Who We Are



Butler Performance is a family owned and operated business, home grown, from the love of classic cars and racing since the 1960's. Don't be surprised if you call and Jim or David Butler answers the phone to help you. We are that kind of business where the customer is our main priority. Each customer gets the same friendly small town atmosphere we have grown accustomed to here in the south.

Butler built its business on the desire to power the cars they loved to drive and race with high quality cutting edge parts, built by the car lovers and racers that actually drove them. Butler, becoming a business naturally came by spending lots of time at the drag strip  with other performance, racing, and classic car enthusiasts.

Over the past 40 years Butler has seen itself go through many changes. With the Butler’s growing business, it was a natural progression for them to take Butler to the next level in performance parts, engines, and the overall business. From the expansion into a new, larger location and addition of in-house 5 axis CNC machining along with a huge investment in more in-stock inventory.

Stemming from requests from many of our “traditional” Pontiac customers who also have purchased “late model” LS powered Pontiacs we’ve added a separate website of some LS parts, rotating assemblies  and Pontiac branded parts like valve covers for these later model Pontiacs.  Of course Butler hold true its long standing heritage with classic cars and being a Pontiac purist company-  we don’t offer any “LS Swap” components for putting LS engines in our older 1960’s and 1970’s Pontiacs. 

There's lots of reasons to choose Butler Performance ; our history of racing, knowledge of Pontiac performance engines, professional machine and engine shop, and truly great customer service just to name a few. When you choose Butler Performance you don't just get out of the box parts. We don't take anyone's word for specs, tolerances, clearances, or quality. We put each part through our "Butler Process" to ensure the quality of the part will hold up in race cars, everyday drivers, and classic muscle cars.

At Butler Performance we go to the next level with performance engines and parts. We support what we sell and have knowledgeable sales staff that will help answer some of the toughest tech questions. Our heritage started with classic Pontiac's such as the legendary GTO's and Trans Am's from the 60's & 70's. Over the last 25+ years, we have progressed into one of the best known speed shops in the world. Our engines have seen the likes of major tv shows, a-list celebrities, sports stars, professional racers, and most importantly, 1,000's of performance enthusiasts just like you. Don't just buy an engine or a part from anyone, buy it from the name synonymous with Pontiac performance, Butler Performance.

Our Team

First and foremost, we are a performance shop that due to high demand, expanded into the mail order business. We wouldn't be able to skillfully answer your calls and emails simply by hiring "phone sales" people. Our staff consists of former engine builders, shop owners, and racing and engine enthusiasts that have the knowledge you need when you call.

We employ many locals from our community that have the same love for muscle cars, classics, and racing. They have the skills needed to build only Butler quality engines, provide great friendly customer service, and keep the high standards of quality and professionalism you would expect from a world class organization. Our organized, systematic approach to each department and training enables our call center employee's to better answer tech questions, our shipping department can ship and receive faster than before, and our professional engine builders and machinists are better equipped to test and develop Butler quality engines, parts, and services. We are proud to say that our team is what makes Butler the name you have trusted and can continue to trust in the future.

Our Shop

We made the move to a new larger location in 2015. This was big step for Butler in order to accommodate growth of our company. This extra space allowed us to add a substantial amount of inventory and warehouse space. Our customer sales center expanded so we can answer your calls and handle more orders much more efficiently. We expanded our machine shop to include..... as well as a block cleaning room and paint booth. All engines built by Butler will be tested on our state of the art Dyno Center. Overall, the location has enabled us to take Butler to the next level in performance parts and engines. We will be able to  handle all of your performance needs for Pontiac engines.

Now days companies come and go. Get your parts, service, and engines from the name you could trust for the last 30 years, plus the next 30 years plus, Butler Performance Pontiac.

We invite you to come on in and take a tour

Take a 360 degree interactive shop tour

Jim, Rodney, and David Butler

Open showroom with everything from cool Pontiac shirts to Pontiac Performance Parts in stock

5-axis head Pontiac Porting done on the Haas UMC750P

Full machine shop with the addition of another Haas VF4-SS

Full service Pontiac Machine Shop for Blocks, Heads, and much more

Pontiac Line bore, Line Hone, Deck, Mill, cylinder boring and honing

Serdi valve machine

Expert Pontiac head machining, blueprint, and building

Superflo Dyno Testing and Tuning

Butler Brothers over the years

From humble beginnings to a state of the art shop, Butler has set the standard in Pontiac Performance

Butler Performance: The Definitive Source for Pontiac Power and The Butler Advantage Process

 

For over four decades, Butler Performance has established itself as the world's leading authority on high-performance Pontiac V8 engines. More than just a parts supplier, Butler Performance is a full-service engine builder, designer, and innovator that has propelled the traditional Pontiac V8 into the modern performance era. Located in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, the company's reputation is built on dyno-proven power, unwavering reliability, and an expert-driven process known as The Butler Performance Process.

 

The Company: A Legacy of Pontiac Excellence

 

Butler Performance was founded by the Butler family, driven by a singular passion for the Pontiac V8. Their dedication has led them to become the go-to resource for enthusiasts, restorers, and racers globally.

 

  • Specialization: Unlike generic speed shops, Butler Performance focuses exclusively on the traditional Pontiac V8 (326-455 CI). This specialization allows them to develop unmatched expertise in areas like cylinder head airflow, block preparation, and component matching.

     

  • Full-Service Facility: The company operates a state-of-the-art machine shop, engine assembly area, and dyno cell. This vertical integration ensures that every part sold and every engine built meets their rigorous, self-imposed quality standards.

     

  • Parts Innovation: Butler collaborates directly with industry giants like Ross Pistons, Edelbrock, and Holley to develop custom, proprietary parts specifically engineered for the Pontiac V8, often filling the gaps left by a shrinking aftermarket.

 

The Butler Performance Advantage Process

 

The Butler Performance Process is the proprietary, meticulous, and proven process applied to every engine kit and custom crate engine they build. It is the core reason behind the guaranteed horsepower and reliability of a "Butler Built" engine.

 

 

1. Consultation and Specification (Matching the Build)

 

The process begins with an in-depth consultation. Butler's experts match the engine build to the customer's specific needs, considering:

  • Chassis and Weight: GTO, Firebird, Catalina, etc.

     

  • Intended Use: Street cruiser, weekend racer, or dedicated drag car.

  • Power Goals: Target horsepower and torque output.

  • Fuel Type: Pump gas (91/93 octane) or race fuel/E85.

 

2. Precision Machining and Preparation

 

Butler's machine shop adheres to clearances and tolerances that exceed industry standards, ensuring the foundation is flawless:

  • Block Blueprinting: The block is machined, decked, bored, and honed to exact specifications.

  • Component Balancing: Every rotating assembly (crankshaft, connecting rods, and pistons) is precisely balanced (often internal balancing for performance builds) to eliminate destructive vibrations and increase the engine's safe RPM limit.

     

  • Component Matching: Cylinder heads are professionally ported, assembled, and flow-matched to the intake manifold to ensure maximum, balanced airflow across all cylinders.

     

 

3. Custom Component Sourcing and Kit Assembly

 

Butler uses the highest quality parts, many of which are exclusive:

  • Custom Rotating Assemblies: Featuring Butler-spec forged pistons and 4340 forged steel crankshafts.

     

  • Matched Valvetrain: A custom hydraulic roller camshaft is paired perfectly with valve springs, pushrods, and rocker arms to maximize the performance of the cylinder heads.

 

4. Dyno Testing and Validation (The Proof)

 

For all Butler Built Crate Engines, the final stage is rigorous testing:

  • Run-In and Tuning: The engine is run-in on a dynamometer, oil pressures and temperatures are monitored, and the system is fine-tuned.

     

  • Dyno Sheets: The customer receives documentation showing the engine's exact, verified horsepower and torque curves, providing indisputable proof of performance.

This multi-stage "Butler Process" ensures that whether a customer buys a full engine or a simple gasket set, they are benefiting from the same institutional knowledge and commitment to excellence that makes Butler Performance the gold standard in Pontiac power.