230 Pontiac OHC inliner?

[crow]

Anyone know anything about this motor? Have to admit this one slipped by me, never heard of it until a few days ago. Online research has yielded a bit, such as the cam rides in an alumininum valve cover with no bearings!! Yikes, maybe that's why I never heard of 'em, but those old Honda CB motors seemed to live like that.

Seems like it'd be a neat motor for my two door sedan, any info, guidance or direction would be appreciated.

thanks

[oldchevyseller]

Of the five engines offered in the first Firebirds, the one that stood out the most was Pontiac's overhead cam inline six. Introduced along with the '66 Tempest, the lowliest 230-cubic inch (3.8-liter) OHC six poked out 165 horsepower (gross rating) while inhaling through a one-barrel carburetor. Stepping up to the "Sprint" version included a four-barrel carb and higher compression ratio to swell output up to 215 horsepower. The six was backed by either a three- or four-speed manual or a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. The OHC six made the base Firebird a substantially more sophisticated machine than the base Camaro and the Firebird Sprint truly special.

[Unkl Ian]

Must have been a low volume option.
I've actually seen only one in person.
Going to be hard to find,and probably expensive.

[MichaelDorman]

I know they can be made to look cool as hell.

[Foul]

they werent as rare as you'd think, but between the "six bad, eight good" mentality and the dearth of fix-em-up parts, it's hard to find a decent running example nowadays. which is too bad, because they can be great engines. they also came in 250 cubic inches and share some parts with the 230 and 250 OHV sixes of the time. Oh, and John DeLorean was the big man behind the development of the OHC sixes.

learn more: http://pub83.ezboard.com/bsohcsix
dan

[Scotch]

They're basically a Chevy 6 block w/ a Pontiac head. Bottom-end parts are all the same as Chevy I think.

[mr57]

There's a young guy in Regina that has one of the four barrel ones in a 54 Canadian Pontiac. The car is in purple primer and is kinda neat. Sounds like a British sports car when it's at speed.

[oldchevyseller]

blip79ta@yahoo.com
email this guy he has engines on a fire bird site http://p075.ezboard.com/fsohcsixfrm10.showNextMessage?topicID=263.topic

[Fat Hack]

My aunt had a Tempest with that motor in it...they ran decent and looked neat...just a 230-250 Chevy six under the fancy new head...so you know they're reliable!!!

I would have kept my 49 Chevy inline powered if I'd been able to score a running OHC Poncho six!!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[praisethelowered]

Cool. . .that one is new to me too.

[Gas_Tires_Oil]

Another pic of one...

[Gas_Tires_Oil]

and an article... click here (http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/features/0207hpp_overhead/)

And for parts... click HERE! (http://www.cliffordperformance.com)

[crow]

Thanks a bunch guys, exactly the info I was looking for. i joined that forum and am now schooling myself. Neat little motor. Saw where Pontiac made a Hemi headed 250, wonder if that ever got out.

Tha pic of yers, Gas, is just what I'd like to build, bet it sounds killer.

[Gas_Tires_Oil]

Not mine Crow, just found the pic on another Pontiac bulletin board that I belong too.Good luck with your project.