The GM LS engine. Regardless of the style of cars you’re into – from muscle cars, to trucks/4x4s, to hotrods, to restomods, to rock-bouncers, to drift cars, to 911s & RX7s – LS swaps have entered (and overrun) the chat. And that’s because, the small block V8 is an absolute unit, known for its reliability, performance, swap-ability, reasonable cost, and boundless aftermarket support. When you think about OEM LS-platform performance vehicles, there are probably a handful that stand out: Corvettes, Camaros, CTS-Vs. And sure, there are all the iron-block Silverados & Suburbans. But one LS-based sports sedan that’s probably (unfortunately) starting to fade from the top of memory… is the Pontiac G8.

The Pontiac G8 is a bit of an oddball…

It was a victim of unfortunate circumstances, and has a slight identity crisis. You see, the Pontiac G8 was never really got a fair shot. For starters, the G8 is a rebadged Holden Commodore, based on GM’s Zeta platform. And that’s not a bad thing. Holden was an Australian GM brand known for sporty, stout, V8s. So the Pontiac G8 was essentially an American-bred muscle car, filtered through Australia, back to America. However – prior to the G8 & GTO, I’d gamble to say that most Americans were unaware of Holden’s existence. And just as American buyers started to connect the dots & see the appeal, America got hit with the 2008 recession, soaring gas prices, and auto-industry bailouts/bankruptcies. Pontiac really started to get it right (with the G8, GTO and turbocharged Solstice)… right before they got the axe. 

With poetically bad timing… 

The Pontiac G8 was released in 2008, with the imminent demise of the Pontiac brand just on the horizon. They only made it for 2 model years – 2008 & 2009 – as Pontiac ultimately closed their doors in 2010. The G8 is definitely an “IYKYK” car. And it was available in not one but two different trim levels that offered LS-based V8’s. The GT trim features a 6.0L V8 (L76; a variant of the LS2) producing 361hp & 361tq. And the flagship GXP trim features a 6.2L V8 (LS3) – boasting an impressive 415hp & 415tq. Both are great options for anyone looking to get into a performance sedan that flies relatively under the radar while packing an unexpected punch.

Brendon Kent, a Fairfax VA native… 

Was humored by Australia’s unique American V8/muscle car scene. And he was part of the minority that was hip to these cars before they made the leap across the pond & shed their Holden badging in favor of a more familiar Pontiac arrowhead. This is his 2009 Liquid Red Pontiac G8 GT, appropriately named “REDDRKT”. Yeah, you can probably figure that one out lol. Brendon makes a living as dealership technician, who builds race cars in his spare time… as evidenced by the massive blower and drag-pack on his street-driven G8.

Pontiac G8 – the good stuff… 

The 6.0L L76 engine has been stroked to a 6.7, and fitted with 295cc LS3 cylinder heads & a custom-grind Cutaway Racing camshaft setup. The aforementioned “massive blower” is none other than a Magnuson TVS1900 supercharger, featuring a ported front snout & tub. Fueling is provided through a Fore Innovation L1 fuel system w/ flex fuel sensor, paired with Injector Dynamics 1700cc injectors. Additional go-fast bits include a 103mm throttle body from Nick Williams, and a Rotofab air intake.

A big honkin’ supercharged V8… 

Definitely needs some assistance transferring power to the ground on a burly RWD platform such as the Pontiac G8. The transmission is a factory auto 6L80 that features upgraded clutches, drums & shafts, and is finished-off with a Camaro ZL1 torque converter. There’s also a 1-piece driveshaft from Koza Performance helping to efficiently move power to the rear wheels. Traction comes from a set of rear 305/50/15 Mickey Thompson Street R’s mated to 15” Weld Lagunas. Up front, the Pontiac G8 sports 18” skinnies to help reduce some unsprung weight. Behind those front wheels are Pedders struts & lowering springs (2” drop), paired with a Whiteline adjustable swaybar. Back at the rear, the G8 is running Viking Berserker triple-adjustable coilovers with BMR 15” control arms, & a rear Whiteline adjustable rear swaybar. Bringing this 4,000lb behemoth (Clifford, is that you?) to a halt is a set of gen-1 Cadillac CTS-V Brembo brakes up front… and a set of smaller V6-model G8 brakes in the rear to allow for clearance with the 15” drag-pack setup.

Pontiac G8 aesthetics…

Aesthetically, this Pontiac G8 is pretty much stock, save for some GlowShift & AEM gauges. Brendon is the type of guy to let his engine do the talking. Hence – why he tends to drive around without a hood most of the time. So there ya have it. 

Much like the LS platform itself… 

This Pontiac G8 GT is simple, effective, and straight to the point. Sometimes simple is a good thing. You know, the old “less is more” mantra. Authenticity is always in fashion. And not overdoing it… is probably the best & most effective way to pay homage to the last of the Pontiacs. I often see people overbuilding their cars to the point of collecting dust in a garage. But that’s not the case with Brendon’s G8. Driving this thing is the norm, and that’s the beauty of an LS… they can handle it. And while the stroked 6.7L supercharged V8 doesn’t get the best ‘miles per gallon’, it more than makes up for it in the ‘smiles per gallon’ category. Pontiac is history. And in a lot of cases, so are new cars that are actually worth driving. So in a sea of overpriced, underwhelming, overcomplicated, unserviceable, indistinguishable crossovers… reject normality & keep that V8 flag flying. Hell yeah brother/mate!

Article by Josh Guillot

2009 Pontiac G8 GT

Engine

6.0 LS stroked to 6.7 liters 

295cc LS3 heads 

Custom grind camshaft from Cutaway Racing 

Magnuson TVS1900 supercharger w/ ported front snout & tub

103mm throttle body from Nick Willams

Fore innovations L1 fuel system with flex fuel sensor 

Injector Dynamics 1700cc injectors 

Rotofab cold air intake

Transmission

Factory 6L80 transmission w/ upgraded clutches, drums, and shafts

ZL1 torque converter 

Koza Performance 1-piece driveshaft

Suspension & Brakes

Gen-1 CTS-V front brakes (Brembo)

G8 GXP rotors 

Pedders Front struts & springs (2-inch drop)

Whiteline adjustable front & rear swaybars

G8 V6 rear brakes (smaller for wheel clearance)

BMR 15″ control arm kit

Viking Berserker triple-adjustable coilovers

 

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