Ran the numbers on a Pontiac engine I found, from my grandfather's gas station. I thought it was a 389, as my uncle had a '63 Bonneville he totaled out. Apparently, this one's a 316 stick, w/ heads from a 347... Any value to be had here? Any idea what the market for these things is? I know it was a one year only engine, but then, seems like everyone wants the 389 (or better).... Should I try to sell whole, or just yank some parts & s**** the rest? Thanks!
Pontiac 316 V8 Engine The 316 V8 was a very important engine for Pontiac as it made its push for recognition in the horsepower wars. One version of the Pontiac 316 called the Strato-Streak gained a lot of notoriety due to the fact that it was the first engine ever from Pontiac to be equipped with dual quad carburetors. This engine helped Pontiac push further into the NASCAR world as well because of the impressive 285 horses that the 316 produced. Only around 200 of the Strato-Streak 316 engines were ever produced so if you ever find one then it would definitely be worth some money.
The 316 was/is a good engine. I had one that was a hand-me-down (had to buy it, though) from my parents... ran it hard with no problems. In stock form it would beat (or match) a comparable stock 283 SBC. Although heavier than a SBC, I'd say it would have value to someone building a "traditional" hot rod. Do you have the transmission/bell housing/clutch with it? That would definitely add value. I'd try selling as-is and only part it out as a last resort. YOMV Hopefully some more knowledgeable than me can give you insight to the '57 heads.
Lemme see if I remember my fifties Pontiacs V8's 1955 - 287 1956 - 316 1957 - 347 1958 - 370 1959 - 389 How'd I do? Oh yeah, to answer a previous post, a 326 is just an emasculated 389.
My 56 GMC pickup had a 316 with a dual range Hydramatic. Chevrolet, Pontiac, Chrysler, Dodge, Cadillac, Packard, and Ford/Mercury offered dual quads whether offered on the ***embly line or the parts counter. Not sure on a Plymouths. Some were seen on drag strips, NASCAR, and law enforcement.
To me anything Pontiac is worth keeping. It's not an easy swap to put in anything other than a Pontiac in a V8 50's Pontiac and yes people would rather have the 389 but they aren't so easy to come by so someone needing an engine most certainly would be interested. You mentioned "stick". If it was a standard and you have the bellhousing and parts those aren't easy to come by. While one year they are all basically the same.
When I was in High school in the late fifties, most of the Pontiacs you saw had Oldsmobiles with Hydramatics. I don't remember any with Pontiac engines and very few with the original drive train. I remember in particular a bronze '51 two door with an Olds with 6-twos, all with "frog's-mouth" scoops with the insides painted bright orange! Obviously, the guy didn't run a hood!
You're spot on for the years/cubic inches, but dead wrong on the 326. I had a '63 Le Mans with the 326 (4 barrel) and three speed, and if I got it rolling before I nailed it....(week drivetrain) that little SOB was a bomb!! 389s were in heavier cars (except the GTO). Don't cut the 326 short!
I knew a guy in 1962 who bought a used 56 Pontiac with dual quads & a 4 speed ******. He said it was a former police car from somewhere in Ohio. Never saw it loose a drag race. It was a black & white 2 door sedan.
Since Pontiac (nor any GM automaker) never offered a 4 speed transmission to anyone (law enforcement included) in 1956, the entire deivetrain is in question.
Engine power was out running the strength of the manual transmissions of that era. Cars were always heavy but got heavier.
A four speed was a special order option in Pontiacs beginning sometime during the 1960 model year, then became a regular option in 1961. They used a cast iron case Borg-Warner T-10 (I have one in the car in my avatar.)
A '58-'60 bellhousing will allow the use of a G M. four speed behind a '56 engine. Things changed in '61.
My point exactly. Swaping an entire later engine/transmission would probably been cheaper and easer than keeping the 317 and adding a 4 speed. I wouldn't mind having a Chieftan 2 door post with a 455/Muncie.
You would have to deal with some fabrication to accept the different motor mounts on a later engine (early Pontiacs had a four point system, with one mount under the front timing cover, two at the bell housing and one at the transmission) but it would be a lot easier to find and would provide more performance. Back to the topic - I'd try to sell the engine complete at first, since it's set up for manual transmission that adds some desirability, both for early Pontiac owners or for hot rodder looking for something different.
We have one in our 56 wagon. My wife wanted to keep it original and rebuilt it. Parts were not a problem, we needed .060 pistons and opted for a mild hydraulic roller cam. You can get roller rockers to fit using adapters but we went stock. Ours has the Hydro. The stick was common on ambulances and he****s of that era for GM and Pontiac did make "professional cars" in '56. They came in 2, 4 and 2x4 barrel set up with 200-220hp. Only hick-ups for swapping one into another car is that it has a single front engine mount and a left side starter that will foul with some steering boxes. Hurst made a front mount that allows it to bolt into 35-40 ford frames. Only seen one in 10 years of looking pop up on eBay, sold BIN while I was still asleep. They are not complex and could be made.
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