I have a 389 290hp 2bbl stock and a mystery 500 caddy built by the old cad company was pulled from a rollover Eldorado conv. Now this thing has shaft rockers a arp studs on everything. Heads look to be ported but are 74 smog heads. My thoughts are if they rolled an el dog it's got some power. What you think
The 69/70 500's had the most stock hp and torque. They were all torque monsters in all the years. The 472/500 engines were all designed as "smog" engines. I'm sure even with 74 heads it would be a great engine since it was "built".
Keep it all Pontiac. On another thread a guy says when he sees a Ford small block in something he walks away....I have that for SBC's, it has to be something awful special to make me look at one.... Just too many.
The 389 might be less of a hassle to try to figuring out how to install it the 54 engine bay. It's probably a bit narrow since in was originally designed for an inline engine. If you had a 55, it might have been a straight bolt in. What happened to the original flat head?
53-54 ponchos were made for new v8 but had to wait for other GM companies No way I can use the straight 8 cost too much $$ to build. Customizing on a budget I know both run I got $100 in either
389 and a turbo trans would be a nice swap. The stock rear can handle the power unless you are going to beat on it all day long. A 4 barrel is an easy swap. The Caddy motor would be ok as well, but more people would appreciate if it is all Pontiac. The Pontiac crowd is very brand loyal.
Pics to come 389 is still in the catalina 500 is on my home made stand I know it's not a hamb car but was thinking of getting the 66 Catalina road worthy it's a 4 door hardtop I bet none of you guys ever bought a donor car and then thought " I can fix that" when I get Pics up then let me know
The caddy engine really is the best choice because lighter ,more power and many choices of transmissions . And will get better mileage. You said you got 100 bucks in it. The exhaust manifolds for the Pontiac will cost more than that, I'm sure the only problem you will have ,is that the caddy runs at about 210 to 220 degrees and that scares a lot of guys that are running sbcs.
If the Catalina is a running, driving car, You can sell it and use the proceeds to slam that big Cadillac into your Pontiac Sent from my E6810 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The 66 389 Pontiac and the 500 Caddy have exactly the same transmission possibilities. 389's 1963 and earlier would be another story as far as tranny possibilities.
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