#21  
Old 01-13-2021, 09:08 PM
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Tom I think they did a lot of things people don’t realize back then. If you heard the stories I’ve heard from the original drivers and guys who worked on the cars at stephens Pontiac you’d say no way to some of it.
Like the RAV trans am pro car having A Dana 60 rear in it with a GM part number. I normally don’t even post that stuff here because I know HO w the nay sayers will be. But more then one of the guys involved with that car say it. They also had an aluminum block that was referenced in a story back in 73 or 74. Can’t r,ember which year muscle car review I think it was, there’s a story that goes with that article and it’s the reason they stopped racing.

I’m just happy I’m one of the few people to launch a real RAIV firebird at 6400 rpms at the track in full race trim. All that matchy matchy stuff seems less significant to me than that. It’s nice to be accurate, but I’m sure a lot of real items are being dismissed because people SAID they didn’t happen. Not trying to knock anyone but some stuff happened that wasn’t the norm for various reasons.

I’m assuming it was a Dana 60 they just say DANA rear, To be more clear. But they also call it a RAM IV and RAM V guess that’s how they said it back then. They never ever say ram air IV

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Last edited by turbo69bird; 01-13-2021 at 09:14 PM.
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Old 01-13-2021, 09:18 PM
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I owned one of the factory late alu blocks along with a early alu block which was part of a complete alu engine that was done back in about 1959-1960.I just sold a pair of early alu blocks that were cast for M/T for his hemi heads.Been lucky to have been around in the early 60s when M/T was involved with pontiac engineering.Back to the original topic.Tom

  #23  
Old 01-14-2021, 01:28 AM
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FWIW, I sold a '70 455 SR block about 20 years ago for $1000.

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Old 01-14-2021, 08:00 PM
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My uncle (the Dealer) and I replaced the RA-IV block on a Chicago Customer's car in 1970. The customer paid the dealership) would have paid about $350 for the SR Block. The Factory Rep came by and had the original numbers of the removed block stamped on the new block (as well as the SR) and the customer went down the road.

I thought that it was odd that the Engine had a Edelbrock intake and a Holley carb installed and the Factory Rep still covered the engine under warranty as it had about 1200 miles on the vehicle.

Tom V.

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Old 01-15-2021, 09:32 AM
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Did not Reynolds Aluminum make all the blocks that can be tied to the factory engineering projects / usage and MT had his cast in near by CA somewhere ?

Even HO racing got there hands on a few leftovers that I recall them selling into the mid to late 70s I think.

I seem to recall the name Lukens tied to the ones HO where selling?

Maybe Ken can shed some light on this?

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Old 01-15-2021, 11:27 AM
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Pretty sure Reynolds did not do them.Dimitrie might know as his farther worked in the foundry.I know for sure they were machined at Pontiac.2 of the late ones I have owned were pulled out of the trash on a weekend.There were 6 there.The one I built had some casting voids and core shift and porosity issues.Tom

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Old 01-15-2021, 11:35 AM
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At one time I believe Loren B owned all 6 of those blocks, if I remember the story that he told me correctly.

Tom V.

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Old 01-15-2021, 12:28 PM
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Yes,we talked about it when we met at that little motel years ago near Norwalk.I believe they went to Bob Underwood.Tom

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Old 01-15-2021, 12:35 PM
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Off topic but here are a couple rare engineering pieces that were used to run the RA IV and RA V SCCA short deck blocks when running the 2-4 Xram intakes
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Old 01-15-2021, 01:04 PM
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Interesting! Not surprised that the factory in term of flat out racing items decided to go back to the iron cased distributor's long after the production ones went over to Aluminum!

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Wernher Von Braun warned before his retirement from NASA back in 1972, that the next world war would be against the ETs!
And he was not talking about 1/8 or 1/4 mile ETs!

1) 1940s 100% silver 4 cup tea server set.

Two dry rotted 14 x 10 Micky Thompson slicks.

1) un-mailed in gift coupon from a 1972 box of corn flakes.
Two pairs of brown leather flip flops, never seen more then 2 mph.

Education is what your left with once you forget things!
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Old 01-15-2021, 01:53 PM
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Steve,I really think they just use the Chevy corvette casting.Tom

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Old 01-16-2021, 08:22 AM
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You may have that right, as they do look darn tall for a Pontiac Distributor!

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Wernher Von Braun warned before his retirement from NASA back in 1972, that the next world war would be against the ETs!
And he was not talking about 1/8 or 1/4 mile ETs!

1) 1940s 100% silver 4 cup tea server set.

Two dry rotted 14 x 10 Micky Thompson slicks.

1) un-mailed in gift coupon from a 1972 box of corn flakes.
Two pairs of brown leather flip flops, never seen more then 2 mph.

Education is what your left with once you forget things!
  #33  
Old 01-16-2021, 10:52 AM
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They needed the height to clear the cross ram 2-4 intake which was legal in 1969 for SCCA racing.Tom

  #34  
Old 01-16-2021, 10:56 AM
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303 shortdeck SCCA engine
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Old 01-17-2021, 02:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve25 View Post
Did not Reynolds Aluminum make all the blocks that can be tied to the factory engineering projects / usage and MT had his cast in near by CA somewhere ?

Even HO racing got there hands on a few leftovers that I recall them selling into the mid to late 70s I think.

I seem to recall the name Lukens tied to the ones HO where selling?

Maybe Ken can shed some light on this?
I thought I read that ( about Reynolds )in angles and Mc carthys book ?

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  #36  
Old 01-29-2021, 06:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe's Garage View Post
They have extra value because so many of the original RAIV blocks were lost when these cars were newer and those stupid cast connecting rods exited the block while the owner's were having some fun. It's kind of sad that Pontiac didn't have the SD455 style rod in full production a couple of years earlier..... Then a lot more of the RAIV cars would have original blocks in them.

Does your block have the actual 'as-cast' 9799915 casting number or are one or more of the numbers ground off and stamped? With the 1972 casting date, I'd presume the whole number is ground and stamped.

A 9799915 block that has an 'as-cast' casting number should bring fairly huge money. $5k plus to the right person.

We sold another SR block with the 979991_5_ casting where just the last digit was ground off and restamped less than a year ago. +.030, round bores, good, straight main bore, early 1970 casting date. $4500.

Sold another about two years ago where the entire 9799915 casting number was ground off and restamped. +.060 with one sleeve. I think that casting date was in late 1971. $3700.

And, finally, just for reference, sold a 9792506 1969 Ram Air IV SR block with the '2506' ground and stamped. +.030 but had a couple of bores that needed to be honed due to taper. early 1970 casting date. $4000.

Good luck with yours!
I had a 70 SR RAIV block in 1980 that I was putting together to drop into my RAIII 69 Judge. Came with pistons and pins as well. Sold that and the car to a guy that finished it and dropped it in the 69. For what I got for it back then would make you cry today. I've seen so many RAIV GTO's claiming to be "numbers matching" today than ever before. But as you mentioned, most real RAIV original blocks were destroyed years ago however blocks are being restamped more than ever now and called original. I used the original cast connecting rods in that SR block but had the casting seam ground down and all glass beaded. I'm sure this helped keep the engine alive a bit because as you mentioned the stock rods were a weakness. Still a genuine RAIV SR block would be nice to have and I'm sure there is a market for it.

  #37  
Old 07-29-2021, 05:58 PM
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Thank You!

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Old 07-29-2021, 08:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turbo69bird View Post
I thought I read that (about Reynolds )in angles and McCarthys book ?
Jim Lutkins was a Chevy Guy from Grand Rapids, Michigan who loved Pontiac vehicles and engines and raced a 455 HO drag car for several years. He had some serious connections with Pontiac Engineering.

It does not surprise me a bit that Jim would be involved with some of the Aluminum Block investigations. I was not aware of the HO Racing connection with him but it makes sense.

Tom V.

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  #39  
Old 07-30-2021, 02:17 AM
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I sold a 455 SR block nearly 20 years ago for $1K if that helps in pricing.

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  #40  
Old 07-30-2021, 08:40 AM
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Seeing you guys are posting on block numbers, I'm thinking Rocky is always looking for information. My T/A has a 73 455 4 bolt SR block with casting numbers SR812568, H252, 48542 with last number ground off and looks like an 8 stamped. Noting special. FYI

Charles


Last edited by chuckies76ta; 07-30-2021 at 08:48 AM.
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