how to tell what engine is in my car???

1960 pontiac ventura v8I'm going to look on line as well and for an engine number but thought I would stop here first.

thanks guys

 

389

 

A 1960 Pontiac would have a 389 ci motor...it came in various horsepower ratings215-310(the upper being tri power only)
unless your car has ever been modified over the last 48 years...

 

well I have this car sitting in the back yard and I just started gathering parts for my 30 tudor sedan build and was trying to figure out if this was a good engine for this build.

what do you think?

 

Good motors, 389 was the only displacement in 60, and that Ventura could have had anything from the base two barrel motor to a super duty racing motor with special heads (no exhaust heat, big ports, 1.92 intake and 1.66 exhaust valves, same size as the ones used in the later 64 to 66 GTO and 63 to 66 421 HO) McKellar #7 cam and 1.65 to 1 rockers.
Top street option was called the Trophy 425-A and was rated 3 horsepower more than in 1959, 333 with four barrel, 348 HP with TriPower, allegedly due to a 1/4 point raise in compression to 10.75 to 1.

Several detailed HAMB threads on these motors recently, do a thread search. Failing that, you'll find lots of info on the Performance Years forum.

A few books to look for and read (if you're really interested, and can get your hands on them); The Jim Hand book, currently in print, "How To Build Max Performance Pontiac V8s", any of the H O Specialties publications dating back to the early 70s (unknown if any are currently available new), Pontiac Performance Handbook, cover price 1.00, edited and published by Hot Rod Magazine in 1963 (where most of the above info was taken from, and yes I bought it new).

 

If it's useable, do it. Pontiac motors make major torque and look cool too!

 

hell yeah...pontiacs make tons of torque, plus they look really cool.

 

Plus they have the unique Pontiac sound...You could tell by listening that a Pontiac was coming down the street.

 

A few more things off the top of my head.

57 to 60 stick shift bellhousings fit and allow GM spec standard transmissions from the late 50s, 60s, and 70s to fit (T85, T10, super T10, Saginaw 3 and 4 speeds, Muncie 3 and 4 speeds, T5s through 92.

Only automatic offered was the Dual Range Dual Coupling 4 speed HydraMatic (3.97 to 1 low gear, 1 to 1 high, two fluid couplings), good strong transmission. If you were to find one, the earlier 55-56 Dual Range Single Coupling transmission will bolt on and if you get real lucky (like I was), it might be a B&M HydroStick. Several conversion setups out there to fit later GM spec auto transmissions, too.

All camshafts will interchange.

67 and later heads will bolt on with a front cover change (64 and later with a waterpump to match and a spacer for the crank snout), if you flycut the pistons to match the valve angle, and use a matching intake manifold. A .030 overbore would enable you to eliminate that step by using 400 pistons.

 

thanks for the info so far guys, you know your stuff.
Looks like I will be going with this motor for now. I didn't want to put some ****py everyday motor in my ride.

Now would you stick with the auto(which I already have) or go stick?

 

1960 389s only bolt to dual-coupling Hydramatic or 55-60 stick bellhousings. 58-60 stick bellhousings are the only ones that bolt to later transmissions. Those parts are fairly scarce and expensive. I wouldn't kill a good solid '60 to get halfway through an A build and find I can't use it because the trans is no good and I can't find the parts to go stick with it.

I guess Bendtsens or someone is finally making an adapter that works with the 59-60 389s, but it's up there in the arm and a leg price range.

 

I'm a big fan of Pontiac motors, had one in my RPU and I'm putting one in my coupe.

I think I have a 6x2 intake for a '60 Pontiac, gotta double check the years it fits, pretty sure it fit's a 60.

 

Ya, Bendtsens makes one for $795 (includes starter) but I'm pretty sure only bolts up to Chevy trannsmissions.

Wilcap also makes one for $495 (no starter) but will bolt up to BOP or Chevy transmission.

 

I don't know anything about the auto trans that is in the car,are you saying if it is bad the parts to rebuild might be hard to find or the trans itself is not a very good one? The car is not that great and it's a 4door. I don't have much in the car and have tried to sell it on craigslist and here with no luck. So I thought if the motor would be a cool one I would use it.

 

a 6x2 would look sweet.

 

People and parts to rebuild that Dual Range Dual Coupling Hydramatic (commonly referred to as a Jetaway, but only Oldsmobile officially called it that) are still out there, you just might have to look a little harder than for something more modern. As stated above these four speed automatics were good transmissions and if you can get the car running good enough to drive around a little, you'll know very quickly if the transmission will work as is.

 

They're nice to drive. A '60 Pontiac 4dr was my daily driver for three years in the '90s, they handle great yet it's like driving down the road on your living room couch.