I am working my way round the 1955 Pontiac 287 getting all of the dirt off and checking things out. Here is what I know so far. The 287 was the first production engine made that replaced the inline 8's. It prodices about 170 to 180 HP with the factory 2 barrel and 200 HP with the 4 barrel. I know that they based their engines through the late 60's off of this initial design. This is where my knowledge ends and where I need help filling in some blanks. I would like to get a bit more than 200 HP out of the considering that is a Mid-Block. I have heard tell that there are many inter-changeable parts on the pontiac V8 engines and I would like to see what kinds of combinations are possible to get the engine around 230 -250 HP or so. All information will be greatly appreciated! I will post some pictures this weekend because I need a new battery for the digicam. KCsledz
I also have the manual trans. Origionally its 3 on the tree but where could I get a kit for converting it to a floor shifter?
just be patient, man. there's folks on here that know so much about pontiac engines that your head would spin. most everybody's at work right now, i suppose. if the thread gets buried, just bump it this evening, or PM rocky. he's pretty knowledgeable about pontiac engines, i think.
KC- '55 was the first year for Pontiac V8s. Available with either the 2 or 4 barrel. You got that correct. 1955 & 56 GMC trucks were also powered by Pontiac those years. They usually came with the 4 barrel and dual exhaust. In '56, they upped the cubic inch from 287 to 316 using the same block- just bored a little. The hot piece this year was a dual quad manifold for Daytona. The same block was used in '57, now bored to 347 cubic inches. This came with a 2 or 4 barrel or tripower. Half way through 1957, the Bonneville came out. This was a convertible only and had the same block bored out to 370 cubic inches and fuel injection. Collectors have caused the price of the fuelie units to go through the roof. You can mix and match any '55-'57 1/2 engine to transmission since all the bolt holes are the same. I am not 100% sure if the 389 in '58 is the same- I've haven't owned one yet. Stick around awhile until Rocky fills in some of these gaps. No poncho post will slip by him!
So in theory I can have my block bored out and use parts from later engines as long as I keep it in the same family. i.e. 57 heads with matching rings, pistons, pushrods, ect? Or am I out in left field?
Your block's "family" includes all poncho v/8 engines up to and including the '59 and '60, 389. In theory, you should be able to: Bore your 287 3/16ths and use 1956, 317 pistons...stroke is the same as your 287 at 3&1/4 In 57 pontiac stroked the engine to 3&9/16ths to give 347 cu. in.....bore stayed at 3&15/16ths. You could prolly use the entire reciprocating assembly in your 55 block but ya may have to notch the pan rail and/or the bottoms of the cylinders to clear the rod caps and nuts, I dunno because I never tried it.... In '58 the engine grew to 370 cu in by way of an overbore to 4&1/16th but the stroke stayed the same. We are now talking rock & roll.....these engines OWNED several stock classes at the drags in 58 tudoor sedans with either fuel injection ro tri=power. But pontiac wasnt' done with this version of the poncho engine quite yet. In '59 all the engines were 389 cu. in by way of another stroke increase to 3&3/4. Now, were talkin mega bottom end torque. This is the engine I always use in my hot rods. They came with Arma-steel cranks which is misleading. Armasteel is really nodular iron. The rods were still steel forgings tho. If I had any thoughts on having a hot rod early [pre 61] pontiac, I'd have to go with the '59 or '60 engine. They're actually cheaper to build then the earlier ones due to the law of supply and demand and they look identical on the outside. And a 389 will totally DESTROY a puny little 287. The 287 is a good little putter engine but don't expect to get any serious power from it withour spending a pile-o-money. A little rochester 4 jet on a stock manifold will be all I'd do to one...Be happy with 200 hp from this little jewel and watch for busted rocker arms and loosening rocker nuts. Be vigilant for rocker studs pulling outta their bosses too. And remember, this thing ain't a small block chevy! It won't wind over 5500 in stock form without busticating something. Keep it under 5 tho, chnge the oil every 2000 miles and it'll live forever.
Hey Rocky, Thanks for the insites! I was scouring the net for interchangeable parts and I fould this site it gives a list of interchangeable parts. I don't know if you have ever been to the site or not but I thought you might find it interesting. I don't know how interchangeable thing really would be. I am going to go with your advice on the engine with just putting a 4 barrel on it and run it. I emailed the guy who owns the site about more information or chalrfication on the list, so I shall see in a day or two if he responds. freds pontiac information go to pontiac parts numbers and then to parts interchange. Item: Years of interchangeability: Engine Block: 1955,1956,1957,1959-60,1961-64 (Full size V-8), 1964-69 (Tempest & Grand Prix V-8), 1970-79. Bell Housings: 1955,1956-57,1958-60,1961-64 (Fullsize), 1964-79 (All but 1964 Fullsize) Oil Pump: 1955-58, 1959-79 Oil Pan: 1955-58, 1959-60, 1961-63, 1964, 1965-71, 1972-79 Windage Tray: 1955-58, 1959-60, 1961-62, 1963, 1964, 1965-72 Oil Filter: 1955-59, 1960-1979 Oil Filter Housing: 1955-59, 1960-1962, 1963, 1964-1970 (Straight), 1967-1979 (Tilted) Crankshaft: 1955-1956, 1957-1958, 1959-1966 (3" Main), 1967-1976 (3" Main), 1962-1969 (3.25" Main) Harmonic Balancer: 1955-1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968-1979 Flywheel: 1955-1957, 1958-1960, 1961-1962, 1963, 1964-1979 Connecting Rods: 1955-1979 Pistons: Must be the same as bore, stroke, & head series. **455 SD only fits with SD rods !!! Wrist Pins: 1955-1957, 1958-1962, 1963-1965, 1966-1979 Rings: Interchangeable within same bore size except 455 Heads: 1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1966, 1967-1979 Rocker Arms: 1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1964, 1963 (421 HO)-1964 (GTO Tripower), 1965, 1966, 1967 (326 only)1967-1979 Pushrods: 1955-1960, 1961-1966, 1967-1976 (except Ram Air IV), ***Match pushrod to year of head Valve Covers: 1955-1957, 1958-1960, 1961-1962, 1963-1966, 1967-1979 Lifters: 1955, 1956-1979 Camshaft: 1955-1959 except for Ram Air V & 455 Super duty Intake Manifold: 1955, 1956, 1957-1958, 1959-1960, 1961-1962, 1963-1964, 1965-1971, 1972-1979 Exhaust Manifolds: 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959-1979 (D-port) 1968-1974 (Round port) Distributor: 1955-1979 except for Ram Air V & 455 Super duty Starter: 1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1964 (Fullsize) 1964 (Tempest & Grand Prix)-1979 Timing Cover: 1955-1959, 1960, 1961-1962 (Pontiac 8 & Tempest 4), 1963, 1963 1/2-1965, 1966-1967, 1968, 1969-1979 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to here some suggestions for putting together a 60 motor. (what heads,pistons,cam etc.) Does any later stuff work? What about flywheels? I have had a real tough time trying to fine one for a 60. What about re-indexing a later wheel to fit the early crank? And how in the hell do you remove the old hydro-matic when the pistons are froze? Remove with the crank??
OK I finally get to cleaning up the 287 this morning. I scrapped all dirt off that would come off. INJECTEDA you should have warned me that that Texas clay was really hardened adobe from ancient indian dewllings! Man I was chisseling it off at times. I was going to give it a good powerwash but forgot that the powerwasher is with some friends! Oh well! I also decided to crank it over a few times it turns great! I even had compression at TDC or somewhere there abouts. I took off the valve covers and its a bit of a mess. Thick black sludge! But eveery thing seemed to be in order. I will be asking for help and advice on the rebuild of this engine from time to time, please be patient with me! In high school all I had was a rotary car that did high 11's. All the extra pieces on a 8V get confusing at times to me. Anyway here are some before and after pics from this morning. KCsledz
OK.. we're united ??? Anywaz... get a 455, do a basic rebuild use 6x heads (the right ones) from a 400. get a tri power, Moon or Offy valve covers..my two cents Trust me, you'll have your 200 hp and then some..plus the look you want. Pic of my Poncho...got more "stuff" then above but got way less then a grand invested.. E mail me if have questions as don't get on this site a lot Best a luck "Pontiac Slim"
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