Hot Rods PONTIAC 400 in my 32 ROADSTER ??

Hey guys,
I am considering putting a pontiac 400 in my 32 roadster but finding one is not so easy. I could possibly find one at the junk yard, but I will not know what I am actually buying. I found that Oreilly's auto parts sells new remanufactured 400 (6.6) long blocks for $1,750. I believe I have found a Pontiac 350 complete donor motor for all the accessories, mounts, and manifolds. Can I get some opinions on this type of build. Thanks
Here is the Oreilly's link:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...=Search_02239_1250615_3619&pt=02239&ppt=C0332

Trevor

 

7.6:1 compression. Not quite the hot rod motor you're looking for?

 

I have a 389, a 400 and a 455 here. They're not as easy to find as they used to be, but they're not that hard either.

 

Well sir,
I figure the original 32's had about 50 Horsepower, so anything above that would be good!!! But seriously, I am tired of seeing the same old 32 roadster with the same old store bought 350 chevy. I love those chevy motors, but I want to be different with this build. Do you really think the 400 would be a slug in this light weight car??

 

Sir, How do you feel about these remanufactured 400's from oreilly's or auto zone?

 

If it were me trying to put a Pontiac in an old hot rod, I'd probably want to build a 389. It will cost more and take more effort, but I think it would be worth it.

btw I'm a firm believer that certain engines have "magic". Chevy 327 and 427, ford 289, 312, 427 (and probably a few others), Pontiac 389 and 421, Mopar 392, 340, 426, etc.

 

Pontiacs have flat top pistons.
Cylinder head chambers range from 110 cc to 70 cc, the compression is all in the a head swap. Didn't we go thru this already?

 

I like the idea of using a Pontiac instead of another SBC. While the compression ratio of 7.6:1 is kinda wimpy, like 31vicky said, a head swap may bring it up to a better ratio, do a little research. Also think about adding an aftermarket cam, the tech guys can set you up with a profile that can improve the dynamic compression ratio with cam timing.
I bought a car with a Pep Boys rebuilt SBC with 8:1 Mexican cast pistons. I swapped on better heads and got a cam from Comp cams. It ran and sounded great and as far as I know it still is.

 

I would rather buy one out of a salvage yard and build it myself, then I would know exactly what I had. The 389 would definitely be a cooler engine to use, or an Olds or Caddy, lots of possible choices.

 

It's s'not a 350 sbc........mo' torque too.

 

So what's the difference between a '66 389 and a '67 400? How about a '67 400 vs a '77 400? How about a '59 389 and '66 389? Can you tell the difference between a 326,350,400,421,428,455 looking from over the fenders? Oh and which pontiacs are the big blocks and which are the small blocks?

 

400 pontiac is torque monster and adding some aftermarket heads really wakes them up!

 

Kinda my argument when people tell me it would be so much cooler if my 350 were a 327 or a 283 ..... Most people that say that don't know the slight casting differances

 

Being a Pontiac fan I'm all on board. I'd kinda wonder about being particular to it being a 400 though. I kinda feel the same way as Squirrel. I see 389's fairly regularly but for whatever reason not 400's.

Yes, they all pretty much look alike. I'm sure the crate 400 would give you many trouble free miles. Just not quite different enough (for me) if you are doing this to be different.

Easy, reliable and somewhat different? Yep.

 

If you get an early 389 and go thru hell trying to get a starter mounted, then you know you've accomplished something.

 

..I put a Pontiac 455 with a 4 speed in my 31,...some problems I run into ,..parts are not as cheap as chevy and are harder to find,..exhaust and frame clearence problems,had to make lakepipes and motor mounts,had to use a starter heat sheild,...hope this is of help....miller

 

Stacking Monster energy drinks w/coffee?

 

Just testing the experts

 

O'Reilly and all those other chain stores use the cheapest rebuilders around. And that price probably doesn't include the core charge. After you tack another $900 on for the core you won't think it's such a good price. And if you do have a core to trade in, you should probably just rebuild that one with good parts by a builder you can trust.

 

Just a simple head swap will raise the compression to 9.7 to 1..plus a thumper cam, two 4jet Rochester carbs and away my 47 will travel.....

 

If the 350 is any good, I would run it. That light car won't take much to get it going.

 

I'm not an expert, the "big block" Pontiac always makes me laugh."BUT" the 421-428 and 455 have larger ("BIGger") main bearing diameter... Guys that run Pontiacs know this, the average guy and his kid at a cruise in have no idea
Is that a fair answer?

 

The big block pontiacs are the V8s, small blocks are the 195 slant 4, and the middle weight Pontiac is the cammer 6.

 

There is no difference in block size…they are all the same block, except for a 301

 

the 67' 400 was if I remember right the same casting as a 66' 389 bored .060" over. So on the early 400 blocks you don't have much over bore room. I think around .040" but one of the real experts might. chime in and say I am all wet. Really the post 64' Engines are all the same externally with just a few minor things like motor mounts and casting marks so unless you run into a true Pontiac guy they will never know the difference so just tell everybody it a bored out 389.A 400 with a tri-power cam and a good 4-barrle and stock 092-093-067 heads and your tires will just liquify. I have a 66' GTO convertible 4 Speed 3.23 rear gears weighing right around 4500 lbs with driver and junk and it smokes em into 3rd no problem stock tire size ish.

D Smith

 

The '66 and earlier Pontiac V8s definitely have a different look compared to their later brethren. They have shorter valve covers with different 'styling', the cylinder head castings have no accessory mounting bosses on the sides and look 'cleaner' and smoother, the blocks have only 2 freeze plugs per side instead of 3. The pre-'63 engines have a 4-bolt water pump, from '63 -'68 they have an 8-bolt pump, '69-on has an 11-bolt pump. So there are quite a few external clues that separate the older engines from the newer 'smoggers'.

A later '70s Pontiac 400 looks out of place in an early rod, much like a 305 Chevy looks out of place compared to a 265, 283 or 327. Or compare the look of an Olds Rocket V8 from the '50s to a '70s Olds 403, one looks right in an old rod and the other just isn't nearly as nice looking.

Those of us who like the vintage look really don't care for the look of the later '70s and up engines on old hot rods, especially so in cars without hoods or hood sides.

 

You can't find a 400 cause all the pontiac guys are hoarding them. Find the local pontiac guru in your area, every town has a couple.
if you're gonna build a pontiac 400 there's a certain way to do it, don't build it like a sbc.
I've had a few of them, great engines, but never did a full build on one.

 

Is this for the less than $20K roadster you plan to sell at a profit? If so why not take the simple and sellable route with a SBC?

If it's something for yourself and your heart is set on it, the running around and making things happen with a more expensive option is part of the deal.

 

There are still plenty of 389's out there if you search. Ask any GTO guy if he thinks a mid-60's 389 would be OK for a Model A. YEE HAA!!! Pontiac's can kick some serious ***, especially in a light car. I would go for a rebuild of my own over a store-bought "rebuild" any day. May cost more, but you get what you pay for.