Tag Archives: Auto History

Even while operating within the huge conglomerate that is (was)  GM, the divisions all strived to retain some semblance of their earlier identity or develop a separate identity. Even with continued mounting to conform (within reason) to use standard tooling and
engines parts out of the GM bins they strove to be unique.

The Pontiac division made this effort “job one” with slightly different body parts and paint schemes (Trans Am paint schemes).  What I think made them standout was the effort to stuff unique power plants in their offerings’ engine bays.

With this in mind, I selected Pontiac’s 326 CID engine.  This short production run engine had some special Detroit steel wrapped around it. But we’ll get to its uses and an interesting note about its purpose as related to circumventing a rule or two.

This engine came about as a need to replace Pontiac’s aluminum 215 V8 engine. (It was actually built by Buick.) It was expensive to
build and not well received by the public, most just couldn’t get over the aluminum part and worried about durability and even about the ability for it to
say lubricated and whether coolant would eat way at the aluminum.  Of course we not differently now where aluminum is desired in many, especially with heads.

The 215 Aluminum (Buick built)

Coming up how –  Pontiac used the 326 –  a unique dealer trick that put this engine between the fenders of famous car and the difference between a 326 and a 327.

Thanks for reading.

Tim