How To Make Your Muscle Car Handle; by Mark Savitske
Revised Edition

First two thirds of the book goes into detail of the various suspension designs, springs, shocks, aftermarket parts. The last section is devoted to how to improve your A,F, G bodies as well as the various Ford and Chrysler bodies. Found in all the usual places like Ebay, Amazon etc.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-You...50/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=how+to+make+your+muscle+car+handle&qid=1569855746&sr=8-1

I also buy up any GM Factory literature for the year I own. So far one of my best buys has been the 68 Diagnostic Manual. Laid out like the service manual it goes into great detail describing how to troubleshoot the various components the the service manual only touches on. While the service manual will say, Test component and if bad replace by following this procedure,the diagnostic manual shows you how to test.

AC Delco also has several service and repair booklets for electrical items.

The assembly manual is another great source. It seems that most of the $20 copies are poorly copied, I have found the more expensive versions to be very good and readable. To bad there isn't one for 68 A bodies but the 69 version covers about 80% of the 68.

 

SOOOOOO.... Because I am so awesome... and I want you all to have the manuals..... I have licensed copies of the 1963 and 1964 full shop manuals in Electronic form for Pontiac lemans and tempest. Don't worry the manuals have the GTO optioned stuff in them If anyone needs a page or a copy shoot me an IM and I will be happy to share. We can only look at it one at a time and if I send it you.. You have to Promise to DELETE the files when you are done. We can't both have copies.

I think I paid 40 bucks for the set of manuals. But you get to see them for free. All you have to do is swear you will delete them when you are done.

 

Well done, Jim!

WE might can check out this list for things we haven't heard of.

Required Reading - PY Online Forums - Bringing the Pontiac Hobby Together
It's the PY forum's list of books and materials.


I also have this one: Pontiac's Great One by Darwin Holmstrom It has great photos and includes a re-print of the infamous Car&Driver Pontiac GTO vs Ferrari GTO article.

 

Q-JET CARBS

How to Rebuild and Modify Rochester Quadrajet Carburators by Cliff Ruggles. One of the best how-to books I have read. Descriptions of the carb,tools needed for the rebuild, and then step-by-step photos in disassembly, and re-assembly and all those good things to modify to make the factory carb work great or modify for a "hot" engine. Lot of pointers and how to ID the different years and which manufacturer used what. https://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Modify-Rochester-Quadrajet-Carburetors/dp/1932494189

Rochester Carburetors, Revised Edition by Doug Roe (1987) I remember this book back in my early days, but never purchased it. I had (and still do have) a 6-page fold out paper titled How To Blueprint Your Quadrajet Four-Barrel For More Performance put out by Motion Performance under the publishing name of Phase III Publications out of Long Island, New York. The carb used was an Oldsmobile carb with photos and description on all your adjustments. I would rebuild all my Q-jets using the suggestions in the paper and it did indeed make improvements. I also purchased 2 of their booklet offerings on the Pontiac GTO (1978) and 350-455 How-to High Performance Engine Book (1976) - both of which had a ton of engine builds, tune-up specs/tips, and performance tests. They were sold out of the back of the hot rod magazines of the day and this is where I got some of my knowledge - before the internet. The already listed Pontiac Musclecar Performance provides Q-jet rac prep, but is not for anyone who isn't already familiar with rebuilding one. Here is the book by Doug Roe, which I should add to my collection: https://www.amazon.com/Rochester-Ca...1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=77Q1BE1XSK0696A3D85H&psc=1&refRID=77Q1BE1XSK0696A3D85H

Automatic Overdrive Transmissions

GM Automatic Overdrive Transmissions: Builder's and Swapper's Guide by Cliff Ruggles. This is a must for those who are looking for more knowledge and info on selecting and putting a late model overdrive behind their Pontiac engine. The book covers the 700-R4, 4L60 and 4L60E overdrives. A nice history and transmissions types and years used along with the differences pointed out between the types for identification.For the do-it-yourselfer there is a list of needed tools to do the disassembly, modifications, and rebuild. A ton of photos of individual parts so you can see what is what. Has a section on shift-kits, which appears to be the Trans-Go brand by another name. Has a section on torque converters and how to select one for your car. The last section is the removal and installation of an overdrive into a Pontiac, step by step. I have never gotten into trans rebuilding as the prices for the old TH-400's, poweglides, & Mopars I had rebuilt were not all that expensive back in "the day." Prices today can still be reasonable for the old school 3-speed automatics, but if I were to go with a 4-speed automatic OD, I would buy one already set-up with matching converter. Ihave installed a couple shift kits in my TH-400's and a Mopar 904 to improve things. NAPA used to sell kits cheaper than the B&M kits and they did the same thing. The GTO TH-400's came from the factory with raised line pressures and snappy hard shifting with their His/Hers option. If your TH-400 is not original, then you aren't experiencing the true shifting fun of an original factory TH-400 and barking tires on a good 1-2nd all out banzai shift. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gm+autom...ooks&crid=SKTMGNCLO2LO&sprefix=GM+Automatic,stripbooks,169&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_12

Rear Ends

Ford Differentials: How to Rebuild the 8.8 and 9 Inch by Joseph Palazzolo. I knew the factory 10-bolt, non-posi, under my '68 Lemans was a candidate for a grenade toss. The 469/455 and shot of nitrous was going to need something bullet proof. I am not a fan of the 12-bolt and the 9 inch Ford has been around since 1957, hot-rodders/drag racers still use them, and aftermarket parts are plentiful with manufacturers making complete new assemblies. They are stout, and with all the options you can do with them, you can spec a rear-end that will hold up to a nuclear blast. I hadn't a clue what the ins & outs of a Ford (yuk) 9 inch was, but needed to learn, so I bought this book. It helped me choose those HD parts I wanted to incorporate into the 9 inch I was going to build to my specs. The build was not inexpensive and I could have gone cheaper in some areas, but I wanted to do this once and have a rear end to last. I began with an aftermarket housing fitted with the A-body mounts for a bolt-in fit. This book is another great "how-to" from ID to disassembly and assembly, and what parts to use/select. It was a real help along with my internet searches in putting together my 9 inch build. I did not assemble the center "pumpkin" as I had a shop assemble and set-up the gears. I selected my parts and did assemble the rest of the rear end along with the "pumpkin." https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ford+dif...rid=26Z0PHI0DUGAT&sprefix=Ford+Differentials,stripbooks,260&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_18

Suspension

How To Hook and Launch: Traction Mods for Street & Strip by Dick Miller. What good is all that Pontiac power if you can't get it to hook up? Dick Miller is well known with his 1970 Olds Cutlass W-31 he bought new and set-up for drag racing. He has a website that sells his tried and true products that he has developed and uses on his A-body car. The book of course focuses on rear suspensions to get your high horsepower car to hook, but it also includes front suspension. Included are leaf spring suspensions, torsion bars, coil overs, no-lift bars, ladder bars, suspension geometry, pinion angle, bushings and a host of other needed info to plant all the power to the ground rather than go up in smoke or get the dreaded wheel hop and break a rear end or transmission. I used this book to design my own bolt-on "no-hop" adjustable bars for my Ford 9 inch rear end. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=how+to+h...W1A1JIO9A9Y9&sprefix=how+to+hook+and+launch,stripbooks,175&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_22

DVD's

Auto Shop Videos by Bad Ass Cars has a good selection of topics if you don't care to read. Just pop in your computer and sit back. Unfortunately, the owner has retired and the engine shop closed, so I don't know how long these videos will be for sale at this website, or if a new site will be created to keep them going. I have several of these DVD's and think they are really worth their money. The shop builds mostly Ford & Chevy engines, but the principals still apply. Learned a lot watching these videos. You can check out the offerings at the bottom of the page and then click on one to read more. Engine Building and Tuning Videos

 

Collector's Originality Guide Pontiac GTO 1964-1974 by Thomas DeMauro

I have this and find it to be a good resource
.
Some may recognize Thomas DeMauro as a staff writer for Hemmings Muscle Machines (which imho is another good reference). He usually gets to cover the Pontiac feature cars.

https://www.amazon.com/Collectors-Originality-Guide-Pontiac-1964-1974/dp/0760335583

 

AMA Specifications - PDF

This is a must for any GTO/Lemans/Tempest owner or enthusiast. The AMA specs tell you what you need to know about your car. This is the technical stuff - options, all the parts/pieces/specs used in your engine, transmission, rear axle, brakes, exhaust, distributors, car dimensions, etc.. Download as a PDF Auto History Preservation Society - Tech Pages Listings by Car Make or Specialty

They also have a ton of other things Pontiac to view - check out the road test articles for the GTO, also downloadable in PDF format: Auto History Preservation Society - Tech Pages Listings by Car Make or Specialty

And, you can check out the GTO competition and see what their AMA specs were as well as the road tests. Put this one in your Favorites pocket as you'll be on it for a while. Here is the home page: https://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-bin/pub9990262549471.cgi

Automotive History Preservation Society :thumbsup:

 

Thank you Jim for posting these.
Just in time for Christmas!

 

Good stuff!

 

Another must have for your 1968-69 GTO/Lemans/Tempest if you do your own work, or even if you have your car worked on by a shop. The manual also includes the Grand Prix. There is no manual for the 1968, but this one works in most instances and does include 1968 drawings/parts in some instances. The issuing date of the manual is 8-15-68, released 9-17-68, and has 1969 revisions as noted on the blueprint.

The blueprints are generally not to scale as most aren't. They are for reference and provide reference points, dimensions, and either a single line drawing, or sectional drawings. Some of the drawings are not clear, ie very faint/faded. This is typical of copying a blueprint if you have ever work with blueprints - they usually have a master and then the worker gets a copy and the copy then gets used and can get beat up, so not every drawing is crisp & clear.

The quality of the book is a good reprint/copy with a cover and holes punched out on each page so that the manual can be placed into a 3-ring binder which makes it easy to leaf through or take out a page or two to recopy and bring out to your car as you work on it, or provide the needed pages to your shop. My copy came from Inline Tube, but there are other sources and you can get it as a CD.

The first couple pages is the index to the book. It is somewhat alphabetized, but not always. The description of the engineering drawings then provide a page to which the drawing is found. Here is a neat example from the engine page I found interesting and included as a scan. Each engine has an assembly number, ie engine code WS for the GTO is engine assembly 9795576. You see a column for engine Code, then Transmission type for that engine code, the Compression Ratio of the engine, Model Application for each engine, and the Group code. Not all engines are 1969 engines as the RA engines, block code WY & XW are 1968 RA II engines having the #96 heads. The 370HP 1969 RA engines were block codes WW & XP supposedly having 10.75 compression, but the chart shows them to have 9.8 compression. Missing from the chart are a couple of 1969 350CI engine codes.

Here is the interesting part. Look at the Compression Ratio's. They range from 8.2, 9.8, 10.0, 10.3, and 10.5. Hmmm. Most of the ads, brochures, and repair guides say 10.5 or 10.75 being the compression ratio for the GTO's engine. The GTO engine compression is shown as the Optional 400CI 8.2 2 Bbl economy engine, the 9.8 as the Standard engine, the 10.3 compression is shown for the Optional 366 HP RA III with manual trans while the RA III automatic YZ is shown with 9.8.

So what is the true compression of these engines? Was it based on combustion chamber size? Head gasket thickness? Deck height? Or all of the above? Using the Wallace Compression Calculator I input the 400CI specs, combustion chamber size of 72cc's, piston valve relief's at 6.6cc's, .0200 piston deck height (which could vary from .0150-.0200"), 4.3" head gasket diameter/.039" thick, and I get a compression of 9.8! Exactly what the engineer's compression list for the GTO engine's. So how do you get a compression of 10.75 as Pontiac advertised and repair manuals list? Mill the heads to get 65cc's (which was the NHRA minimum for stock class) and mill the block deck .005" putting the top of the piston .0150" down in the hole (if it already isn't) and you get 10.74 compression - the advertised Pontiac compression that NHRA would hold the engine to if running the stock classes.

Just food for thought on all this. But, it does show how you can pull your info from one source and it does not line up with someone else who used a different source. Where does the truth lie? Sometimes it becomes very blurred and the so call self claimed expert.........might not be.

The manual has many items you will find in the Service Manual, but it also has many things not covered or they are better detailed and exploded views with part numbers.

Anyway, depending on what year car you own, I suggest you puchase a Service/Chassis manual, an Assembly Manual, and The Pontiac GTO Restoration Guide by Paul Zazarine as the 3 must have books in your collection. With these 3 books in hand, you should have enough info to help keep your car repaired and on the road and challenge the guy who really doesn't know what he is talking about. LOL

 

Buy the blue 69 Assembly manual. More expensive, but ALL the pages are readable.

The compression ratios as Jim noted are actually lower than advertised. It is well known that the actual ratios were almost a full point less than advertised in the sales brochures
The advertised compression was sales driven to compete with the other makes.

 

Buy the blue 69 Assembly manual. More expensive, but ALL the pages are readable.

The compression ratios as Jim noted are actually lower than advertised. It is well known that the actual ratios were almost a full point less than advertised in the sales brochures
The advertised compression was sales driven to compete with the other makes.

The actual compression ratio on my stock '64 GTO was 10.25, a full half point below the advertised CR. B/T/W, the compression calculator on the Wallace Racing web site is from a spreadsheet I provided to John. I think I gave him more, but the only one I remember was to calculate torque converter slip. The only thing I did not include in the CR spreadsheet was the volume from the ring land to the top of the piston. I just didn't get around to it. However, it is a small impact, and it is in your favor by calculating the CR very slightly higher that reality.

 

1968 Fisher Body Manual - Online PDF 1968 Fisher Body Manual

 

1968 Pontiac Service Manual - online PDF 1968 Pontiac Service Manual

 

1967 Pontiac Service Manual - online PDF 1967 Pontiac Service Manual

 

1967 Pontiac Fisher Body Manual - online PDF 1967 Fisher Body Manual

 

Pontiac Illustrated Parts Index dated 1973 - online PDF Illustrated Parts Index

 

Pontiac Numeric Parts Index - online PDF Numerical Parts Index

 

THANK YOU!!!

 

Data Plate codes & explanations, VIN decoding, Engine numbers, Torque values, Tune-up info, Paints, Photos, and more. Here is a quick online website that may help answer your questions: The Poorman's Off Chassis Restoration.com - Specification Index

 

Another excellent book is "How To Build Max-Performance Pontiac V8s" By Jim Hand. It's basically how to get the best performance using mostly stock engine parts when you rebuild your engine. Unfortunately the book is out of print so it's probably hard to get a copy. Note that he got his over 4000# station wagon into the elevens with these principles.

 

I acquired the two books by Paul Sandoval in late Feb 2020 but because of the onset of the Covid-19 situation did not get to read them until just recently. Unlike many authors who have gone through publishers like Car Tech, Paul self-published his books and had them printed in the USA (Columbia, SC), something that is difficult that I applaud him for. The books mention his years working for GM before he went out and formed his own performance company. The books are a pair and based on his experience and knowledge gained over the years building high performance Pontiac engines for his customers.
The two books are titled Building Pontiac Torque and Power the Sandoval Performance Way, the second is Building a Strong Pontiac Combination for the Street. The two books are a pair since the first book covers a lot of short block info while the second one covers the upper end (heads, intakes, fuel, ignition, etc.). Mr. Sandoval goes into how he goes about preparing the short block and the machining operations (his recommendations regarding clearances, etc.), and his choices regarding various parts suppliers for Pontiac engines. In the second book he also covers drivetrain recommendations along with the performance buildups/parts recommendations.
Neither of the books have chapters, they have section headings through out so you know what is covered there. Book one lacks page numbers while book two does have page numbering. I used small sticky notes to divide the books up to where I could turn to sections that wanted easy access to. Both books are lavishly illustrated so you know what he is referring to.
In addition to the two Rocky Rotella books, I feel I have a very good library on how to build a sound high performance Pontiac engine. Personally, I can recommend you acquire these books as they cover things that are not in most of the other Pontiac engine books. As with most everything, opinions vary from individual to individual and this is one gearhead’s opinion.

 

And here is my review of these books:

I have both books. I think a bit high priced for what you get, only about 75 pages, but all the photos are color which can increase costs of any book and probably why the higher price. These books are by no means a complete guide on how to rebuild a Pontiac as other books do that. They are a good read for the novice or someone with a little engine experience who is just getting into Pontiac engines, or the guy who wants to understand on how parts work and how to match them together for a good build. I think the 2 books compliment each other. The 1st is the lead in and somewhat basic but informative as it's aim is the stroker engine. The 2nd is a little more meaty in what parts are needed/selected to make your HP/TQ level build from a 350CI to a 488CI stroker.

Building Pontiac Torque And Power is focused on building a stroker engine and what to do for prep and parts selection/numbers that he must use, machining, assembly tips, & tuning, plus a couple dyno sheets. So this book is what I would term "generic", but good basic info which can be expanded on when it comes time to build, or have built, a stroker engine.

Building a Strong Pontiac Combination for the Street is on optimizing the engine based on the level of HP/TQ you look to get out of it. The choices are broken down into Stock, Sleeper (stock appearing/sounding but big TQ/HP), Bad-ass (has got the sound you know you are coming and higher RPM's 600+HP/TQ), and Ricky Bobby ( higher RPM's & 630-650HP). Then there are parts selection and clearances to use. Next the engines are grouped as short blocks ranging from 350CI to 488CI. Then each category of short block has recommended parts and part numbers to fit each of the 5 levels of build above. Then heads are gone through and each engine category is given a head suggestion/build based on the 5 levels of the build - chamber cc's, valve lengths, cam lifts, rocker arm ratios, and a few specs are provided.

Cam recommendations, intake recommendations, exhaust recommendations, ignition recommendations, and trans/converters are included. Assortment of photos/examples. Then a couple pages of engine builds/specs from 350CI to 488CI for each of the 5 levels of build.

Sandoval seems to like having the pistons stick above the bore/deck .005" on his builds which appears to be his trademark. So these books give you an insight into how Sandoval builds his engines and the parts he uses - he basically has a proven build that he uses to obtain the 5 HP/TQ levels a customer may want out of whatever cubic inch engine they have or want to have. I don't see any real "trick" work being done/shown which may be a good thing in keeping an engine build price somewhat reasonable - but no Pontiac engine is inexpensive to rebuild.

 

WIRING DIAGRAMS

ClassicCarWiring.Com Home of the original color laminated diagrams

color wiring diagram, full color wiring diagram, vintage car wiring, antique car wiring, colored wiring diagram, wire color, Classic Car Wiring Schematics, Schematics for Classic Cars and Trucks, Car Restoration, Car Restoring, AMC Wiring Diagrams, American Motors Wiring Diagrams, Buick Wiring...

www.classiccarwiring.com

 

Price and Option guides. (Accessorizers) plus much more factory literature

Factory Literature / Pontiac Accessorizer Books - 1956-1974

Factory Literature / Pontiac Accessorizer Books - 1956-1974

www.gt-37.org

 

Just purchased Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick by Dean Fait. This is a soft cover, 2020 copyright, and 182 pages loaded with B&W and Color photos. This book covers the life and racing career of Arnie Beswick and how his first new car purchase, a blue 1949 Olds 88 with its Rocket 303CI which he soon upgraded with some speed parts, got him hooked into racing. Beswick's career in racing would move forward from this car onward.

If you are a fan of Beswick, or the early Pontiac SD cars, GTO's, Funny cars, and the like, then this will be a great addition to your Pontiac performance library - you won't be disappointed.

Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick: Fait, Dean: 9781613255308: Amazon.com: Books

Arnie The Farmer Beswick [Fait, Dean] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Arnie The Farmer Beswick

www.amazon.com

 

All I can offer is this humble Chilton's manual that I still refer to sometimes but I still love it and think it's pretty accurate 👍

 

forgive me if this one was mentioned.. Pontiac Racers and high performance handbook.. By John Angeles and Pete McCarthy.. They put into writing all of there experience with different parts.. Detailed list all the specs for motors from 1955 to 1979. and much more to list here.. VERY GOOD reference and go-to book.
If you can find one, an original Chilton's manual from the timeline of your vehicle year.. I managed to find one for my son when he bought his 70 GTO conv. They are getting rare and hard to find. These are the big, hard cover books about 2 1/2 inches thick.