Pontiacs still get plenty of love these days with enthusiasts like Mark and Jeff Kauffman designing new parts for the classic Poncho engines. Helping boost awareness for Kauffman Racing Equipment (KRE) is this 535ci all-aluminum bullet that powers the duo’s GXP racecar in heads-up competition at selected events.
“It’s our advertising play toy,” Jeff Kauffman admitted to EngineLabs.
A MR-1A Pontiac block from K&M Performance Parts and the KRE Warp 6 heads establish the foundation for the engine. The block — which is designed to accept traditional Pontiac equipment — was fitted with ductile iron cylinders and bored to 4.350 inches. Spinning inside the 3-inch mains is a Scat 4.5-inch stroke forged-steel crankshaft with GRP aluminum rods and Ross flattop, gas-ported pistons. Lubrication is handled by a Stef’s dry-sump pan and a Nutter 5-stage oil pump.
“It wasn’t necessarily a special pump but he made us some special brackets to set all of our Pontiac pieces on it,” adds Kauffman.
KRE used the famed GM DRCE Pro Stock heads as the inspiration for the Warp 6 heads. They feature 10-degree intake valves canted at 4 degrees with 6-degree exhaust valves at a 4-degree cant. KRE also changed from the familiar E-I-I-E-E-I-I-E valve arrangement to E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I.
“That takes away the hot spot with the two exhaust valves next to each other in the center,” says Kauffman.
The Warp 6 head also features identical port shapes, direction and lengths — thanks to the new valve arrangement. Valve sizes start at 2.250/1.750 but can go as high as 2.40/1.85. The heads also include individual T&D shaft rocker arms. The custom camshaft has 55mm journals and the grind features “around .950 lift.” The lobes were also reconfigured for an LS1 firing order.
On top is a KRE-fabricated sheet-metal intake manifold and a pair of KRE-modified Holley 1150 cfm Dominator carbs.
The engine has dyno’d out at over 1,150 horsepower and pushed the Kauffman’s Pontiac GXP to low 7-second ETs at more than 190mph.