Last year some HAMBsters were looking into running early Pontiac heads on a post-'65 389 to net better transmission options with a commonly available tripower intake. I never heard what became of this study, probably because I went home for the summer. This evening I had a discussion with a friend who is determined to build a nostalgia rod around the spare Pontiac 350 in his garage. Rather than run a boring ol' single quad he wants to run tripower. I suggested that since (I've heard) a 455 can run a '65-'66 tripower manifold that the 350 could too. However, of course, the last series of tripower are rare and expensive these days. So I thought that since the late intakes bolt to the later heads that the early heads could be swapped onto the late blocks and an early intake manifold could be used. Is this faulty logic or actually a viable option? He's not really into performance, he just wants a factory multi-carb look. I told him that if this doesn't work he should just buy an aluminum dual-quad intake, grind off the manufacturer's markings and paint it to match the rest of the engine.
I believe that your idea can work. To my knowledge the blocks are same deck height and head bolt patterm; so the heads should bolt right on and as long as you use the earlier intake it should work? I am curous if a Pontiac expert can verify this for sure. One problem that may be of no concern is that the early heads will not be as good for performance, smaller valves and ports. They may have small chambers and could create a higher compression ratio. An intake for a 455 will fit a 350, all late model Pontiacs with exception of the 301 are the same externally. 301 are boat anchors, avoid all.
Try the Yahoo group Pontiac-1950s.Rick Gonser is the moderator and very well versed in all things Pontiac. http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/groups/pontiac-1950s
Yeah, it'll work. I didn't know Gonser was a moderator on a poncho board...he was out here and bought my best friend's 56 Poncho...drove it back to sunny California.... The very same 56 I rode back to Omaha in from BTT50's after selilng my 55 poncho wagon up there...the very same 56 that Jim Plantikow tried to sell to me...I axed my buddy to come with me to go look at it. It was cold and windy and he said nooooooooo until I brow-beat him into it. Looked the car over and I said no, I don't want it and my buddy bought it there and then! I helped him whip it into shape over about 3 years and then Gonser bought it! Says he's gonna make into a 285 hp factory nascar racer like his dad usta have...
Yea, that's the neat thing about Ponchos. There is no such animal as a small or big block. everything from a 326 to a 455 is built around the same block. As a matter of fact the heads of the 4 cyl engines will fit on the V8s as well. Lots of cool stuff going on with Pontiac - (the real designers of the SBC )......
I happen to have a 66 421 factory tri power in my coupe. Also have a 55 Pont 2d ht parts car. In looking at things you might want to access the water chamber placement on heads and pump housing. I know for a fact the 64 and earlier 6X2 unit I have wouldn't bolt right up due to bolt patern and dist. interfearance. The Wizzard
I guess I don't follow regarding the dizzy (unless you mean HEI) but we're talking about swapping both the heads and the intake. The head bolt pattern is what counts because bolting on say a set of '60 389 heads to a '70 455 would allow use of the earlier-style intake on the late-model motor.
The Jalopy Journal
