ok, thanks. if this turns out to be a 421 then it is mos def staying in the car and i'll spend the money to fix it. But I couldnt justify doing that with a 316 which is what the messed up casting number lead me to believe. Man if i do have a 421 this just made my day.
Engine code YF located on the front face of the driver's side cylinder head=65-6 389 325HP, 67 400 325 HP, 68 400 340 HP, 69 400 265 HP (low Comp 2bbl carb) 350 HP 4bbl GTO motor, 73 400 230 HP 3 speed (the only YF code showing without a T400, 74 400 either 175 or 190 HP (remember the horsepower ratings changed after 1970. Stop whining, 389 or 400 it's a great motor, just overhaul it if you have to. Probably be able to find another running 65 up Pontiac motor as cheap as paying someone to cobble in a set of motor mounts for a damn SBC, not to mention a long tailshaft transmission to fit the Chev block, and misc small things you'd never think of that tend to eat money. You could then take your time and rebuild the 400 (or 389). By the way, I'm 300 miles from home and my books, so I googled "pontiac block id", all lower case yet because I'm lazy, and found it in about 45 seconds. You just have to look in the engine ID code tables not the casting code tables. You can nail it down closer with casting codes, cylinder head codes, and date codes later.
after i did a search wit the engine code YF it came out to a 389? <table x:str="" cl***="xl2323323" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 457pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="608"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"><td cl***="xl3123323" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:num="" height="17"> yr:1965</td> <td cl***="xl3123323" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">eng cd:YF</td> <td cl***="xl3123323" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="">size:389</td> <td cl***="xl3123323" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="">hp:325</td> <td cl***="xl3123323" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">trans:A</td> <td cl***="xl3123323" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="">carb:4</td> <td cl***="xl3123323" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
"Cheap" Pontiac engine and 421 don't go together. Those are valuable engines. Probably have a 389 in there still, which is a very good engine. Youe best bet in Florida for a good Pontiac or getting yours redone is Kens Speed and Machine in Brooksville. Take it to a Pontiac guy, I don't know why you would want to take it anywhere else for living in that part of the country. http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/pontiacdude428/kensspeedandmachineshop.html
Lazy has nothing to do with it. I went to pontiacpower.com and nothing came up under what I thought was the casting number. When I did a search for that number the only thing that came up was an intake manifold for a 1956 pontiac 316. There's a pontiac guy down here called Pontiac Charlie now that I know its def not a 316 I'll go to him. Thanks
That makes two posts like this in one week. I can't believe that people still think the SBC is the way to "fix" a car.....
I had a 283 Powerglide in my '65 Parisianne Custom Sport (Canadian Pontiac) It was ok,just slow.And ****ty seats. I would not hesitate to put a latemodel LT1 or better in it. Especially with a 4 speed automatic. Less money,more reliable,at least as much power, easier to get parts for,better milage.
This is becoming redundant... I thought it had a 316, not being a Pontiac expert I had no clue what it looked like. I felt that IF it did have a 316 I didn't feel like it was worth the time or effort to rebuild it. so I was gonna throw a 350 in there until I found a Pontiac 389/400/421 etc. Now knowing that it is def not a 316 i with no question rebuild the Pontiac motor.
Less money,more reliable,at least as much power, easier to get parts for,better milage.[/quote] All The Great Reasons To Ruin Any Car With An SBC Conversion. Funny thing about it is... I have run a Pontiac in my F~100 for about 15 years and havent had the problem of Getting parts or having it any less reliable than a SBC. $500.00 bought me the complete doner '60 Pontiac i got it from... So how is a Chevy Cheaper ? Better milage ?? How the hell do you know ? And my F~100 has pissed off MANY small & big block Chevys & a **** load if Rice Burners. WHY DO YOU SBC GUYS ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ******** LIST OF REASONS WHY TO CONVERT A PERFECTLY GOOD ENGINE FOR A DAMN JELLY BEAN SAME 'OL SAME 'OL CHEVY ?
Who said that? Although there is no doubt that it is way easier to get SBC parts. I can only speak for South FL. Discount Auto and Auto Zone are open 24 hours and you can almost built a SBC with all the parts they have there.
Actually, they have them there on the floor! Crate rebuilds for $750 or thereabouts. Parts? Well, everyone knows you can get SBC parts at 7-11, right?
Just about... I'm not saying SBC is the ultimate answer but when you're 24 years old and broke sometimes you have to make do just to get a car on the road. SBC is an inexpensive solution.
Yea? Really? Go ahead and buy the LT1 and all of the gobbly gook to get it up and running - send me a copy of the bill - I'd like to see just how much "cheaper" it is.... More reliable - pfffttt. Like SBC is somehow magically better than a Pontiac. A piston is a piston - a rod is a rod - a carb is a carb. No matter what you have, if you don't take care of it, it will break. Easier to get parts for? I ran a '50 Buick with a Straight 8 in it and I could get parts at O'reilly's just as fast as I could for my 2001 Grand Prix..... Power....well this is up to debate, but if you've ever felt the torque of a mildy built Poncho - it's like heroine.....
Because I get over 23 miles to the US gallon at 70mph on the freeway in my 4400 lb daily driver barge. If you can do better than that with a 40 year old carb motor,go for it.
Not to get into a ******* match here....... But now your SBC is late model fuel injected ??? You actually think it would be cheaper for the guy to yank out his old Poncho & replace it with an LT 1 late model injected SBC ? Apparently from what i have seen in your SBC re****le is that you are not a TRADITIONAL RODDER (for lack of a better term). Your part of the crowd that is yanking all the soul and individuality of Hot Rodding out by the roots. You seem to be from the school of replace EVERTHING with a SBC. I am glad to see the owner of this car has decided to keep a Pontiac in his Pontiac....... And lastly, Since when has it been that Gas Milage a major factor of building a Hot Rod or Kustom ?? Dont look now, But your Buckle sandles have Dog **** on the bottom & you have a Mustard stain on yer ****on up Woody shirt.
I must concur. On this side of the continent, mid '70s smog 400s are still easy to find and, with an inexpensive cam change and an early intake and carb, make plenty of pulling power for any '60s full size boat. If mileage is a concern, a big inch Pontiac will make enough torque to carry 2.56 gears.
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