This engine featured a conventional one piece cylinder head, and the distributor was moved to the side of the block.

Like the Pontiac Straight-8 engine it also featured full-pressure oiling and insert type precision main and rod bearings.

A single overhead camshaft (SOHC) design was introduced by Pontiac in the 1966 model year as the standard engine in the Tempest.

Considered advanced by Detroit engineering standards at the time, the Pontiac OHC 6 followed the Jeep Tornado I6 as the second post-World War II domestic-developed and mass-produced overhead cam automobile engine.

[6] The Pontiac's single camshaft was supported by journals within the aluminum valve cover; no separate bearing shells were used.

The cam was driven by a noise-reducing fiberglass-reinforced cogged rubber belt instead of the usual metal chain or gears.

Valves were opened with finger followers (centered under the cam) that pivoted at one end on stationary hydraulic adjusters.

An optional high-performance Sprint version featured high-compression pistons, hotter cam, dual valve springs, split/dual exhaust manifold, stronger coil, and the then new Rochester Quadrajet carburetor.

Like other Pontiac engines of the era, the OHC 6 was not available in Canada with the exception of the Sprint version of the Firebird.

The versions with a manual transmission received a hotter camshaft that boosted ratings to 230 hp (172 kW; 233 PS).