Here’s Some Love For The Little Pontiac 316ci V8

[Lakota]

Saw the below photo. 316ci V8? Never heard of it. Thanks to google found out.

1956 GMC 102, original 316 cu.in. V8 and 4 speed Hydra-matic tranny. Purchased in Sacramento in 1976 and fully restored 2004-2006.

GOOGLE: "This is another of those dates where most people think that there’s no gearhead connection but those people would be wrong! In 1956 and for one year only Pontiac offered a 316ci V8 engine. A pretty workaday piece, there was one version that actually had some real guts and is incredibly rare today. The engine we’re talking about is the dual quad version of the 316 of which about 200 were made. That mill made like 285hp and was one of the hottest engines available on the market. The dual quad engine was successful in NASCAR and was helpful in Pontiac’s turn around from stodgy old person brand to something that the kids would like."

It should be noted that the dual quad 316 was the first engine to wear multiple carbs for the Pontiac brand. Obviously dual quad and Tri-Power engines would be a staple of Pontiac horsepower making for a decade and a half after that.

The little 316 was replaced by a slightly larger version of itself in 1957. Engineers added some stroke and suddenly the 316 was a 347 and they only kept getting larger from there.

Because this was a one year only engine and because like all of the Pontiac V8s that would follow look identical, not many of them exist. They were replaced with larger engines or they were squashed with the cars they powered. Hot rodders did not exactly flock after the 316. Saying that, there are not many videos of the engines out there. We dug up a couple for your viewing pleasure.

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...tiac-316ci-v8/

[Yadkin]

Four speed automatic in '56? That's awesome.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

Four speed automatic in '56? That's awesome.

Hydramatic. Used since 1941 starting with Cad and Olds. The first Pontiac Strato Streak OHV V8 was 1955....Chevy paid to use Pontiacs patented stamped rocker arms for its new small block 265 V8 that same year. The Pontiac was a 287 CID engine in '55. In '56, it was a 316, in '57, it was punched out to 347, and in '58, 370 cid, and finally, a 389 CID in '59 all the way to '66. The 389 was the engine in the GTO in '64 that changed it all, with other makes jumping on the bandwagon to put full size power into a mid-sized car....although Buick did this in 1936 with the Century, and Mercer and Stutz did this in the 'tens and 'teens.

I have a friend with a 316 in his '56 Pontiac Safari wagon, which is a more expensive and lavish (but not as good looking) Nomad.

[Tikiman]

With a 3.9375 bore and a 3.25 stroke, it wasn't all that different from the venerable 318 from Plymouth back then. The 318 had a 3.91 bore and a 3.3125 stroke.

[mrvette]

I remember Poncho for the 389, 400, 421, 428, 455 engines......but maybe the 421 was not a poncho engine......only been some 60 years......

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by mrvette

I remember Poncho for the 389, 400, 421, 428, 455 engines......but maybe the 421 was not a poncho engine......only been some 60 years......

The Pontiac Super Duty 421 was their top engine in '62 and '63. Then the HO 421 up through 1966. A real scorcher!

[CurtP]

Unfortunately, I remember Pontiac for the 301.