Technical Pontiac 370

I am having a heckuva time finding anyone that makes custom rods or pistons for a '58 Pontiac 370.
Any ideas?

 

Can't say for sure but give Callies a call, they used Wiseco pistons in the 427 sbc kit I got from them.

 

I will give them a try. Thank you.

 

What kind of custom rods are you after? Longer, shorter or just stronger?

If just looking for a stronger rod, if I remember correctly that motor uses the same rods as the 60's up 389, 400, 455 etc so a stronger after market rod isn't hard to find.

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Just stronger. That's good info. I compared the specs and it looks like you are correct. The rod journal and rod length is the same as a 59-66 389. Not sure about the wrist pin diameter yet... Thank you!!

 

Yeah they should be the same, BTW same oil pumps, timing chains, distributor, cam, lifters in just about every true pontiac v8 also. Many parts interchange in Pontiacs of all yrs.

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You just made my mission a whole lot easier... thanks again!

 

Well, Callies does not have any pistons, so I am still on the hunt for someone who might offer a stock forged (or cast) piston for the 370....

 

Try Egge Machine. I cannot personally vouch for their quality but they have lots of hard to get items.
They may have the cast pistons.
Note that main journals on 370 are smaller than the 389 (2.625" versus 3.000"). Rods should be the same.
If that does not pan out you could shop around for an early 389 block (59-60) which should drop right in.
I am in process of prepping a 1960 389 for my 1957 Pontiac, as it has a single year engine too.

 

http://www.wallaceracing.com/interchange.htm

If the above isn't enough information for you, go to the home page, http://www.wallaceracing.com/index.htm . You won't fine any place with more information about Pontiac's.

 

CP will make custom pistons. They don’t care what they are going in. It’s just a bore, ring package, skirt design, and pin height to a machine. For high compression I’ve give piston manufacturers plaster molds. Same with rods. I had Cunningham make my GMC longer rods.

 

If I remember correctly the 370 and 389 shared the same bore, I believe the difference was the stroke.

Now it's been 20 + years since I was building Pontiacs and it was 389's and bigger so my memory is alot foggy BUT check specs and see if the piston pin height is the same.

IF height is the same then you can look to 389 pistons, but here is a trick I would use, I would use 400 pistons in my 389 build because at that time no one made 389 replacements but you had to check valve to piston clearance because of valve relief difference.

Again foggy memory, I don't think the valve reliefs were a problem at 470 and smaller lift.

AGAIN check specs on piston pin heights to be sure. I also would think if the piston pin height is the same 370 to 389 the valve relief would be the same.

Wish I could be more help but it's been a long time...

 

Here, don't know the quality but it might give you a contact to get a hold of.


https://www.performancenowdirect.com/pontiac-v8-piston-set-1955-58-316-370/

 

I have been on the Wallace site many time, but somehow I missed the interchange page!
Thank you for the great resource.

 

Thank you again for the great tips! I will begin gathering and comparing specs.

 

I don't think you can use 389 pistons in a 370 as the stroke is different, so the pin height must be different, as Pontiac rods are all the same length. I think the same would apply to the 400 pistons, as they share the 389 pin height (and stroke).