I have been chasing this one for years, I am getting a little closer but these always take time. I am no expert but I am pretty sure this is a late 50's Pontiac engine. Can anyone tell what the displacement would be? I am guessing it is a 370, it looks like all of the exhaust and intake is OEM factory stuff, and it is a 4 barrel and has chrome valve covers, but I do not know if these were chromed later or factory since there are bits and pieces of old chrome plating on this old truck. Here is what I do know, this was built in the late 50's early 60's. The last time it was tagged was 1960 according to the plates. The builder went to the service, it was parked and never started again. He came back and over the years started taking it apart, but then let it sit. The funny thing is the key is still in the ignition too! Oh and one other thing, so you guys can call me a real **** head, those things hanging from the rafters in the background are two pristine deuce grilles, one is filled (the one for the truck) and the other is an unfilled spare, the insert is in the pickup bed.
Did you look for a number stamped on the front of the block, p*** side? should have the year in it, 370 is 1958 only, 389 starting in 59.
All your early Poncho motor questions answered here: http://www.pontiacsafari.com/L1Garage/EngineID/index.html
If nothing has been replaced...it is a 1955 287, 1956 316 or 1957 347. I say this because it has the early style balancer only used those 3 years and the reverse flow cooling used '55-'59. Plus, that mount on the intake for the generator was only used '55-'58. all Pontiac v-8s have a date code near the dist hole, 3 or 4 digits that tell you when it was cast.. Good luck with it. Steve Barcak www.pontiacheaven.org <DIR>Hosting 11th annual Pontiac Heaven, show, swap, drags, party and all around good time. Saturday April 4, 2009 at Speedworld near Phoenix, Az Also hosting- 7th annual Nostalgia drags, show and swap coming Sunday April 5, 2009 to Speedworld. Phoenix, Az </DIR>
That's a '55 or '56 intake and WCFB carb. Pontiac went to AFBs or large base 4GCs in '57. Both the intake and the cylinder heads will have casting date codes on them (something like C 15 6) that will pin down an exact year.
It's a '55 engine, the head casting number is the giveaway. 518024 is the number for 287 cylinder heads with 1.78/1.50 valves.
If the intake and carb are also '55 (and not a '56 setup added after the fact), it's a fairly rare setup. The 1955 carb numbers are either 2268S or 2283S.
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