Hi all. Looking for advice on whether or not to continue running the original 316 in my 56 Pontiac Star Chief, or trade out the motor and ****** for something more more modern? Motor runs good so far, but I am concerned with future repairs and what they might cost? I do like the nostalgic 316 and would like to keep it in the car, but parts could be hard to come by.
Had the next year newer 347 in a Chieftan 2 door sedan. Sat for around 20 years in a barnyard. Pulled it down. Looked so good, I regasketed it and ran it every day for years without a problem. Just service it well and it should do you well. Like Bob said, keep it............
Switching to something newer isn't always 'cheaper'. Pontiac used the 1 front mount and 2 trans mounts up to 1960. Anything after that will require some sort of adapter or fabrication to mount up. Then you're looking at exhaust, transmission, etc.. mods to make it all work right. And there is no newer engine that doesn't cost money to fix. I say run it as long as it lasts.
KEEP IT. I never even considered swapping mine. My buddy has a 389 he says he will give me and I keep telling him no. All parts are available.
Absolutely keep it. Egge has complete rebuild kits for what I consider to be reasonable money ($1500ish) so if you have to rebuild it I can't see it costing that much more than somethin boring and mundane (cough SBC, cough).
My folks bought a 56 4dr wagon new. My oldest brother ran the hell out of it, then my older brother did the same, even spinning the tires off the wheels on a switchback. He also kicked **** on a '57 347 sedan in a drag. Then I got it and REALLY ran the pi** out of it. I sold it around '71 with 168,000 miles on it. Saw it in a wrecking yard a couple years later, was over 175,000 miles. Wrecker said the ****** gave out, motor was fine. That motor NEVER had a valve cover off it in the entire time we owned it. Those are wonderful motors, and with the old 4 speed turbo-hydramatic, they worked forever.
It's a bear to change the motor in one of those, not much room to run an exhaust on the left side - the factory one actually dumps at the front, comes across and goes back. As for parts, Pontiac used the same block for years, so you can adapt parts from newer motors if necessary, but there's not a whole lot to go wrong on them. The only really specific parts on a 316 are pistons, rings, and bearings. Plus if you pull it out it's a hard sell, I actually ended up s****ping a spare set of old used and weathered heads last week - needed cash for something else and was tired of tripping over them, so I said goodbye. Couldn't sell them to anybody -
The 316 actually had a late '56 Pontiac performance package with a Dual Quad factory manifold with it and a special set of heads. They weren't a slouch either. Several were running in late '56 two door posts in the LA area at the Drag Strips. They sure impressed a lot of folks in that era. Clay Smith ground a full cam package with lifters and rocker arms for them. Then the factory showed up with the '57 347 ti-power. Interest in the 316 waned but it is a good strong engine. It it was mine I'd build it. Normbc9
I had a 55 287 in my 40 coupe for the first 6 years of flooging.It worked great and I only changed it out this year wnen I put a frame stub,power steering,power brakes and a 63 super duty 389 in front of the 4 speed.I sold the engine to a guy for his 55 ponti to put in as is and run. Have a great day Gary
My dad runs that stock motor in his 56 Pontiac, has good enough power and looks sweet with 3 dueces, sounds great with flowmasters. KEEP IT!!!!
Thanks for all the info and advice! The 316 I have has 100,000 miles on it and seems to run well, so I guess I will keep it! I do like the nostalgic original motor. I wanted some input before spending more money getting it set up with Pertronix etc. Might try and find some headers that will fit. Thanks again!
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