JBA SPEED SHOP UPGRADES

"A Tribute to Jim Wangers' 1964 GTO 'Test Car' built for Car and Driver March 1964"

CHAPTER 5 Greg Raymond

To build an engine worthy of the lost Blue Car, we turned to the team at JBA Speed Shop in San Diego, California, arguably the most trusted Pontiac engine builders in Southern California. Our mission was clear: transform our original 1966 GTO Tri‑Power engine into something capable of outperforming the legendary 1964 421ci Royal Bobcat. If the Blue Car was going to live again, its heart had to beat stronger than ever.

JBA understood the assignment immediately. Their reputation for Pontiac performance is well earned, and they approached the project with full appreciation for its historical weight. Master engine builder John Elderhorst, a lifelong Pontiac enthusiast who once owned a ’65 Tri‑Power GTO and still maintains a numbers‑matching 1970 Trans Am 455 HO, took the lead. John has built engines for me and countless members of the Southern California Pontiac community. His craftsmanship and integrity made him the only choice for this build.

Tearing Down a Time Capsule

Disassembling the complete 1966 389ci engine wasn’t an easy decision. Terry Saunders and his father had built it together, and it had been stored untouched for nearly 20 years. But if this engine was going to carry the legacy of Jim Wangers’ vision, it needed to be modernized from the inside out.

The teardown revealed a well‑built, healthy engine, clean internals, solid workmanship, and no surprises. But we had big plans, and the upgrades ahead would unlock performance far beyond anything possible in 1964.

Cylinder Head Transformation

We began with the heads. JBA performed a complete rebuild that included:

• A precision 3‑angle valve job

• New bronze valve guides

• Adjustable guide plates

• New intake and exhaust valves

• New valve springs and retainers

Once the heads were reassembled, attention shifted to the block.

Machining the Block to Perfection

JBA machinist Ethan Moradzadeh, another dedicated Pontiac owner and rising talent in the community, handled the block work. Ethan meticulously measured, machined, checked, and rechecked every clearance to ensure perfect tolerances. His attention to detail played a major role in the success of this build. If John represents the legacy of Pontiac performance in Southern California, Ethan represents its future.

Modern Internals for a Historic Mission

To bring the engine into the modern era while preserving its Pontiac soul, we upgraded to:

• Schneider hydraulic roller camshaft

• Hydraulic roller lifters

• Roller rocker arms

• Eagle 4340 forged H‑beam rods

• DSS lightweight forged pistons

With the machining complete and the rotating assembly installed, we had effectively created a 396ci roller motor, strong, reliable, and capable of high‑RPM performance that would have stunned the engineers of 1964.

Dyno Day

With the engine assembled, we rolled it into JBA Speed Shop’s dyno cell and prepared to fire it up. Months of planning, decades of Pontiac heritage, and the spirit of the lost Blue Car all converged in that moment as we pulled the trigger.

JBA Built 396ci roller motor