[Tim Corcoran]

OK this is not about a Pontiac Engine, but there are some things of interest here and some related to a Pontiac engine build. There is an article on this engine in the December issue of Hot Rod Magazine.

The GM crate engine makes 1,004HP and is designed to be a street engine. This is the same engine that is used in the 2024 COPO Camaro. It has 12.0:1 compression and is designed to work on 93 octane pump gas, huh? It's made at the GM Performance and Racing Center in Pontiac Michigan.
It has a custom ground Comp Hydraulic Roller cam made to GM specs using Chevrolet Racing anti-pump-up Bowtie lifters secured in place with a “spider” hold down plate. Looking at the design of the spider plate I see no reason why one couldn’t be fabricated for a Pontiac, but it would be expensive and doubt there would be enough sales to make it a profitable venture. It would require some expensive tooling to make the stamped sheet metal portion. The dog-bone portion appears to be made from 3/16 plate or cast then braised or spot welded to the stamped sheet metal. The stamping acts as a spring to hold the dog-bones in place to prevent the lifters from rotating.
The valve springs are ovate wire beehive to control the big 2.450 intake and 1.8 exhaust titanium valves with .780/.782 lift and 175 pounds on the seat and 410 pounds over the nose. The redline is 7,000 RPM and max power 1,004 @6,600.
Another interesting aspect of this engine is the use of coatings on the piston top and all exterior of the piston. I suppose the coating on the top is to retain heat in the combustion chamber inside of the large 32.3cc dish and on the exterior to reduce friction and for durability. It uses Cometic .040 MLS head gaskets and the pistons are .005/.006 in the hole.
I also found it interesting that it uses 15W 50 oil with bearing clearance of .027/.028 on the mains and .0023/.0028 on the rods.