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Pontiac 215ci specs: 215 ci (3.5L) 8-cylinder, 3.50 x 2.80 in (88.9 x 71.1 mm) bore and stroke, 8.8:1 compression. Rated 155 hp, 1961.
The Pontiac 215ci is oversquare — the 3.5" bore exceeds the 2.8" stroke by 25.0% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 2.8" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 8,550 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 2.021 is long by production standards — less side-load on the cylinder wall and gentler piston acceleration around TDC, the geometry that tolerates high RPM. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 26.9 ci (440 cc).
8.8:1 is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
It is one of 3 engines in the Pontiac 215ci family, all of them 215 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement.
| Displacement | 215 ci / 3.5 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.5" |
| Stroke | 2.8" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Compression ratio | 8.8:1 |
| Rod length | 5.66" |
| Rod ratio | 2.021 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.25 |
| Piston deck clearance | 0" |
| Induction | 1-2 |
|---|---|
| Advertised HP | 155 hp |
| Years | 1961 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.250 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 2,800 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 2.021 — long — less side loading on the cylinder wall, favours high RPM |
| Displacement per cylinder | 26.9 ci |
| Static compression | 8.8:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
| Intake valve diameter | 1.5" |
|---|---|
| Exhaust valve diameter | 1.31" |
| Rocker ratio | 1.56:1 |
| Lifter type | hydraulic |
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