What is the difference between the Chevy 400 and the Pontiac 400?
The Chevy 400 and Pontiac 400 were two popular V8 engines produced by General Motors in the 1960s and 1970s. While they shared a similar displacement, there were some key differences between the two engines.
Engine Specifications
The Chevy 400 was a V8 engine produced by Chevrolet from 1970 to 1980. It had a displacement of 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters) and was available in various horsepower and torque configurations, ranging from around 145 horsepower to 265 horsepower.
The Pontiac 400 was a V8 engine produced by Pontiac from 1967 to 1979. It also had a displacement of 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters) and was available in a variety of horsepower and torque ratings, typically ranging from 175 horsepower to 290 horsepower.
Key Differences
The primary differences between the Chevy 400 and Pontiac 400 engines were in their design and performance characteristics:
- Engine Block: The Chevy 400 used a cast-iron engine block, while the Pontiac 400 used a more lightweight aluminum block.
- Cylinder Heads: The Pontiac 400 had more advanced cylinder heads with larger valves and better airflow, allowing for higher horsepower and torque output.
- Camshaft: The Pontiac 400 often had a more aggressive camshaft profile, further enhancing its performance capabilities.
- Tuning: Pontiac engines were generally more tunable and responsive to modifications, allowing enthusiasts to extract more power from the Pontiac 400 compared to the Chevy 400.li>
These differences in design and engineering resulted in the Pontiac 400 generally being the more powerful and performance-oriented engine compared to the Chevy 400.
Popularity and Applications
Both the Chevy 400 and Pontiac 400 were widely used in a variety of GM vehicles during their production runs. The Chevy 400 was found in models like the Chevrolet Chevelle, Camaro, and Nova, while the Pontiac 400 was commonly used in the Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac GTO, and Pontiac Bonneville.p>
The Pontiac 400 was particularly popular among performance enthusiasts and was often the engine of choice for muscle car enthusiasts looking to extract maximum power from their vehicles. The Chevy 400, on the other hand, was more commonly used in more mainstream, everyday vehicles.
Did Pontiac use Chevy engines?
Street Pontiacs would normally use Chevy engines anyways and shared platforms with Chevy cars. As you can see here, the Pontiac Grand Prix literally shared a platform with the Monte Carlo and Impala, so it's no surprise that that's how GM chose to advertise their brand in NASCAR.
What's the difference between a Chevy 400 and a Pontiac 400?
The Pontiac 400 was a high performance muscle car engine. The Chevy 400, meanwhile, was primarily used on pickup trucks, which explains why strength and stability were such important factors in the design process. Just because you see a 400 in different engine names doesn't mean that they are all the same engine.
How much HP does a Chevy 400 have?
In case you missed the story, the best power numbers were gained with a set of GM Performance Parts Vortec heads supplied by Scoggin-Dickey, and even then the 400 small block Chevy managed only 401 hp and 458 lb-ft of torque.
Are all Pontiac 400 blocks the same?
We took the question to David Butler of Butler Performance in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, for his professional opinion. He advises, "With the exception of the mid- to late-1970s PN 500557 casting, we consider all Pontiac 400 blocks functionally identical. The 455 blocks from 1970 to 1976 are also functionally identical.
How much power can you get out of a Pontiac 400?
This long, flat torque curve has that strong midrange torque that makes a streetcar a blast to drive around town. Back in the day, the most powerful 400 (Ram Air IV) made by Pontiac put out 370 hp (GTO), so 512 hp is certainly a ton more performance; all in, it's a package that looks deceptively stock.
How much horsepower can you get out of a Pontiac 400 engine?
Back in the day, the most powerful 400 (Ram Air IV) made by Pontiac put out 370 hp (GTO), so 512 hp is certainly a ton more performance; all in, it's a package that looks deceptively stock.
Which is better, Pontiac 400 or 455?
In modern times, the 455 remains quite valuable, but not nearly as desirable as in the past. Hobbyists and racers are able to achieve equal amounts of power from a 400, whose availability is generally much greater and whose purchase price is generally several hundred dollars less than a similarly equipped 455.
How much horsepower does a 400 Pontiac engine have?
The 400 remained in production through the 1978 model year, with 1979 cars receiving engines produced the previous year. In basic 2-barrel form it produced 290 horsepower and 428 ft.
What year did Chevy make the 400 engine?
The Chevrolet 400 was introduced in 1970, and used in full size (Impala, Caprice, etc. and midsize (Chevelle) through the 1976 model year. It was utilized in light duty trucks through the 1980 model year. They were quite common in early to mid 70's full size wagons.
Was the Pontiac 400 a good engine?
That made the 400 the top engine in Firebird and GTO for many years as it received a wide range of high-performance cylinder heads and camshafts through various iterations of the Ram Air package. The most powerful version of Pontiac's 400 to ever reach production was the Ram Air IV.
