Guys/Gals that have done this, what exhaust manifolds did you use? Looks to me like the steering box might be in the way of rams' horns... The 316 is sittin' in the carport awaiting a future rebuild, the 250 I put in a couple years back is going in the '89hauler and the 350 (with a carburetor and points conversion...because I hate fuel injection) is going in the Chieftain, are the stock tbi heads worth using? I really don't like the idea of the center bolt valve covers or modifying the four center holes on the old carb intake, but I've seen it done and it at least works. I just need to get it running for now, will worry about performance apps later...thus the question at the start of this post...
I'd LOVE to put another Pontiac in there, preferably the original one I took out that needs a rebuild (egge has pistons for overbore greater than .040 unlike most parts houses, bearings are the same clear up into the 80s, many other parts interchange...I've done my homework on the subject, but money being tight doesn't permit that option right now). I'm down to the use of one leg for a while, thanks to a front tire going flat at speed on the cafe racer, and working two days a week thanks to the economy, so "Premium Pontiac" parts are not applicable to this equation. My focus is on getting the Chieftain back on the road (as safely and as dependable as possible, with parts I can get at any parts house) until things start looking up. This isn't going to be a RAT ROD, nor is it going to be some "should be aborted" gow job..just looking for what others have used. I know someone here has done it, because their advice is what I used when I fabbed up the motor mounts that eventually held the inline 6 in place...but I cannot find the thread now?
You're going to have to use 2 p***enger side log manifolds (so each side matches) that have a rear exit to have a front exit on the drivers side like the 316, unless you set the engine back real far so a rear exit manifold might clear the gearbox? I had my 389 set up that way for awile, rear exit on the drivers side but switched to headers. I raised the engine some and had it off to the p***enger side some so it would clear the gearbox.
my buddy has a '55 with a SBC and he used the [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][SIZE=-1]1969-1975[/SIZE][/FONT] style manifolds... and they work fine left side right side
I have a SBC in my 57' Pontiac, and so does my friend who owns my old 57' Pontiac. But mine was built that way by GM.
If it were me I'd put an early/mid 70's Pontiac 350 in it. They aren't expensive, are dead nuts reliable and are cheap. That or a 400. But since they did put them in Canada it wouldn't be out of place and maybe you can find a set of Canadian Pontiac small block valve covers if they exist.
Canadian smal block valve covers are the same as american. They were just painted mint green (pontiacs engine color in canada until 58') and had a different sticker on them. I currently own a 57' Laurentian, and just sold another one. The one I sold was a factory 283/PG car.
I picked up a running driving 350/TH350 out of a 74 lemans 2 door for $100 and a 12 pack of bud light to put in my 52. I am always low on project cash so I asked around told them I wanted a running pontiac V8, told them my budget (which ruled out a 455) and told them no hurry. A couple weeks later a local shop owner called me, told me to come hear it run, they already had it and rear end out and were s****ping the rest of the car. s.
I put a 402 out of a 71 Caprice in my 56 Pontiac. I used the stock manifolds. The steering box was to close for comfort on my original motor mount fab so I redid it and raised it up for better clearance.
I put a 71 Pontiac 350 in my 57 pontiac. It took some work to get it in. Dirty31 built the motor mounts and ****** mounts for it. I had to change the steering box and brake set up to make room for the exhaust. We set the motor up as high as we could but I still couldnt use stock exhaust becasue of the front suspension. I had to make a set of headers, and Im going to re do them again. If your going to do it you need to be able to work around problems.
Hey Chandler, I really set my engine up pretty high on my 55, same suspension as the 57. I flattened the body flange between the firewall and floor also. My 3 tube headers are uncut,unmodified old set of cyclone headers. I can unbolt them on and off the drivers side. I know what you mean about the suspension in the way, the 287 manifolds were really flat to clear the upper control arm. I have 58 arms/63 spindles on mine for the ball joints , but I have maybe a good 1/4 to 1/2" of clearance there. I had some early a-body manifolds on there first. One thing with raising the engine I don't like is the smaller cooling fan I had to use to clear the upper hose. I may have to add an electric fan plus I still need to make a fan schroud.
I'm finding I may need to raise my mounts up a little too...everything worked out fine except the driver's side...most decent looking manifolds I've found either exit right on top of the steering box, or hit the steering column. The brakes aren't an issue, I moved that to the firewall. The factory LH manifold for an 89 Chevy 3/4 ton with a 350 is soooo close, but it bends outward too much and hits the column...I'm danged near ready to just make fenderwell headers and be done with it
That's what I was thinking after looking at it a little longer today, the "flanges" are way over an inch thick...no need for that, I could have .75" machined off and at an angle, drill out the bolt holes and it would be right on... hmmmm...I think I know where there's one of those, looked at it when I was going to do a v-8 into a vega a few years back! Again, Thanks y'all! Mark
I realize this post is 3 years old or so, but I'm bringing it back from the dead in case anybody is in a similar situation and looking for suggestions. I used Hedman "Tight Tube" headers when I installed a sbc in a '56 pontiac I had. They worked well and just cleared the steering box. Below is a picture (best I could do digging from my archive), sorry it isn't a direct shot. Hope it helps when someone runs into this in the future.
The Jalopy Journal
