Best book for Pontiac engine numbers
 

I searched and didn't see a thread that fit, so at least I tried. I think Pete McCarthy's book on Pontiac parts numbers is the best and I have many (but not all). For some reason eBay and Amazon think this book is worth $100, but you can get it from his site for $35.

Back in the late 80's and early 90's I would take this book with me to the junkyards in CA to look up stuff I'd find. I had a 69 Firebird 400 4-speed car with a numbers matching engine and #62 heads, so I wrote him a letter (that's what you did before the internet) and he responded. He said he's seen this before, but though it should have had #48's it's not something someone else did, but it was a factory thing, which makes sense because #62 and #48 are for all intent and purposes the same head.

I'll enclose a link because this book is a wealth of knowledge for block/head/carb/intake/exhaust numbers etc.

What are your favorite books that you have no affiliation with?

http://www.petemccarthybooks.com/ind..._1955-1979/196

Thanks for the link. Just ordered one.

I have it its very good!
I have read it many times and always see something I missed before!

Pete's book is the best.

I received another guy's book, it came in a book-alotment that I purchased, the thing is handy in that it's small, but it is so full of errors, that I'd never bring it anywhere with me till i had all the corrections made.

I have a pdf(?) of an amendment to it for 1973(?) engines, but don't know if the book ever deviated from it's original printing.

A couple good online sources for part numbers are Wallace Racing and Fred Teufert's Pontiac page.
http://www.wallaceracing.com
http://www.teufert.net

Also, if you subscribe to this forum you'll have access to the online part number database (look in the section called subscriber forums). It's very handy, you can enter a part number and it will tell you what years and models that part was used. You can also search by group number or year. It's pretty inexpensive and worth the price.

Keep in mind the lists of 1972 & 1976 Engine codes in Pete's book are incomplete.
Near 20 years ago Rocky & I confirmed numerous additional codes for these two years. There are some other small things that need to be corrected as well. Not knocking it, but I've always wished Pete would have published an updated version of his book. Bought my first copy 32 years ago, & had Pete inscribe it after chatting w him for quite a while @ 91 Western Regional POCI show. Unfortunately, an old contact managed to get off with that copy which frustrated me more due to his other behavior. In the mid 90's at swappers I regularly sold new copies of Pete's '55-79 Performance book & still use that particular book (with my own addendums) over Internet sources.

I can't be the only one who would buy an updated Pete McCarthy book focused purely on engine codes and casting differences.

I'd buy one too.

Pete did update the book.

The company that printed the first issue had binding issues (the pages literally come apart at the spine). Pete had some updates (I sent him some mid-year carb information); but he had a lot more. After doing the updates, pretty sure he changed publishers. I have both a first printing signed by Pete that he suggested I throw away; and the second printing which is the one I use.

But if there are quite a few updates, and Pete has it republished, I I would also be a buyer. I believe in supporting the folks that have helped the hobby; AND PETE HAS DONE THAT!

Jon.

that sounds like the copy my cousin had, and was still using (all the parts of it loosely set back together) when I bought my copy.

I had no idea that the book was ever revised.
Mine says: fifth edition, third printing

I had always assumed latter printings were the same as the first, because there is nothing calling out revisions on the cover, or in the book.

Because of the way the spine came apart on my cousin's copy, I have always held the spine in the hopes of it staying together!

The newer version has the VIN's of the RA IV engine 69/70 TA's.

:)

I have both versions. Plus HO Racing's books including the 350 engine version. (and the newsletters)

:)

I ordered a couple more copies. My spine fell apart in the 90's all highlighted parts and probably missing a couple pages. It is literally the pontiac bible. I never had a copy of the first one so I ordered that too!!

heh-heh... I call it "the Pontiac bible" all the time!

My early copy of Pete's Pontiac Performance '55-79 book had the lists of VIN's of the '69 & 70 RA4 TransAms. None of the pages ever fell out.

At one of the first Pate Swapmeets that I set up at ('88 or 89) was approached at my spaces by a young fellow out of Irving Texas who took his finger & pointed out in my copy of Pete's book the VIN of his '70 RA4 Auto TransAm. Sunday morning immediately following the swap meet, I drove into the MetroPlex & examined the T/A which was for sale. That particular RA4 TransAm sold within a few days to Gary D who posts on this board.

My 1st book did fall apart and had no VIN's in it.
Someone told me about the 69 and 70 RA IV VIN's in the book and I said there is no VIN's in there? He said it's in the new version, so I bought that one.



:)

First Edition - First printing - Copyright 1989

Second Edition - First printing - Copyright 1989

Not positive, but believe there was only the first printing of the First Edition.

My heirs will have the opportunity to sell my two copies.

Jon.

Here are the versions:


Actually 1st was a thinner book with some info (1982 printing)


http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1630688781




My 1989 version about 4 times thicker than 82 version (1 edition, 1st printing)


http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1630688781




This was the one with loose binding, example:


http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1630688781




And my later version (4th edition, 2nd printing)

This has the VIN's on page 46



http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1630688781




:)

As mentioned earlier purchased first copy of Pete's book 32 years ago, that was 1989.
First Edition, Second Edition, who knows it gone. Def had the RAiV VIN list.

That is a different publication all together, and last time I checked, it was still able to be purchased.

I have a copy of that one too.

Got my book today... looks like the cover below 5th edition 3rd printing. I also had the broken binder problem with my first one, but I just kept it closed and all the pages are still there with my notes.

Funny story I forgot to tell you guys. Back in the late 80's I worked for a company that went out of business. Once it failed, they would pay me cash under the table to finish some work at another company that had bought the failed company. There was a Pontiac guy there that claimed to have aluminium 64 GTO fenders, hood and a RAIV engine. I was trying at the time to deal for the engine (never happened), but I wrote to Pete and told him about the 64 GTO aluminium fenders claim. I never saw them and can't attest to whether or not they existed, but Pete tried to hunt them down through that guy... long, long time ago.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1630688781