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Old 08-30-2021, 11:01 PM
thews thews is offline
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Default 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

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Old 08-31-2021, 12:39 PM
70oldgoat 70oldgoat is offline
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Thanks for the link. Just ordered one.

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Old 08-31-2021, 04:07 PM
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I have it its very good!
I have read it many times and always see something I missed before!

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Old 08-31-2021, 04:30 PM
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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.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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Old 08-31-2021, 06:16 PM
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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.


Last edited by Stuart; 08-31-2021 at 06:26 PM.
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Old 08-31-2021, 07:41 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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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.

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Old 08-31-2021, 11:33 PM
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I can't be the only one who would buy an updated Pete McCarthy book focused purely on engine codes and casting differences.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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Old 09-01-2021, 11:04 PM
thews thews is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unruhjonny View Post
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.

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Old 09-02-2021, 08:18 AM
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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.

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Old 09-02-2021, 11:00 AM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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Quote:
The company that printed the first issue had binding issues (the pages literally come apart at the spine).
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!

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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Old 09-02-2021, 01:04 PM
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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)


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Old 09-02-2021, 10:17 PM
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4dblnkldude 4dblnkldude is offline
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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!!

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Old 09-02-2021, 11:26 PM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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heh-heh... I call it "the Pontiac bible" all the time!

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #14  
Old 09-03-2021, 08:57 AM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnta1 View Post
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)

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.

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Old 09-03-2021, 12:36 PM
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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.




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KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever!


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Old 09-03-2021, 01:01 PM
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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.

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"Good carburetion is fuelish hot air".

"The most expensive carburetor is the wrong one given to you by your neighbor".

If you truly believe that "one size fits all" try walking a mile in your spouse's shoes!

Owner of The Carburetor Shop, LLC (of Missouri).

Current caretaker of the remains of Stromberg Caburetor, and custodian of the existing Carter and Kingston carburetor drawings.
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Old 09-03-2021, 01:11 PM
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Here are the versions:


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







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







This was the one with loose binding, example:







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

This has the VIN's on page 46








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Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats

KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever!


"Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts."

"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates
  #18  
Old 09-03-2021, 01:30 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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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.

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Old 09-03-2021, 02:05 PM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnta1 View Post
Here are the versions:


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


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.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #20  
Old 09-08-2021, 10:10 PM
thews thews is offline
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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.


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