1959 GMC stock engine help

[davecarney2]

I have a 1959 GMC longbed with a stock V-8. Has anyone built one up from a performance standpoint. I would like to keep the stock engine but want to build it up to about 400 horespower. Not even sure if its possible. Any suggestions, websites, etc.....???

[dwcsr]

If its the original engine I think you have a 336 pontiac based off the 389 pontiac so you may well find some old school hipo parts and get 300 350 hp out of it. I see pontiac tri power setups every now and then for reasonable prices.

[mr48chev]

It probably wouldn't hurt to check Ebay or Amazon or just Google for books or articles for souping up early Pontiac V8 engines.

400 hp might be a reach unless you figure out the right combination. that is going to take good flowing heads, the right cam and the right carb intake along with a boost in compression ratio.

A couple of examples of books to look at.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-65-66-6...rature&vxp=mtr

The one I was thinking of
Amazon.com: How to Build Max Performance Pontiac...

[davecarney2]

thank you for the input, figured 350-400 hp might be a stretch.

[Highsider]

I test drove a '59 Chevy Panel and the stock V8 was a 283.
The owner had stuck a 4-bbl on to wake it up just for everyday street use.
Oh, and added a T400 and duals on the stock iron headers.

[Jonboy]

Since you have a Pontiac V8 and the later ones are pretty much interchangeable, why not find a 400 or 455 and make it look original? At least that way you aren't stuck trying to find a bunch of high $$$ parts to get the job done.

[Speedbumpauto]

X2! A 400 will meet your HP needs easily with a few aftermarket parts and it will look the same as the engine that comes out. Most don't even know the Pontiac V-8's came in GMC's.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

X2! A 400 will meet your HP needs easily with a few aftermarket parts and it will look the same as the engine that comes out. Most don't even know the Pontiac V-8's came in GMC's.

That is one reason I am going to run one in my 52.

[1project2many]

400 hp might be a reach unless you figure out the right combination. that is going to take good flowing heads, the right cam and the right carb intake along with a boost in compression ratio.

Or boost.

Since you have a Pontiac V8 and the later ones are pretty much interchangeable, why not find a 400 or 455 and make it look original?

There's no way to get 400hp from the tiny carb, intake, and exhaust that's found on the original engine. At that power level it's just not gonna look stock.

[Speedbumpauto]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

Or boost.


There's no way to get 400hp from the tiny carb, intake, and exhaust that's found on the original engine. At that power level it's just not gonna look stock.

Point taken, but you could get there with a few hot rod parts that all of us would have loved to put on them when we were younger if we could have afforded it. Actually, it's the torque that moves a heavy vehicle like that truck and with a later 2V intake and exhaust manifolds, I'm betting it would produce near 400 ft lb of touque even if it was down a little on the higher rpm HP.....and that would really move that truck with the right trans.

[1project2many]

Yep... a torque monster would be a great truck. Nice towing/ RV cam, small ports and valves for velocity, a 3.08 rear gear and an overdrive trans and you could be looking at an 18mpg+ truck that still scoots along plenty quick.

[OrrieG]

455, add the T/A phoenix to the hood and you are set!