New o.h.c. Pontiac

Following years of intensive research, development and testing the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors Corporation has announced a completely new in-line 3,769 c.c. (230 cubic inch) displacement, 6-cylinder overhead camshaft engine as standard equipment for all 1966 Tempest, Tempest Custom and Le Mans models. Most significant in design of this engine, and the first time it has ever been used in the American industry, is the beltdriven o.h.c. using a rocker arm and an hydraulic lash adjuster. Also an industry first for Pontiac is that the new L-6 engine utilises a fibre-glass reinforced rubber oil-resistant timing belt in lieu of the conventional chain to drive the camshaft.

“In announcing the Pontiac 6-cylinder overhead cams engine we feel we are introducing the newest and most exciting engine development ever to be offered by our division,” said John Z. DeLorean, a General Motors vice president and Pontiac’s general manager.

“Our design objective with the new engine was to incorporate an efficient arrangement of functional components to provide the most in operational economy, durability and performance. By meeting these demands we are able to offer this engine which provides maximum rigidity with minimum weight,” he stated.

Bore and stroke on the L-6 are 98.42 mm. (3.875 inches) and 82.65 mm. (3.250 inches), respectively. The standard single-barrel carburetter provides 165 b.h.p. at 4,700 r.p.m. The compression ratio is 9 : 1 and the engine is available with either syncromesh or automatic transmission.