Hey guys, I found a running/rebuildable Pontiac 400 out of a 77 trans am that I can pickup fairly cheap. I also have a newly rebuilt Chevy 350 transmission in my garage with the universal bolt pattern option. Any thoughts on this set up for my 32 roadster? Anyone ever used a Pontiac 400 in a 32 before? Thanks guys, Trevor
Yep not common but I have seen the 400 in a deuce before. One thing about the 400 over the more common SBC is that saying 400 poncho just sounds cool. A '77 is going to want you to use earlier (like pre 69) pistons if you go through it and get your compression up. At least that is a cheaper option that I would do, TRW pistons should still have them off the shelf cast or forged.
Nope, probably cost about 400 to clean up the cylinders and another 125 to do the crank if it needs it. Assembly can be done in the living room for free. You should be able to do a simple rebuild on that motor for about 1500 bucks or less. Nothing fancy just make it right. Those really are good motors by the way, I know for a fact that a 400 in a 3500-4000 lb firebird will make it scoot right on down the road.
Yeah, I have a 1979 Trans Am right now and I like the torque. I kind of wish the car was a basket case so I could rob the motor, but it has a recent restoration and it is numbers matching.
Popular Hotrodding put a 400 in a Deuce coupe back in the 70's. Should still fit today. That's an Oldsmobile 403 right thar.
Screw the numbers, pull that bugger run it in your roadster and find a 421 SD to go in the bird. A friend bought a stock firebird 400 ( round headlight car like a '68 or 9) for his wife a few years back and it was a freakin handful. She was actually afraid of it but my wife got to drive her around in it several times a summer. The missus got her go fast fix the lady got to show off her car so it was good for the both of them. They are more then stout enough for any of our old cars.
The old Monogram "Big Deuce" kit included a Pontiac engine, a 389, but more or less identical to a 400. For street duty you won't be unhappy with it.
I was just going to point that out! Buy the model, then go hunt down the contemporary issue of Rod&Custom covering the build of the matching real car. It has bare chassis shots and stuff that will help you figure out points on interference.
Deleted. Pic of Olds motor is not OPs 77' engine. The 77' Pontiac engine will out power the 79' Olds engine by quite a bit once it's freshened up.
That Pontiac will thump that candy ass Chevvie. I have put V-8 Pontiacs in just about everything, they fit just fine. To see a nice Pontiac installation in a 32 Ford, hit YouTube and find the episode of Rides with Hollywood Hotrods building a pair of roadsters. Take lots of pics. -Abone. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
What's not to love about the Pontiac? You'll love it even better in a roadster. That 350 turbo will work, but a with a Muncie 4 speed you'll be just this side of heaven
Last time I looked, the problem with rebuilding a 400 Pontiac is a limited choice of pistons. You can either get stock cast ones with about a 7.5 CR or forged ones with a 10.75 CR. Depending on source, the forged pistons are 80 to 100+ bucks apiece. Add $50 per hole for bore and hone, and you're on the north side of $1000 with nothing but a bare block and 8 new pistons. I bought a new T/A in 77 with the 400 Pontiac motor that had the 7.5 CR, and compared to a 67 GTO I'd had in the past, the low compression 400 was a total slug. Faster than most other 77 model year slugs, but still a slug nonetheless.
Pontiac pistons are all flat tops with 4 valve reliefs. The heads differ greatly In combustion chamber size 110cc for your 7.x compression ratios and then 87cc for 8.x CR and 69cc for 10.x CR. theres some 96cc in there too . that's 40cc swing. I'm sure you could get custom domed pistons to get 10.x CR with 110cc heads but I would just hunt some early heads myself. Stick those 67 GTO heads (670) on grandmas 77 Grandville and watch out. These 1965 head castings #77 are pretty close to the top of the food chain. http://m.ebay.com/itm/271165280232?nav=SEARCH Or http://m.ebay.com/itm/181687641505?nav=SEARCH These are just a step down. http://m.ebay.com/itm/271803230145?nav=SEARCH
Not a 32, but here is the Pontiac I put in my 34. It was a 462 incher that made about 500 at the crank. Also not a 32, but it is on a 32 frame. This engine makes waaaay more than 500 horse and was my daily driver for 18 years. I think there is a Pontiac powered hot rod thread floating around here somewhere if you hit the search button. Good luck and holler if you need anything. -Abone.
They don't need a lot of RPM and there's plenty of torque down low so they can pull a tall gear easy especially in a light car. I had a Pontiac 400, tri-power, 4spd and a 3.08 gear in a 3500 lb car. Stock except for a RA IV cam and rhodes lifters. It would smoke the tires thru all 4 gears and cruise all day at 65 and get 17-18 mpg if I kept my foot out of the carbs. (Hard to do) I ran with a bunch of guys who liked 4.10 and 4.56 gears, they beat my ass but 5 miles was too far for them. Lol
Sold s 350 HO 69 bird few years ago, balanced internals , missing the 48 casting heads but had some 670 castings on it. Very impressive little version of your 400 idea. Have the block magnafluxed, seen a few with lifter gallery cracks. Best I remember they don't take a liking to overheating in days past. Flux
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