I am moving forward with the planning on my channelled 32 Ford Roadster (ala Tom Branch).I was undecided about powerplant until yesterday when I was up at LDI Kustoms checking on progress on the revamped Hudson. He has a 1955 Pontiac 287 Strato Streak complete engine.I wanted something different(no SBC) and maybe this is just that. Any others used these little engines.I did a search and found some useful info on interchangability.
Wouldn't be a bad engine to use... Lots of Pontiac v8 information here on the HAMB... Parts are kind of expensive for these so if it's not a runner or you're planning a rebuild, plan on spending some money. Another thing to be aware of is how the engine mounts, one up front and two on either side of the transmisson bell housing. Would not be difficult to make up some mounts, just something to be aware of.
It's a good engine , as long as you have a good trans to bolt up or spend the money for a trans adapter. Pontiacs go from 55-60 on the trans bolt pattern. Another option for mounting the engine in the front is finding a Hurst front mount like mine to bolt it up into a Ford chassis. The bracket in between the cover and Hurst mount is the factory motor mount bracket.
Had a friend in high school that had a band. Their equipment vehicle was a 1955 Pontiac hearse. Silver with a black fabric top, and landau bars on the sides. Still had the rollers in it, for getting the band equipment in and out. 287 and a 4 speed hydro. I wonder what it would be worth today. Go for it! Butch/56sedandelivery.
If it were me and it was my money build a 57 Pontiac motor it has many improvements over the 55 motor I have both and the 57 smokes tires all day long the 55 is a dog Dave Hitch
Like the man said, the major stumbling block will be finding (and paying for) a flywheel/bell housing if you don't run the original hydramatic. This scenario is a bit like the Ford 239 Y block thread that's going right now, though....if you want to run an early Pontiac, you could find a '59-'60 389 that would give you way more power for no additional weight.
We don't have a lot of raw material here that is a little different.I like the way the headers are tucked into the block and I can set up dummy pipes that look like they come straight out. Bendtsen have an adapter that will fit all late autos and comes with flexplate/starter etc.
Not a 287 but i had a 56 Poncho with a 317 Strato and a 3 spd stick.Same thing just a tad bigger.Great motor and has a cool look and sound IMO .Nice choice for an open hood car ...
I'm running the original 287 rochester 4 barrel in my '55. Sounds exactly like a hot rod should sound. Turns heads at every stoplight.
Sorry to forum jack, just having a heck of a time. I took my 1955 star chief v8 287 engine down to a machine shop the other day to get checked out. The engine is perfect..aside from a huge crack in one of the heads. The crack is to large to repair says the shop. Not sure where the heck im going to find a head that fits...does anyone know where I might find one or have any ideas?
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