At that time Oldsmobile was working on a similar OHC V8 project as well. Pontiac had hopes for the 303 c.i.d. for Trans Am racing, but they were dogs with little torque and too big ports (Ram Air V heads were fine with 400 cubes, but too big & lazy for 303...).

What I find astonishing was how that experimental engine was just released to a student who asked for it, rather than just scrapping it. Being in the right place at the right time paid off. I can relate; I bought a performance-built TH350 from a guy for cheap because he switched to a Super T-10 & simply got tired of it getting in his way in his 2-car garage. It was built to live behind a hot 383 SBC.


One wonders when Chevrolet turned out their first 454. I saw a kit in a mid-60s Hot Rod magazine that gave a Mark IV V8 a displacement increase from 396 to 454 cubes. This was 4 years before Chevrolet released it as a production engine.