1972 pontiac grand prix

So i just got a new project car the other day. its a 1972 pontiac grand prix with a 455 . this is my first project car and i have no idea where to start with this thing . i dont want to turn it into some kind of show car or anything like that. but i do wanna get a resectable amount of horsepower out of the engine without sacrificing reliability , i'm on a super low budget . at the end of the line i wanna build up to somewhere around 550-600 horsepower . but like i said i wanna build up to it . it doesnt have to happen right away . i cant afford a power adder like a blower or nitrous . i wanna get it all on motor . i have no idea what i'm doing with this thing though . so if anyone has any advice concerning where and what kind of parts to be looking into then the advice would be appreciated . i cant seem to find any information concerning pontiac grand prix's or them being raced . but i'm sure they have been in the past . so PLEASE HELP ! thanks .  

A 455 Poncho motor is capable of great power without need of a blower/turbo/etc.

One thing I would defintiely recommend is a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads.

I'd start with just getting the car running and road worthy. Keep it driveable as you're working on it.  

nice car I want Have one..........  

Well I got a 1974 grand prix and it hooks great if you r on a low budget I would get on the computer and look up competition products.com they got reasonable prices and good parts I get some of my stuff from there im pushing about 510hp out of my 455 and I love it. With 373 rear end gears it hooks up great and for being such a big car these bustangs look like woha where did that big ass car go and they be looking at my tail lights  

Tom,

If you see this, send me a messege with your e-mail.  My last Pontiac had enough power to go nearly 120mph through the traps at the track, on pump gas, full exhaust, and iron heads.  These motors, when built right, make ALOT of torque.  You'll spend more money on the driveline than on the motor, or else you'll be breaking things OFTEN.  I personally exploded a torque converter, a u-joint/yoke, and a rearend with the 455 mentioned above.

Lee  

Like the others said, build this engine for torque, not to spin above 5500RPM. But forget the 500-600hp if you are on a super tight budget.  Focus first on brakes to stop something this heavy, a cooling system that can handle an engine pushing more than one 1hp per cubic inch, an exhaust system that is legal in your area yet can let a high performance engine breathe, a fuel system that won't let the engine go lean....and after you spent the money needed, THEN you can focus on getting the engine done.  

Focus on the engine first...and you'll end up w/ a car you can't drive, b/c its always breaking something, or can't move enough fuel to make the hp you spent all that money on, etc.  If you are on a tight budget, forget the engine rebuild, focus on bolt on's--free flowing exhaust, dual plane intake, good cylinder heads like the 6x or 96 (cast into the top of the center exhaust ports) that have hardened exhaust valve seats (I don't think your's do, I can't remember what year Pontiac went to hardened seats), or a cam which can make up for poor flowing heads.  Then focus on a torque converter and gears...maybe.  Again, this engine likes to make torque at low RPM's, focus there rather than trying to build it like a 400 cid.