
(JOE)>> WELL THIS IS ONE OF THE EDELBROCK PERFORMER HEADS WE'RE USING IN OUR PONTIAC ENGINE BUILD. IT'S A TRUE DPORT DESIGN, WHICH REQUIRES
A DFLANGE HEADER. NOW THAT'S NOT TO BE MISTAKEN WITH THIS OTHER HEAD THEY MAKE WHICH IS A ROUND PORT DESIGN THAT REQUIRES A ROUND SHAPED HEADER DESPITE THE INVERTED "D'S" HERE IN THE MIDDLE. THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS HAVE A NEW FAST BURN DESIGN TO
MAKE MORE POWER, AND BUTLER PERFORMANCE GOES THE EXTRA
MILE PORTING THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST PORTS. MACHINING THE DECK SURFACES, AND ADDING NEW STIFFER COMP SPRINGS. THESE HEADS ARE RESTING ON HIGH PERFORMANCE GASKETS THAT BUTLER DESIGNED FOR THIS SETUP.
OH AND EDELBROCK NOW OFFERS ITS OWN ARP BOLTS SPECIALLY MADE FOR THEIR HEADS.
(TOMMY)>> AFTER LUBING UP THE BORES, WE CAN DROP IN A
SET OF HYDRAULIC ROLLER LIFTERS. SO DAVE, IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THESE PUSH RODS YOU GUYS OFFER?
(DAVID)>> YEAH, WE USE A RESTRICTED PUSH ROD FOR THESE HYDRAULIC ROLLERS. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT'S ONLY FOR RACE MOTORS BUT FOR ANY ENGINE WE WANT TO KEEP PLENTY OF OIL IN THE BOTTOM END AND STILL GIVE ENOUGH OIL TO THE TOP TO LUBE THE VALVETRAIN.
(TOMMY)>> YEAH CAUSE ONE FO THE WORST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS PUMP THE PAN DRY ISN'T IT?
(DAVID)>> ABSOLUTELY!
(JOE)>> TOM COME HERE, I'VE GOT A LITTLE TRIVIA FOR YOU.
(TOMMY)>> WHAT YOU GOT?
(JOE)>> DID YOU KNOW THE FIRST ROCKER ARM WAS INVENTED BY A GUY NAMED JONATHAN RUNDLE BACON BACK IN THE MID 1800'S?
(TOMMY)>> I CAN'T SAY THAT I DID, DID YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HIM?
(JOE)>> NO I DIDN'T KNOW HIM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY CALL THE TIP A RUNDLE FOR A LONG TIME, HOW ABOUT THAT?
(TOMMY)>> WELL I'VE GOT TO SAY, THESE THINGS RIGHT HERE ARE QUITE A SWEET PIECE AND I'D BET HE'D GIVE HIS RIGHT ARM OR LEG FOR A SET OF THESE DUDES.
(JOE)>> COMP ULTRA GO, NOTHING BUT THE BEST.
(TOMMY)>> THESE ARE STUD MOUNTED FULL ROLLERS WITH A
ONE POINT SIXFIVE RATIO.
TO HELP OUR PONTIAC KEEP ITS COOL WE'RE USING A MECHANICAL WATER PUMP WITH A BILLET IMPELLER THAT WE GOT FROM SUMMIT RACING.
AND TO HELP KEEP ALL THEM MOVING PARTS HAPPY, SIX QUARTS OF COMP BREAK IN OIL. THEN WE CAN PRIME TO INSURE WE'VE GOT AMPLE OIL FLOW.
(JOE)>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO USE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT COMPLIMENTS THE MORE AGGRESSIVE CAM WE INSTALLED AND THE FREE FLOW EXHAUST WE'LL BE USING. THIS PERFORMER RPM FROM EDELBROCK IS A DUAL PLANE THAT'S MADE FOR PONTIACS THAT OPERATE IN THE 1,500 TO 6,500 RPM RANGE. PLUS THE BUTLERS HAVE GONE IN AND OPENED THE RUNNERS TO MATCH THE HEAD WORK THEY DID. AND WITH THAT NICE ALUMINUM FINISH, THIS THING'S GONNA MAKE THE ENGINE LOOK LIKE A PIECE OF PONTIAC JEWELRY.
(TOMMY)>> WELL DAVE AND RODNEY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR HELPING US OUT ON THE BUILD, AND I TELL YOU, I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING TO DRIVE THIS THING. NOW AS FOR DYNO'ING THIS THING JUST TO GET THE POWER, WELL THESE GUYS HAVE PUT BETTER THAN 100 OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER. SO THEY OUGHT TO KNOW.
(DAVID)>> 474 WILL MAKE 550 HORSEPOWER BUT CLOSE TO 600 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE.
(TOMMY)>> WOW, WELL THAT OUGHT TO MOVE THAT OLE TA AROUND PRETTY EASILY. YOU PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT?
(JOE)>> THAT'S VERY STOUT!