Category: Pontiac Catalina

Catalina Done!

by admin, posted in Pontiac Catalina

For now, at least.

October to January:

  • Engine pulled, re-ringed, re-bearinged, re-sealed
  • Ported #15 heads, 3-angle valve job
  • Summit 2801 camshaft (214°/224° 0.444″/0.466″ 112°)
  • Steering box rebuilt and re-sealed
  • Transmission pump re-sealed
  • Front Control Arm upper and lower bushings replaced
  • 3/4 coil cut off front springs
  • Re-aligned with -0.5°R/0.0°L Camber, +3° Caster, and 1/8″ Toe-in.

Read More: Pontiac Catalina

Back Together Again!

by admin, posted in Pontiac Catalina

We swapped out the old “outers only” valve springs, and installed Comp Cams 988-16 valve springs by pumping compressed air into the cylinder (through an old compression tester hose), and a valve compressor made from a “fiendishly low build quality” Wrecking Bar that I modified.

Handy tip for installing hoods – use a bolt with the head cut off and rounded (and slotted like a flat-blade screw) as a “pin” to hold the hood in the hinges. Much easier to support the hood while you argue with fasteners.

Now we just need to wait for some dry, no snow, no salt, days to break in the rings.

It Runs!

by admin, posted in Pontiac Catalina

Broke in the cam today.

Idle exhaust note is different than before. Previously it was just “big old car” sound.  It’s different now, a little more “stout” – maybe “hint of lope”?

Cam is Summit’s “high-lift” version of the H.O. #068 cam (some call it the Ram Air III, but it isn’t): 214°/224° .444″/.466″ 112°.  Engine is allegedly 10.25:1 from the factory.

Nice to have it not pissing fluids all over the place anymore….

Read More: Pontiac Catalina!