has anyone run a 200 o/d on a 389? there was article a few years ago about a 64 gran prix(?) that had one, but i'm curious about the longevity...
The farm next to mine has a retired bull nose (5 ton??) 57 GMC with a Pontiac and a 4spd (truck 4spd). I need to go over and save it before it becomes scrap. Carmak Riverside, Iowa
The standard BOP or "V" case Bell won't fit that block. You might see if Wilcap makes an adapter for that 389 to a newer trans
The Speedway bellhousing is for early chevy and later bop patterns...so that's a no-go...I've thought about finding a way to put a 4 spd onto my hydramatic bell, but i doubt it has enough depth to fit the flywheel and clutch...
Its great to see so many people into Pontiacs. I know its an off topic rod, but I am restoring a 79 400-4 speed Trans Am with my son and its missing its PWH code block so if any one runs accross one please let me know. Some goober replaced the 400 with a SBC. Thanks,Ben
HEATHEN, was that TransDapt adapter a plate or a bellhousing? I'm interested in anything that'll adapt to my motor...a hydramatic is out of the question for me.
Sure thing bud ! Well, that pretty much clears things up,I guess the numbers on our blocks & heads are incorrect. Serious, We have two engines that say different, and they weren't put together by rocket scientists. I bet if the Head gaskets were matched to the heads (and not the block) and the rocker arm studs are the earlier type that feed oil through , that would make things work. Forget the bore that you continuously mention as that would not seem to make a difference in my opinion - thats like flathead or OHV gaskets that you buy as a special "Big Bore" gasket. After looking at our parts, this would put in the right track. In the end of the day it is still mismatching parts that were not originally intended to go together, but it can work as i have proof in our garages.
I have a 326 that I've had in a few cars, it's a great motor. It's always been backed up by an automatic but I wanted to put a manual behind it for my coupe. I wanted a five speed and thought of using a T5. If you think that the motor will blow it up do you have any other sugguestions?
The motor won't blow up the T-5, you will if you beat the snot out of it. If your coupe's fenderless it'll weigh a LOT less than other T-5 equipped cars. Weight's directly relevent to the tranny's life. Just do it.
Just to add: all V8 have the same deck height (10.25"?), except the 265 and 301 at 9.31". If someone could check my data table for typos, etc? Thanks. http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/m-table-c.htm#Pontiac
The BOP neoprene seal is designed for 3" and 3 1/4" main engines only and even on some of those engines the seal won't seal up some cranks because of the serations on the crank. The latest and greatest is the graphite rope seal avalable for engines back to 55 from DCI motorsports. For the ones that have used it, they have had good luck. Better than the asbestos free rope seals that are available. I think they are about $20 instead of the 40 for the BOP. With that I used the BOP on my 389 and it doesn't leak a drop. http://www.dcimotorsports.com/
One more thing on the BOP seal, be warned this is a cheap knock off seal out there too. If you don't buy it from a good Pontiac vendor or you see one way cheaper than $40 it may be the cheaper copy.
My 56 316 came out of a gmc w/4 speed.Camaro t5 bolted up to old bellhousing.Only difference was input shaft spline count.Probably not an easy find,but this set up might work for you if you could find a 58.
I'd look at the NV3500 5-speed used in Chevy/GMC trucks if I was going to be rough on a trans... not that they're a ton better, but in that application they should handle it. (there's two versions of that trans and I forget if they're the 3500 and 4500, or 2500 and 3500). But the T5 is easy to find and can be cheap, a world class unit with reasonable driving should last behind a 326 in a light car. Depending on the year of the 326 you need the Pontiac bell and flywheel, clutch, and probably the Camaro or an Astro Van clutch disc. Ideally you can pull one out of the Camaro and measure the depth of the bellhousing to the flywheel and the size on the pilot bearing to make sure it all matches up.
Fastest car I've ever been in was my friends 70 Goat with a 400 Ram Air IV. Heads were ported and polished. Everything was balanced using the stock Ram Air IV cam. He used a Torker intake, 750 Holley, Alumium flywheel, Hooker Pro headers. I believe it had 3:55 gears in the limited slip rear end. He ran 60 series T/As in the back with pizza cutters up front. Car would light the tires thru all the gears and finally hookup half way thru 4th. My friend got so tired of the car not hooking up that the last thing he did before selling it was install a late 50s Olds posi rear end with 4:11. I never got to ride in it with the 4:11s but heard it was scary fast then. Car was super clean and looking back its hard to believe we were just 16/17 at the time. Mid 70s.
We just did a '55 287 Poncho motor and updated the valvetrain with SBC parts. You'll need to drill/tap the stud bosses for screw-in studs. Use modern shoulderless rocker studs and Lock-Tite them in. You then can use aftermarket long slot stamped steel SBC rockers, standard issue SBC rocker fulcrums/balls and adjuster nuts and hollow pushrods of the correct length to give you proper geometry. Works like a dream. The motor oils the rockers just like a SBC and runs like a watch. Keep in mind this was a stock rebuild, not a high performance rebuild. The OEM studs lost thier press fit and some were being jacked out of the heads. This was a fix that worked out well in this application. -Bigchief.
Just a note about distributors, heads and intakes. HEI will not fit behind a tripower without some grinding. In 1973 the "dimple" on the back side of the timing chain housing was removed. This cleared the tripower waterneck. Also, I believe, in 1973 the center exhaust port, on the head, going under the intake got larger. If you put a mid 60's intake on these heads there will be a gap causing an exhaust leak. I have brazed a plate in the head port to make it match the intake. It has been at least 5 years since I have worked on Pontiac engines, so the dates may be off. If anyone needs to know for sure, let me know. I can dig into my books for the info. "I have a good memory, but it doesn't last long." Truckeroy
Thanks,Big Chief.Exactly what iwas looking for.Did only certain years sbc have long slot rockers?I have been searching for a solution to the rocker stud issue for some time.Good to know you have a fairly simple solution.My engine was in good running condition otherwise.You gotta think there are lots of these engines sitting not running because of same problem.I also have 58 tripower setup going on this 56 316.Any camshaft suggestions?Engine was in gmc.I am assuming very mild cam.Considering 1.65 rockers with existing cam.
Use any aftermarket brand of "long slot" stamped steel rocker for the SBC. Speedway, Summit, Crane, etc all carry them. They're basically stock replacement type parts with elongated slots allowing more room for higher lift cams. These are typically used in lower class claimer motors with restrictions on rockers. Make sure you use new hollow push rods and double check for proper geometry....you may need custom length push rods to get it dialed in. This particular motor was otherwise bone stock '55 287. Maybe some of the other folks could chime in on a cam recommendation for your motor. -Bigchief.
This is a great thread. I haven't ever been exposed to pontiac engines and the info I'm reading is very interesting.
Maybe someone can point me in the right direction. I have a '66 326 and I've been trying to find a company that makes center dump/ block hugger headers. All the headers I've seen have the collector towards the back of the motor (I'm sure this is to clear stock motor mounts, steering, etc...) but I'm looking for a set where the collector is right in the center. Any ideas on where to look?
Yes! Look at your welder! You are the source for headers that go straight down from the port! Who would think Groucho was such a wise motherfucker, but he is! Shit, we knew that already, that is whY his cars are cooler than ours!
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