I have a '59 389 (block #532000) with a tri-power setup (intake #536194) for my '57 Chieftain. I wonder if anyone knows if a later block can be used with the old reverse flow water pump and heads. Also the heads appear to be 1958 heads (heads #528511), according to a list I found they've been produced for 347/370 ci engines. My engine pings and knocks like crazy, so I guess I have a compression ratio issue. Again, does anyone know if these heads can be enlarged to be used with the 389 block? I'm going to use a TH 700R4 transmission, and the thought occured to me, to use a newer block to better fit the tranny. Or maybe an adapter would make more sense? My aim is to build a nice driver engine, as I'm using this car as my daily driver during summer. For the time being it's powered ny an '87 TPI engine out of a GTA, which has done good service during eight summers and tens of thousands of miles. A real Pontiac engine with tri-power would look great and sound much better too. Pic snapped at Kulture Shock Car show in Lakeport CA in 2010, yours truly having an interesting talk about... Ahem... carbs with Miss Kulture shock of the previous year.
My wife is here...Pontiac aficionado. She suggests staying with 389 heads matched for that block (59-60 rooster tail motor). Otherwise a complete swapover to the more modern 400 (67-70s) with a turbo 400, bearing in mind wiring will be different-starter. #670 head is best (67) for 3-2 setup. 65,66,67 389 intake will bolt on. #670 head depending on piston dish would be about 10:1, so you may want a thicker head gasket or slightly dished piston to shoot for 9-9.5:1 daily driver, pump gas. She also mentioned you could cc your head now to calculate compression ratio, but it's going to be as you thought way too high.
Yes you could change heads and front cover ect and reverse cool a newer mill. However It would not be any improvement. And If you did get a later 389 block you would likely be better off with the 1959 389 reverse cooled heads.
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