Catalogs
TorqueList Garage Reference Series

Volume 1 · Pontiac

Engine
Reference Catalog

Factory specifications, architecture, key variants, engineering notes, racing history and the stories that made Pontiac's most important engines matter.

Technical reference•Historical context•Builder notes•Print ready

Edition 1.0 · September 2026 · Published

Public preview · first 3 engine profiles unlocked

14

Detailed engine profiles

6/14

Commercially cleared photos

55

Source references

V1

5 engine families

Publication notice

Independent TorqueList reference

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© 2026 TorqueList. Original editorial text, compilation, selection, organization, layout, and TorqueList-created graphics are protected by copyright. Underlying facts, specifications, and manufacturer-identifying terms remain the property or factual subject matter of their respective owners.

Accuracy

Specifications can vary by model year, application, option code, market, and production revision. Verify critical service, purchasing, racing, and installation information against the exact factory documentation for the specific vehicle or engine before relying on it.

Media policy

Third-party photographs appear only when their commercial-use basis is recorded. Creator, source, and license information is retained with each approved image. Engines without an approved third-party photograph use TorqueList-owned original technical artwork.

Contents

Pontiac Engine Reference — Volume 1

Profiles are organized by engine family and pull from the same published TorqueList Engine Library used by the web experience.

Traditional Pontiac V8

8 profiles
Pontiac 287 Strato-Streak V81955
287 ci
Pontiac 317 V81956
316.6 ci
Pontiac 347 V81957
347 ci
Pontiac 370 V81958
370 ci
Pontiac 389 V81959–1966
389 ci
Pontiac 326 V81963–1967; 1963 version was marketed as 326 but displaced about 336.7 ci
326 ci
Pontiac 350 V81968–1977
350 ci
Pontiac 400 V8 / Ram Air1967–1979 production/use era
400 ci

Large-Journal Pontiac V8

3 profiles
Pontiac 421 / Super Duty 4211961–1966 family era; Super Duty competition peak 1962–1963
421 ci
Pontiac 428 V81967–1969
428 ci
Pontiac 455 V8 / 455 HO1970–1976
455 ci

Pontiac Competition V8

1 profiles
Pontiac 303 Trans-Am Race V81969–1970 development / competition program
303 ci

Super Duty Pontiac V8

1 profiles
Pontiac SD-455 Super Duty1973–1974
455 ci

Short-Deck Pontiac V8

1 profiles
Pontiac 301 Turbo V81980–1981
301 ci
14/14 profiles include reference sources.
Every engine has artwork; rights-cleared real photos replace TorqueList original technical art as they are approved.
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01

TorqueList Technical Reference

Traditional Pontiac V8

Full web profile

Pontiac 287 Strato-Streak V8

The 1955 engine that launched Pontiac's modern OHV V8 family.

TorqueList Original Technical Art

Pontiac 287 Strato-Streak V8

V8 · N/A

4.7L
★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

The 287 was the first production version of Pontiac's postwar Strato-Streak V8 architecture. Pontiac would keep expanding the same basic external package through engines as large as 455 cubic inches.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
90-degree OHV V8
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Cast iron
Valvetrain
Pushrod OHV, 2 valves per cylinder
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Carbureted
Main bearings
5

The 287 introduced Pontiac's postwar Strato-Streak V8 architecture with a 3.75-inch bore, 3.25-inch stroke, cast-iron construction, and conventional pushrod OHV layout. Pontiac deliberately designed the basic external package with room for substantial displacement growth.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

1955 Pontiac passenger cars

Strengths

  • Historically foundational Pontiac V8 architecture
  • Strong cast-iron construction
  • Architecture allowed major later displacement growth

Watch-outs

  • One-year displacement limits interchange knowledge for period-correct restoration
  • Original early-engine parts are far less common than 389/400-era pieces

Common upgrades

  • Period-correct four-barrel induction
  • Dual exhaust
  • Careful restoration with improved modern bearings and sealing

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

287 cu in / 4.7 L with 3.75 x 3.25-inch bore and stroke.

02

90-degree OHV V8 with cast-iron block and heads.

03

Naturally aspirated and carbureted.

04

First production version of the traditional Pontiac V8 architecture.

History & context

The story behind the engine

Pontiac entered 1955 with an entirely new V8. What began at 287 cubic inches became the foundation for nearly every famous traditional Pontiac V8 that followed.

Legacy

The 287 created the basic Pontiac V8 architecture that ultimately grew through 389, 421, 428 and 455 cubic inches.

Verification

Reference sources

Hemmings — Pontiac Engine-nuity history

historical reference

Hot Rod — Pontiac V8 history

technical history

SD Performance — Pontiac engine bore, stroke and journal specifications

specialist engine specification

1955 Pontiac full-size fact sheet — 287 V8 torque specifications

historical spec

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

02

TorqueList Technical Reference

Traditional Pontiac V8

Full web profile

Pontiac 317 V8

Pontiac's 1956 displacement increase on the original Strato-Streak architecture.

TorqueList Original Technical Art

Pontiac 317 V8

V8 · N/A

5.2L
★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

Pontiac enlarged its first-year 287 V8 to 316.6 cubic inches for 1956 and marketed it as the 317, including a rare 285-hp dual-quad performance version aimed at the horsepower race.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
90-degree OHV V8
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Cast iron
Valvetrain
Pushrod OHV, 2 valves per cylinder
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Carbureted
Main bearings
5

The 1956 Pontiac V8 enlarged bore to 3.9375 inches while retaining the original 3.25-inch stroke, increasing displacement to 316.6 cubic inches. Factory calibrations ranged from economy versions to a high-compression dual-quad performance package.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

1956 Pontiac passenger cars

Strengths

  • Early Pontiac V8 lineage
  • Larger bore than the original 287
  • Strong foundation for Pontiac's rapid displacement development

Watch-outs

  • Single-model-year displacement
  • Restoration-oriented parts availability rather than broad performance support

Common upgrades

  • Period four-barrel induction
  • Dual exhaust
  • Ignition modernization hidden within stock appearance

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

316.6 cu in / 5.2 L with 3.9375 x 3.25-inch bore and stroke.

02

90-degree OHV Pontiac V8.

03

Factory versions ranged from 192 to 285 hp gross depending induction and compression.

04

The top dual-quad package used 10.0:1 compression and was rated at 285 hp.

History & context

The story behind the engine

Pontiac wasted no time growing its new V8. Just one year after the 287, the division enlarged it again and even offered a dual-quad version aimed directly at the horsepower race.

Legacy

The 316 was the second step in Pontiac's yearly displacement march from 287 to 389.

Verification

Reference sources

1956 Pontiac Full Size Cars Fact Sheet

historical specification

1955–1982 Pontiac V-8 Engines — Part 1

historical engine reference

SD Performance — Pontiac engine bore, stroke and journal specifications

specialist engine specification

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

03

TorqueList Technical Reference

Traditional Pontiac V8

Full web profile

Pontiac 347 V8

The 1957 Pontiac V8 offered with four-barrel, Tri-Power and Rochester fuel injection.

TorqueList Original Technical Art

Pontiac 347 V8

V8 · N/A

5.7L
★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

The 347 marked Pontiac's shift from simply offering a modern V8 to aggressively developing performance versions, including Tri-Power, fuel injection and NASCAR-oriented combinations.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
90-degree OHV V8
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Cast iron
Valvetrain
Pushrod OHV, 2 valves per cylinder
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Two-barrel, four-barrel, Tri-Power or Rochester mechanical fuel injection depending version
Firing order
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Main bearings
5

The 347 retained the 3.9375-inch bore and lengthened stroke to 3.5625 inches. Pontiac offered unusually ambitious induction choices for 1957, including Tri-Power and mechanical fuel injection, showing how quickly the new V8 family was being pushed toward performance.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

1957 Pontiac Chieftain1957 Pontiac Super Chief1957 Pontiac Star Chief1957 Pontiac Bonneville

Strengths

  • Multiple factory high-performance induction systems
  • Strong historical connection to Pontiac's late-1950s performance push
  • Five-main-bearing OHV architecture

Watch-outs

  • One-year displacement
  • Mechanical fuel-injection and special Tri-Power components are rare

Common upgrades

  • Tri-Power restoration
  • Modern ignition hidden in original distributor
  • Improved cooling and oil control

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

347 cu in / 5.7 L with 3.9375 x 3.5625-inch bore and stroke.

02

90-degree OHV V8 with cast-iron construction.

03

Available with two-barrel, four-barrel, Tri-Power, or Rochester mechanical fuel injection depending version.

04

Factory output ranged up to 317 hp.

History & context

The story behind the engine

The 347 was the point where Pontiac's new V8 stopped being just a modern engine and became a serious performance platform. Tri-Power and fuel injection appeared within only two years of the architecture's debut.

Racing history

Pontiac offered a 317-hp Tri-Power NASCAR-oriented 347 combination during the division's accelerating factory performance program.

Legacy

The 347 foreshadowed the performance identity that would explode with the 389 and 421.

Documented motorsport results

Famous Race Wins

01

1957

317-hp competition specification

NASCAR-oriented factory performance program

Driver

Pontiac factory-supported racers

1957 Pontiac with 347 Tri-Power

The 347 was offered in a special high-output Tri-Power specification as Pontiac pushed deeper into stock-car competition.

Verification

Reference sources

1957 Pontiac model specifications

historical spec

Engine Facts — Pontiac 347 specifications

technical reference

SD Performance — Pontiac engine bore, stroke and journal specifications

specialist engine specification

1957 Pontiac model specifications — 347 V8 torque ratings

historical spec

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

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All-manufacturer workshop tools

Pontiac Workshop Companion

Builder utilities and edition 2.0 reference sections. Calculations use your entered measurements; empty or unverified interchange, machining, power and torque data are never represented as confirmed specifications.

Public preview: workshop reference content remains limited until this volume is unlocked. The compression calculator is a general educational utility.

Engine geometry & static compression

Starting values are examples only, not specifications for any engine. Use measured dimensions. Dish and valve relief add clearance volume; dome subtracts it. Deck means piston below deck at top dead center. Calculations are for one cylinder except total displacement.

Geometry
Compression inputs

Static compression

9.63:1

Displacement

349.8 ci

Displacement

5.733 L

Mean piston speed

3,480 ft/min

Rod-to-stroke ratio

1.638

Clearance volume

83.02 cc / cyl

Static compression = (swept + clearance) ÷ clearance. Mean piston speed = 2 × stroke (feet) × RPM. These calculations do not predict fuel octane, dynamic compression, safe RPM, engine strength, horsepower, or whether a combination will clear mechanically.

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Attribution record

Image & License Credits

Only photographs recorded as approved for commercial use appear in this edition. TorqueList does not claim ownership of third-party photographs; all fallback technical artwork is TorqueList-created original material.

No third-party photographs are included in this edition.

TorqueList is an independent automotive reference publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or authorized by Pontiac, General Motors, or any other vehicle or engine manufacturer.