I am going next weekend to pick up a 57 Pontiac about 15 miles away. I took a quick look at it last week while I was picking up a big load of old Honda 3 wheelers from the same guy. He said it was his Grandpa's car. It's sitting behind a barn all overgrown. He said it has the original V8 and transmission and was running when parked. It's a 2 door hardtop Chieftain I think. Anyone know what size V8 it had? What are some good places for old Pontiac parts? I have not had a chance to check it out good for rust yet but he only wants $200.00. I figured it's worth that for the engine and ****** even if the body is shot. I'll post pic's once I get it hauled home.
200 is a great deal. Thats almost like stealing it. The only 57 engine is a 347. The rear end is a keeper also. California Pontiac Restoration has probably the best selection of parts.
Is the 347 a good engine? Any kind of speed parts available for it? I am more of a SBC guy. Don't know much about old Pontiac V8's. I am building a 31 coupe. I was thinking of a flathead V8. I have a couple already or would the Pontiac V8 make a good vintage 50's style rod?
I'll give you $300 for it. Parts are easy to come by and engine parts interchange as long as you're careful AND you can drop anything from 55 right up to the 60 389s right into her. CPR is awesome. 1 877 504 8124 **speed dial **
4bbl and tripower manifolds if that's what you're after. But if the car is good, why tear it apart? Keep it, build it, drive it, sled it........
The best upgrade for performance and looks would be to find a factory tri-power for it. Geez, I need to hit the "refresh" ****on more often.
Ahhhhhhhh hahahaha, ebay will stuff it right up your poop chute on tripower manifolds for those engines. The Dirtys were lookin for one for Rusty's coupe. I have several of them, I paid NIL for. So I sent him one. Don't get bullied into payin too much!
I've got 3 left and 4 Pontiacs. I'm down one to where I'd be happy. But next time I come up on one for another 75 bux shipping included, I'll let you know. In the meantime, look at some of the nice aluminum ones you can get aftermarket.
If you need used parts for it, call Dennis at 712-624-8355. He s****s out pontiacs and I've bought many parts for him. He's in Malvern, Iowa, so he'll have to ship your stuff. Here's a small peek of some of his stuff... BTW, I've had 11, 55-57 Pontiacs [4, 57s] and I can tell you the 347 Pontiac engine will do about anything you need it to. Slap a 4 barrel and dual exhaust on a well tuned 347 and you'll stay with any Hyundai around.
...'His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork. - Mae West Rocky just spring boarded to a whole new level of WOW for me.
Is the 347 a good motor? A 1957 Pontiac ran 141 MPH in the Daytona Beach speed trials that year. Another ran 148 MPH, too, but was disqualified giving a Chrysler 300 the win and the 141-mph Pontiac second place. The rearends were a high-demand item for drag cars for many years, they bolt into 55-57 Chevys and are much stronger than the Chevy rear.
The 347 is a really good motor, forged crank and forged rods, stock. The '58 370 is virtually the same motor with an eighth inch overbore. Any cam from any non Ram Air V motor 55-79 will fit. For example, I pulled the 292 Crane from my spun rod '65 421 and bolted it right in my 347 when I was rebuilding it. It ran like a scalded ape in a 4300+ pound 57 Safari. I also fuel injected it (factory one from a Bonneville) and put a B&M Hydrostick behind it, but that's another story. Pontiac never changed the block deck height so just about any distributor bolts in, too (a normal HEI with it's over sized cap runs afoul of TriPower, so that combo's out). Basic cylinder head bolt pattern stayed the same allowing the possibility of later big valve heads, if you take in to consideration the reverse flow cooling system was only used up through 59, the center front mount through 58, and upper end oiling changed about 64 or so. It's generally accepted that there are three series of roughly compatible cylinder heads/intake manifolds, 55 through 60, 61 through 64, 65 up. Valve angle changed in 67, but this usually can be handled by changing the valve relief angle in the pistons with a fly cutter. Valve shrouding by the smaller bore might be a bigger issue. This simply means changing to later better flowing heads require changing the water pump/front cover/intake manifold to which ever are compatible with the heads you want to run. You lose the reverse flow cooling with heads late enough to make a difference and although there's room to drill the later aluminum front covers to bolt on a center mount, they might not work long term without bushing all the mounting bolt holes and building up the mounting flange to strengthen it. Easy enough to change upper end oiling, too. Accessory brackets/belts might be a pain depending on your fabrication skills, though. Nothing wrong with the original Dual Range Hydramatic (unless you just happen to have a Hydrostick laying around) and really no need to replace it by adapting (with all the attending grief and/or expense) to a torque converter type transmission. The parts and people are still around to rebuild them if you look hard enough. The 57 to 64 banjo style rearend is really stout with a large range of ratios available at one time, but because Pontiac did a good job of matching transmission and rear end ratios, probably no need to go there. Lots of decent info on Pontiac motors out there generally, but you can't beat starting out with the factory manual for your year car, lots of detailed information. Axle had a good Pontiac motor thread going on the Hamb not long ago, should be easy to find if you do a forum search. Some good websites and forums too, if you look around, just be wary of bad information and the snakeoil artists.
It's worth $200 for brake drums alone. Go for it! The engine is a strong runner. There is a recent post about all the parts interchange. The jetaway transmission... no comment, other than I have never had luck with them. The rear is desirable. I put tens of thousands of miles on mine. It rides like a living room. I could go on all day! But then again, I'm partial to the breed Bil
I am a little late to this discussion, but hope you might be able to shed some light on questions I have regarding the 347. Harmonic balancer - if the engine is machine balanced, what are the options I can consider for fitment on the 347? It is very difficult to find an original balancer. Hydromatic - is it as simple as installing a bell housing and flywheel from '55 or '56 to allow the hydo to adapt to the 347? If I stay with my standard transmission setup, which transmission should I consider for a direct fit?
I believe a later balancer will fit the 347 snout but in about 64- 67 the crank/engine was made about 1/4" longer...means you'd have to space-out your water pump pulley and power steering/alternator pulleys or brackets to match your new lower pulleys. I've found when trying to bolt up the hydramatic flex plate to a '59 and '60 389. the edge of the crank needs to be ground down a bit to get the flex plate [Pontiac calls it a torus] to fit totally flat against the crank flange. I've done it many times using a 4" grinder to remove a little off the crank flange. A 347 might not need to be modified at all...you'll have to hold up the engine half of the torus to the crank to see if it fits flat on the crank or not. Either way you can make it work. There are no more changes to make to bolt up the 347 to the hydramatic except the 55-56 pilot bushing for the hydro in the back of the 347 crank. Standard trans: The 55-57 stick bellhousing only takes the ancient-design select-shift 3 speed transmission only. In my opinion, that trans is junk even when brand new. It's a carry over from the 30s....has a too-high 1st gear, lots of ratio spacing with m***ive RPM drop between gears and it's weak, not to mention noisy and slow shifting. I went through 4 of them before switching to a 58-60 bellhousing which gave me the option of using any "modern" GM transmissions. I'm currently using a Muncie 4 speed bolted to my 59 Pontiac bell housing behind a 57 Poncho 347, bored to 370 cu in. I used the 59 flywheel and stick [only] starter. I used an O'rielleys 59 Pontiac clutch [11.75"] with the medium length throwout bearing and a 49 chevy fork...It all bolts up with no modifications. The 58-60 bell housing is tough to find. I just got lucky and a buddy was parting out a 59 ambulance with factory stick. Some guys use the 55-59-60 GMC 1/2 ton V/8 bellhousing but it's a little different with motor mount bosses different from the p***enger car units.
To check if it’s the original engine, the engine numbers (located on the front right)will match part of the VIN # Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I've been maintaining my partners 57 for the last 6 years. sold the original 347 and hydro to a restorer. It was well worn. BUT.. when it was well, it was hell. seen that redline speedometer almost to the radio at times. You'll find that Pontiac was the red headed step child of GM. Still has king pins, weak in the brake dept, electric wise all fuses are 7.5 amp. But still a great car. Sue has had hers for 46 years, bought from original owner. 57 Star Chief drop top, white with black top. Now powered by a ZZ4 with a 700R4. It will go sideways if you ask.
"intake valves vented to atmosphere" I'm at a loss to what that might mean. About 8 lines down in the "specifications" paragraph here - http://www.tocmp.com/brochures/Pontiac/1957/images/57Pontiac-p-25-26_JPG.jpg
Thanks for your direct answers. I already have B&M hydros, so it looks like my search will be for 55-56 flywheel and bell housing. Rock Auto may still have the pilot bearing. Any ideas for sources on the hydro flywheel and bell housing??
Post a "wanted" ad for those parts right here on the HAMB. Be sure to place it in the "parts wanted" forum.
The Jalopy Journal
