Pontiac Catalina 1966 tuneup?

L

labbetheking

New member
Joined
Jun 3, 2013
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I've just bought myself a 1966 pontiac catalina and i'd like a little tuneup.
I got myself a restored 350 engine and was suggested to install a lunati camshaft in it. Does anyone have any suggestions on which cam would be nice for my 389 engine in the catalina?
The "tuneups" i wana make is new intake manifold,carb and headers with 2.5" exhaust.
Is there any headers that fits good or should i just buy some cheap long tube headers and remake them some?

Sry for my bad english but im grateful for some answers.

/Daniel
 
You want a camshaft for which engine, 350 or 389? If it is a 350, is it Pontiac or Chevrolet?
 
Oh sorry for not making that clear.. it's for the pontiac 389 engine and the 350 i got is also pontiac.
 
The rearend gearing and the type of transmission will greatly effect the cam choice. Use the Lunati web site to pick a camshaft. http://www.lunatipower.com/FindMyCam.aspx

For the intake I would go with an Edelbrock Performer and a Holley 750CFM vacuum secondary carburetor.
For headers you will probably have to go to Dougs since not too many companies make them for your car.
______________________________
 
Still haven't bought cam,intake or carb.
The headers are on the way getting fitted tho :p .
I really couldn't fill in all the stuff on the link you gave me to choose a cam.
About the intake and carb will this be ok: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-2056 ?
Guess i need to choose a cam with less then 225 intake lobe duration @ .050" lift due to my stock heads?
Is there not anyone who can give me a suggetion for the camchoice?
 
Unless you are having work done on the bottom end, crankshaft, connecting rods etc. your Pontiac will not see anything above 5,500 rpm, so the Performer RPM is a little too much and so is the 800CFM carburetor. In addition look at the rpm range of the cam you selected again a little on the high side. Look at the basic Performer and a carburetor no bigger than 750. The cam should have a top end of about 5,500 max.
______________________________
 
Have you considered calling Lunati 662-892-1500 ? I dont know what gearing you have, I dont know whether you are racing the car or just street driving, I dont know which heads you have, etc. Any cam you pick has to be based upon many factors otherwise you may have too agressive a cam for the rest of the car.
 
Ye u might be right but my english is kinda bad i think i will a hard time making myself understood.
I got the 092 heads but i don't know which gearing i have.
The car will be used for a weekend driver and i want alittle more "punch" in it.
I just want a cam that fits my setup as good as possible.

How can i find out which gearing i have?

/Daniel
 
It says L166 / 9778080 and it's 8 bolts at the rear end.
______________________________
 
This is the reproduction of the Ram Air III cam used in 69-70 in the GTO and 71-72 in the 455HO. In the 400 Ram Air III it produced 366 gross horse power, but you have heads with smaller valves.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/crn-968781

For a carburetor I would consider this one, it has an electric choke unlike the one you had chosen.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hly-0-80770
air cleaner http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g3001
fuel line http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hly-34-150
throttle bracket http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-8014/overview/make/pontiac
intake http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-2156/overview/make/pontiac

If you have a positraction rear end, you can jack up the back of the car on stands, put a chalk mark on the driveshaft and turn either rear wheel 1 full turn while counting how many times the chalk mark goes around. If the chalk mark turns 3 times you have about a 3.00:1 rear end, a little over 2 3/4 times about a 2.75:1 rear etc.
 
Thanks for all the help! I will check the gearing on friday
when i get home from work.
Seems like it has come down to only the camchoice now.
 
The octane rating system in the US is different from Sweden and Europe in general. Our system uses RON+MON/2 (research octane number + motor octane number). So with that in mind I would go for the 98 octane assuming you have flat top pistons as opposed to dished which would lower the compression.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_V-Power
______________________________
 
Oh ok i didn't know that the octane rating system was different :).
I always tought u guys had so low octane rate when i heard like 91 octane etc.
Think i will go for the 98 octane aswell .. got about the same cr in my corvette engine as i will get in the catalina.
 
That 91 octane would be roughly 96 in your country.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top