400 Pontiac Summit 2801 camshaft DYNO Testing Shell 91 vs Sunoco 94 Fuel, which makes more power?

This video is about a 400 1970 GTO engine that I recently restored to original. This engine has 9:1 compression, and a Summit 2801 Camshaft, otherwise it is completely original including a Pontiac cast iron intake, Rochester Quadrajet Carburetor, the # 13 cylinder heads have also been restored to original. We also conducted a fuel test comparing Shell 91 fuel to Sunoco 94. The Sunoco fuel produced best results, 441 ft./lb. of torque and 354 HP
The new owner Mike Parezanovic will be installing this engine in his 1969 Firebird.

[@JoeHynes284]

that is really impressive for such a small cam and 9:1. Should be a great driver with no reliability issues

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for your comment Joe. More Pontiac's coming on my channel now. AG

[@alexvendrig9205]

quite interesting on the fuel types

[@jackmehoff4613]

Did I miss whether either of the fuels were oxygenated?

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Ken, we never use oxygenated fuel. AG

[@middletownman6278]

Cam seems small. Wonder if that extra 4 or 5 horsepower is because the motor was on the verge of detonation with 91 octane.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Mid. No it wasn't a big cam. I guess you could be right about detonation but 91 should have been enough for the compression. AG

[@billboyle7866]

What is crucial on a stock engine is the torque curve to see how flat it was and how long it stayed (rpm band) at 400 lbs foot; Peak torque with 91 and 94 was negligible. Was there any significant difference in the torque curve between the two gasolines? Was a the peak HP for both gasolines at the same rpm? What was the rpm?

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for the comment, Bill. Unfortunately, I gave all the dyno sheets to the owner so I can't answer your specific questions. Note that the difference was only about 1%. A few years ago, I did a similar test with a 604-crate engine, the one in my Z28 and got slightly more HP with the Shell 91.

[@1972Ventura455ho]

So a 400 with 13 heads had the same hp and torque as the same set up engine with the Crower 60916 cam?

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Ventura. Interesting timing for your question. If you look at my latest video I explain why the results for the Crower cam version were disappointing. I miscalculated the static and dynamic compression. Watch the video to see how we have addressed this by increasing the static compression and advancing the cam. We will dyno the Crower version again on March 18 for part 2 of this video. Watch for the results on my next video.

[@leonardfoster6252]

AG, do you think oxinated fuel would of helped that Pontia make any more power?

[@goldsgarage8236]

Oxygenated fuel should help any engine make more power. AG

[@tsgt2007]

I use Sunoco 94 octane on my 2024 Subaru Forester and the engine runs smoother, more power and definitely more torque.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Good info, thanks for watching and commenting. AG

[@w41duvernay]

HOW about replacing Summit CAM WITH Comp Cam Xtreme CAM Equivalent? FOR a test comparison

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for the comment W41. Sure, we will get t that eventually.AG

[@Kokaiinum1]

At what intitial and total degrees did it make the most?, i have the EXACT same engine setup, and it would be fun to hear what you ran

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for your question Mads, we swept from 32 to 38 degrees, best power was at 35 degrees BTDC which is typical for these engines. I always set total timing (all in) and let the initial timing fall where it may. I think there is about 24 degrees of mechanical advance in the distributor, so that should put initial at about 11-12 degrees. Hope this helps.

[@joe-hp4nk]

A small increase but is the extra cost of the 94 worth it?

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Joe. I am not sure we would always get this result. I think it depends on fuel air ratio and jetting. The 94 has less BTU/lb. so I would expect that it would require a richer F/A ratio. A richer F/A ratio might then require a change in timing. It would take a lot of pulls and documentation to sort it all out.

[@ztwntyn8]

I bet it goes low 13s or high 12s in that 69. Should be fun. 👊🏻

[@ztwntyn8]

Forgot I already commented. I like this build though 😁

[@goldsgarage8236]

Good guess. AG

[@joe-hp4nk]

The intake looks stock but you had headers for the exhaust. If you matched the intake to take advantage of the extra scavenging of the exhaust, you would likely pick up 40 - 50 HP.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Good point, however, the intention of the build was to be original and correct. These headers are only used on my test stand and the dyno.

[@ztwntyn8]

The stock intake is better than aftermarket except an edlebrock version which is a copy but aluminum. If you go high rpm then single plane. Otherwise stock is best.

[@707x-y6s]

Stock is even better than the Edelbrock. Runners are smaller for some reason.

[@tdog6437]

Haven't seen one after market intake out preform a factory intake yet, but they do like a good set of headers.. JS

[@brucefulper2433]

How big of dish is in the piston??

[@goldsgarage8236]

10 cc

[@ztwntyn8]

Your 1st gen firebird will be fast. My 71 formula 400 with 48 heads headers recurve and jetted and 3.42 stock stall auto went 13.50 and 104. It’s on my channel. I bet you can go low 13 or high 12.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Ztwntyn8, I will check out your channel. AG

[@V8Deuce]

4 tube headers will always increase horsepower over 3 tube

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for watching and commenting. AG

[@455wagon]

Timing does not work backwards. Chevys work backwards....

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for pointing that out 455. I never thought of it that way. I should have said that Pontiac distributors turned counter clockwise.

[@MrJaybody-vd6eb]

I'd much rather have octane over ethanol!

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for watching and commenting Jay. AG

[@leonardfoster6252]

Pontiac don't make that much HP... My 355 that I had in my Corvette made more hp than those Pontiacs. My Corvette ran 12.67 on the 1/4 mile at any where between 109-111 mph. 355 rear gear turbo trans. It ran just as fast by using 2 gear, because of the high rear gear. I ran a guy on the street and it was a Judge 455 cu.in he was all they on it and I looked over at him and waved good by and opened my car up and ran off and left him. Than I shut it down and he pulled up beside me and gave me a thumbs up. My car was a 355 with Z-28 heads that I built and that I made angle plugs out of them like I told you before AG. Flat top pistons, Edelbrock torquer intake, 800 cfm holley, LT-350-350 hydraulic cam, pulls right to 6,000 rpm... Boy! It hit a 100 mph fast!

[@1972Ventura455ho]

I love it when Chevy think they know Pontiacs. My Ventura ran 12.70s @ 109 with a single track 3.23 gear with a stock bottom end 455, factory manifolds, Pontiac camshaft and walmart 215-70 tires. th-cam.com/video/xbTK_8H--gs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=b_4kssZE49ggO3bO

[@robr5786]

Great story 😂

[@mikeyshouseofbrakes8463]

@@robr5786 Yeah. It should be in the fiction section in a bookstore.