I have a camaro clip in my car and i hate it. bought it that way cuz I was a dumb ass with an insurance check in my hand. They're too wide. I had to pony up for the narrowewd tubular arms and new wheels with an extra inch of backspacing. 1500 for 5 inches. don't do it.
btt when you use the Scarebird kit where do you mount your booster and master? on the firewall? Do you need one of those universal hanging pedal kits?
Nothing says BAAAAAAAAAAA like a sbc in a pontiac, and I like sbc's, own 4 of them. FWIW, if I was walking along at a cruise night and glanced under the hood of a mid-fifties Pontiac, and saw a sbc, I would probably just keep walking. If I saw a 389 with tripps, I'd be all over it.
Good advice. Theres always re-sale to consider as well. Chevy powered pontiac? Pontiac guy isnt gonna want it, thats for sure.
A friend of mine put a 57 Pontiac engine into a 55 Chevy. Steering link hit the oil pan so taking tight corners was an issue. Used a Chevy transmission with a Hurst shifter. What I'm saying here is it can be done using the front block mounts on the Chevy and the sbc is narrower than the Pontiac. There is plenty of room. Use a 55-57 Chevy bell housing. Center dump Chevy exhaust manifolds should work. Good luck.
It's rather funny because a couple of local guys put 389 Pontiacs in their 55 Chevys back in the early 60's because the small blocks weren't fast enough. The mullet Camaro/Trans Am subframe is probably a bit wide and the front steering is a pain on any swap but a rear steering Camaro/Firebird/ Nova subframe should fit fairly well. I've run two of them, one in a 51 Merc and one was under my 48 when the photo in my avatar was taken and you don't see wheels sticking out of the fenders on it. I can't see putting a small Chevy in it simply because Pontiac V8's are easy to find and just as easy to work on as a sbc and maybe easier in some respects. 350,389,400, 455 are all fairly easy and inexpensive to find. The disk brake conversion might be a viable solution to the wheel bearing issue but that still doesn't solve the other inherent 55 Pontiac chassis things that often call for expensive and hard to find parts. Since 1973 I've made it a point to build my cars with major wear components that can readily be found through normal sources. That being that if a part fails on the road can I expect to find a replacement part at a nearby auto parts store, dealership or wrecking yard. That is pieces like starters, generator/alternator, distributor components, fuel system components, water pump, U joints, steering linkage pieces and brakes and wheelbearings. Things that you should be able to repair or replace in a couple of hours max on the side of the road or in an auto parts store's parking lot. Possibly bigger breakdowns like blown engines, transmissions or rear ends don't count as most likely they are call a stretcher and haul it home things anyhow.
I'm a Pontiac freak and don't have a problem with what ever type engine/trans/suspension/ etc. you put in your car. You should check out the "Performance Years catalog " site for all things Pontiac before you make your decision, it is a great site for all things Pontiac and you can find out most anything you need to know about parts, swaps, tech info
I am another who would suggest keeping it Pontiac powered. Glad to know I am hardly alone. The later Pontiac engine seems to be a fairly easy swap along with a more modern trans. I just started a '56 wagon converted to a sedan delivery with a beat 316 and hydro. Going to fit in a '73 400/375 thm trans as I have them and it will keep my costs to do this low.
Go with a 389, or if you can find it, a 421 Poncho motor..... I believe the 58 front cover is the one to use for the chin mount. 4TTRUK
Guys I'm in the same boat here for my 56 Chieftain wagon. Unfortunately it's pretty scarce to find an american pontiac drivetrain where I am (in Canada), or ANY cheap pontiac drivetrain for that matter, and SBC's are cheap and plentiful. I don't want to clip the car either, as my frontend is in great shape. My 316 seems to be okay, but the hydramatic is cooked. I got a few quotes on rebuilds, $1500-2000 easy. For that kind of dough a SBC swap sounds like the best bet. Does anyone have any detailed pics of where they mounted the mounts on a stock frame? Here's what I'm working on: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/graverobber63/56Pontiac/?albumview=slideshow
Why not just get a trans adapter, seems like alot more work to change everything out. Plus it would stay Pontiac...
Where is my plane ticket lol? Aww c'mon man you could always pay the fink a few grand I am sure he would do it for you ! Honestly all you need is a welder,a tape measure ,a level and a grinder, and you could have a replacement combo mocked up in there in a day. Keep your eyes open for non Chevy V8's as well...might find a good deal on a BOP combo did you know a buick 350 weighs less than a sbc ?
I like the suggestion to use a 60's era 389 Poncho Motor..... Those things are strong,, and lots of them around. Not certain, but a 421 may also be a good fit. 4TTRUK
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