Just bought a 26 Ford T body and want to start my build this summer. This is my first project as I am a broke college student, and I need some help. I was offered a Pontiac 400 motor from a friend and want some insight. I have told a few people and got mixed opinions. Should i run this motor, or wait until I find something else? Any suggestions, input, or comments at all would help. Thanks!
Hell yeah! Pontiac 400s run damn strong (with the very basic performance mods) and they are reliable as a Mother's love! Great motor for a hot rod!!
Why wouldn't you run it? I've put tons of miles on Pontiac motors. You have to build them to run high RPMs but they have the torque to run 2.41 gears in the back and still burn the tires off. 400 is cheap to get a rebuild kit for, too. Tons of parts interchangability. And they don't weigh much more than a SBC -
Once you take the time to learn what Pontiac engines are all about, you'll grow to love 'em. Well-engineered and torquey street engines, you don't have to spin 'em high to get great power out of 'em. Easy to work on and high-quality. You just lucked out.
Gotta agree.... It's free and different!! I have "some experience" with Pontiac engines. NEVER disappointed!! Stump pulling torque. Parts , depending whatcha do, can be pricey but availability is getting better!! I say DO IT MAN!!!!
I have a '65 389 w/ GTO heads. I love it. When i first got it i was warned that Pontiacs arent a true 90degree V8, supposedly they come up more like a "Y" then a "V" I dont know if theres any truth to that, but they say its not a good engine at high RPMs I agree, its different, its free, you'de be a ****er not to use it. Oh yeah, and can you say ROCKCRUSHER!!!!
I can't think of a better motor for a broke student , especially if you don't plan on rebuilding it right away. There's a few thing you want to look at before you put it to use. There's plenty of 'yakkers on here that will help.
Not only are they a 90 degree engine, but the intake sides of the heads are 90 degrees to the deck. What that means is ,whatever you cut off the deck and head gasket surface, you can cut the same amount off the intake manifold sides and have it line up perfectly. You don't need a formula to figure that one out. The reason you don't want to rev up a Pontiac is because of the cast rods. It's a long stroke, long rod, torque engine.
You've got to figure out what it is first. You want to look underneath on the block near the dipstick tube . It'll say 400 or whatever right there. Then look at the head number (2 or 3 digits ) on top of the center two exhaust ports. Then report back here.
Heres what a Pontiac can do in a 4500 lb car with Q-jet carb and shifting at 5200. Look at the 0-60ft times. Under the link, this is what Grandville wrote. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Grandville455/?action=view¤t=20090411145713.flv We'll U all waited Patiently!! So Here it is.. first two runs full exh, air cleaner, 26" slicks.... 12.39, 12.37.. @ 107.91 and 107.97... then later in the day As I was having trouble with the 1-2 shift.. too much lag.. need to increase feed holes more We believe.... anyway pulled air cleaner off and exh has been uncapped for a few runs and car sat for maybe 1 hr or so.. warmed it up to temp... and car goes 12.08@109.44... with a astonishing 1.57 60 ft!!!!! Was Also having some issues with fuel pressure.. not sure if it was regulator or a partially plugged filter but it wouldn't react to any adjustments i gave it.. Maybe spring is getting weak in there?. anyway last run.. 1-2 shift slides in cause of where i shifted it.. and car still goes 12.26 @110.01!!!.. with fuel pressure at only 4.5 psi!!!.... I didn't screw with timing left it at 30 total!... Most 60 fts were 1.72 to 1.74..and Yes the wheel is off!!! .... also car went thru at 51-5200 is all!! about 400 rpms slip!!. Heres my 400. My mph was only 104 but did a 12.8 1/4. It has done 107.6 and 12.5s a couple years ago and now I have a few different things done and am expecting 12.40s and with nitrous, mid 11s. all with a mild engine. My car is a non ported 400 and does mid 12s with 3810 lb weight. I rev mine all the time to 6200 with stock rods. I threw a nitrous boost to it and with a very poor mix, Im in the high 11s. Again, non ported heads and stock bottom end. Also running pump gas. What cant you like about Pontiacs. Last link is my car about 7 years ago. Could you imagine what a Pontiac 400 would do in your T? Better make sure your frame is strong as the torque will twist your frame real easy!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpEgC6G12Sk
The fastest i ever went was 208.526 sitting behind a 455 Pontiac in my Vega. It needed more cam to go faster, or maybe it would have pulled more gear but it was my first 200+ ride and I liked it. That Pontiac was running the #16 cast iron heads from a '68 GTO 400 that had a 4bbl and automatic. Stock crank with Bill Miller aluminum rods and a custom roller cam. Still running today. That was in '92.
The '60 Pontiac I drove for years in the mid 90s had a 389 with just a two-barrel on it and was a total blast to drive. It didn't even need a 4-bbl carb. I never really raced it but never had a problem p***ing or keeping up with other cars, including the night I didn't feel like letting some clown in an Eagle Talon p*** me. Figure that's about a 2-ton car... it should be relatively easy to overdrive yourself in a T-bucket with a stock 400. (I had one of those in a Gran Prix many years before when I was a crazy kid, up over 100 MPH several times).
I am a die hard Ford man, but if I was to start over and no Fords were around, it would be with a Poncho for sure. Those sons a *****es are power houses at low to mid rpm and easy to hop up.
I recomend running a SBC, Flatty, Ford, Olds ANTHING but a pontiac ! why would you wanna be the coolest ? ?
The biggest issue may be if the 26 T frame can handle the torque of the Pontiac engine. Not joking. These things develop tremendous low end torque. If you decide to use the engine, I would suggest a trip to your local bookstore and order the book Pete McCarthy wrote on Pontiacs. Don't recall the exact ***le and too lazy to go look for the book, but something like "Pontiac Performance - 1955 to 1979". There is sufficient information in the book to determine exactly which engine you have (casting, stamping, and date numbers); and should you find a stronger frame and wish to modify the engine, good information on modifications. Jim Hand did another book on Pontiac engines. Both are in paperback (read inexpensive) and should be required reading for any comtemplating the use of a Pontiac V-8. Jon.
My dad had one in his 32 Their torque monsters .I love them. You probably wont be able to run side panels. Also keep in mind steering box. Also column and exhaust.
Do you know anything about the condition of the engine? If it's a decent runner, I'd leave it alone for now and concentrate on building the car. With a light car like that it should be plenty quick even with a totally stock engine. You can worry about souping it up after the car is together.
I havent seen it yet, came out of a firebird, and i believe it is stock. I know it runs and comes with a four speed trans. As I am rounding up parts is there a general steering column that I can be looking for that will help with the fit? Definitely a noob, only 20, trying to learn, and need help! Thanks guys
Man thats a score as behind the 400 would be a Super T10 transmission in 1974 to 1979 and before would or should be a Muncie wide ratio. It will be a fine spine input shaft and an output shaft that is the same as the TH 400. Nice!!!!!!!
My Henry J came with a Poncho 350. Here is a link for Wallace Racing Our family eats, breathes, and of course races PONTIACS! http://www.wallaceracing.com/index.htm Tons of Poncho info.
Got one in my GMC. It had a Pontiac in it when it was new in 1956, so I put one back in it. One of the finest V-8's ever built, IMO
I have been into Firebirds and Pontiacs for 30+ years and I love the interchange of parts. All blocks externally are the same size. The transmissions are all the same bolt pattern, intakes all interchange from 1965 on up but if you change the heads and intake on the early ones, that will work. These are some of my cars that I have owned that are Pontiacs. Most were 4 sp 400s but also had a 1967 Firebird 400 4sp with a 455, a 1968 400 4 sp that I sold a couple years ago and the 1969 was a 400 4 sp that I also sold. So I am back to my originals in the first picture and they will never have anything but Pontiacs in them. My friend has a 1973 455 that is street driven and even with lean top end was doing 11.10s at 123 and a 3:42 gear rear end with a 2600 stall. Talk about quick and tame. All on pump gas. My Whippet will be getting Hemi powered but I dont expect the power of the Pontiacs. Hey , its only a 276 CID Hemi. LOL! Enjoy your Pontiac and when you get it, join http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/index.php When you get it, let us know and we will help you figure out the year and what it is exactly. Pontiac engines were very well do***ented and easy to figure out by the numbers on the heads, intake and engine codes.
Hey... Very pleased with my 455 Pontiac powered 31 Ford. With lots of low end power you can leave in stock form and still have a screamer... Pontiac Slim
Isn't that the car that some mullet clad hillbilly used to deface the parking lot of a local football stadium?
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