[polarwhite70judge]

My original 64 GTO 389 is in machine shop for rebuild. I need a parts source for pistons and valves, as they are unable to source these items. Who do you recommend? Also would the 068 cam or one of the Summit cams be better, car is an original red, 4 speed hardtop. I want to restore as Day 2 car with vintage speed equipment. I have a set of Lakewood ladder bars, Motor Wheel Spyder wheels, Big Daddy Tach,and a Super Duty 421 Dual Quad intake.

[polarwhite70judge]

My original 64 GTO 389 is in machine shop for rebuild. I need a parts source for pistons and valves, as they are unable to source these items. Who do you recommend? Also would the 068 cam or one of the Summit cams be better, car is an original red, 4 speed hardtop. I want to restore as Day 2 car with vintage speed equipment. I have a set of Lakewood ladder bars, Motor Wheel Spyder wheels, Big Daddy Tach,and a Super Duty 421 Dual Quad intake.

[74t/a]

That stuff should be readily available. If your machine shop cannot find them, I would look for another.

I don't mean to sound negative, but that seems kind of fishy to me. Either they haven't looked very hard, or they don't know much about pontiacs.

[polarwhite70judge]

I know what you mean that it should be readily available, but I looked around at some of the Pontiac specialty suppliers and I couldn't find 389 forged pistons even at JBP. I want to build a stock type engine and don't want to have to buy Ross custom pistons, but that is all I can find. Face it , most people build the later 400 and 455 engines and those parts are readily available, but the 389, 421, and 428 pistons are not on the shelf at every jobber warehouse. I also need a set of valves for the 716 heads. Thanks for responding and if you can help me locate any of these parts , I would greatly appreciate it!

[74t/a]

I can still get the TRW style forged piston in .030, .040, and .060

I am sure I could still get the valves for you as well.

Email me or call 770-622-4979

maloofracing@mindspring.com

Regards, Bryan

[Mr. P-Body]

Speed Pro still supplies the L2111F piston ('66 389). The difference between those and the earlier 389 pistons is the clearance between the bottom of the piston and the counterweights on the crank. The later piston will work fine in the early engine, but not the other way around. Cast pistons are also available.
If you really can't get them, e-mail or call me. I can help.
I would suggest Comp XE262H, rather than a generi-grind or old Pontiac grind. We use that cam as a "replacement" cam for performance engines with slightly lowered compression. Smoothish idle, great power to 5,500.

Jim

www.centralvirginiamachine.com

[ERIC17621]

I am in the same situation, rebuilding a '65 389 and trying to find forged pistons. the L2111F pistons you mentioned, do those have the valve relifes that match up with the 65 #77 heads, and not the later model valves? I can't remember what year they changed the valve pattern.