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Hot Rods Poncho Powered Hot Rods

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Speed Gems, Sep 30, 2020.

  1. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,433

    Speed Gems
    Member

    Looking through some old magazines i've found engine swap articles on how to swap many different engines into old cars. Most popular were Olds or Cadillac engines onto a '40 Ford, Buick Nailhead into a '49-'53 Chevy (Car) and how to put a Chevy v8 into a '49-'54 Chevy Pickup. But what i don't recall seeing are a lot of articles that have Hot Rods with Pontiac engines in them. You would think with Mickey Thompson setting a land speed record of 406.6 in 1960 with one, and using them exclusively in his drag racing cars you would've seen a lot more swaps. I wonder why not, especially since they made really only one block., and could be bored from 287 to 455 ci. Was it size, cost, to hard to find speed parts that made them an unpopular swap?
     
    Deuces, loudbang and mitch 36 like this.
  2. bill gruendeman
    Joined: Jun 18, 2019
    Posts: 807

    bill gruendeman
    Member

    Size matters a pontiac motor is wide and the exhaust makes them wider. My guess is by 1960 when m\t was setting records the 283 was already pentlyful and cheap? Someone should know more than me
     
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  3. Paulz
    Joined: Dec 30, 2018
    Posts: 126

    Paulz
    Member

    No clue, but my current project truck (48 International) is being built around a 463 inch Pontiac that I've owned for over 25 years.
     
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  4. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,433

    Speed Gems
    Member

    I wouldn't think they are any wider then a hemi and you see lots of those.
     
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  5. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 2,551

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

  6. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,372

    Fordors
    Member

    35B32725-4D5C-4068-994D-10ED4E45801B.jpeg 4C1288F0-2665-4C6F-A763-F8D0FA778A8B.jpeg

    A favorite of mine from the ‘60’s was this 347 inch Pontiac powered T that served as the push car for the Walker & Geary fuel altered. The lower photo has a large P watermark on it for Peterson Publishing.
     
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  7. Blake 27
    Joined: Apr 10, 2016
    Posts: 1,504

    Blake 27

    I took this Fathers Day 2005. HPIM0443.JPG
     
  8. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    If I remember correctly Don Francisco blueprinted a Pontiac engine, installed it in his ‘57 T-bird and documented it in HRM back then. Eddie Hill was ripping up the asphalt at tracks throughout the southwest with his twin Pontiacs and Walt Kaline had his Pontiac powered T bucket on the cover of Hot Rod.
    As a kid I loved anything Pontiac (still do) so I remember quite a few Pontiac powered hot rods. My favorite dragster? The McEwen and Adams “Shark Car” especially when it was Pontiac powered. Also Thompson’s Hemi Pontiac.


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  9. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    If you open the H.A.M.B. on a desktop computer quite often a nice channeled ‘32 roadster appears in the header graphic. It’s a great photo on the beach and the ‘32 has a Pontiac engine with stock exhaust manifolds. It’s a very cool understated hot rod that I’d love to have today.


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  10. pontman
    Joined: Mar 18, 2011
    Posts: 419

    pontman
    Member

    Last edited: Sep 30, 2020
  11. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    I think that roadster picture appears in full in the "Pictures that need no explanation" thread if someone knows how to find and paste it. I'm not to swift at getting and posting pictures.
     
  12. flamedabone
    Joined: Aug 3, 2001
    Posts: 5,440

    flamedabone
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    About 90% done with this one.
    [​IMG]

    The 40 is Pontiac powered.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The 34.
    [​IMG]

    I have built a gaggle of Pontiac powered cars, not even sure why...

    -Abone.
     
    alfin32, bchctybob, lumpy 63 and 5 others like this.
  13. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    I always liked the 389. I've owned all kinds of Pontiacs from the 455 to the 350 and like the closed chamber 389 best.. They are so torquey for there size. I like to use the Mackellar #10 cam or the Crower 60310..
     
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  14. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,433

    Speed Gems
    Member

    Alex Idzardi's '32 five window with a 400 Pontiac is about the only one i car remember featured in a car mag.
    p160650_image_large.jpg
     
  15. 4ty
    Joined: Jan 1, 2009
    Posts: 272

    4ty

    Back around 62-63 when Mickey was into the 4 cyl Tempest engine and I was working at the Pontiac dealership in Bristol, CT I removed the 55 Olds from my 32 coupe and installed the 4 cyl for a few years. Ran good !
    Paul in CT
     
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  16. J. A. Miller
    Joined: Dec 30, 2010
    Posts: 2,057

    J. A. Miller
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Central NY

    Paul, did you come to your senses at some point and put the other half of the 389 in there?:D
     
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  17. PacaRacer50
    Joined: Oct 3, 2010
    Posts: 171

    PacaRacer50
    Member

    In high school I was a Pontiac Nut big time. Ran them until about 1987 when I got married and sold off all of my remaining Pontiac stuff I had been collecting for years. When this one appeared on the cover and inside the magazine it really relit that old flame I have in my heart for Pontiacs. Would love to have one like this but the $$$$$ is too insane any longer to build one.
     
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  18. Back in the day a long time ago I think it was in the earlier 60's
    I put a 421 Pont. in a 54 Corvette, I did not want to do it because the Vette
    was a classic but he Insisted on doing it & even upped the Price to do it.
    So I did it.

    Just my 3.5 cents

    Live Learn & Die a Fool
     
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  19. bill gruendeman
    Joined: Jun 18, 2019
    Posts: 807

    bill gruendeman
    Member

    Use are probably right, so I have no idea why and I am a pontiac man
     
    loudbang likes this.
  20. 4ty
    Joined: Jan 1, 2009
    Posts: 272

    4ty

    J A Miller

    Ran it for a few years like that and went back to the Olds.
    Paul in CT
     
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  21. ROADSTER1927
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 3,127

    ROADSTER1927
    Member

    63 SUPER DUTY AND OTHER 006.JPG ponti stuff 001.JPG 63 SUPER DUTY AND OTHER 006.JPG ponti stuff 001.JPG 62518618_10219992016817102_84810043429486592_n.jpg IMG_5851.jpg My 40 poncho ( my wife says it is Hers) is 421 4 speed.
     
  22. flamedabone
    Joined: Aug 3, 2001
    Posts: 5,440

    flamedabone
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    '53 Stude.
    [​IMG]

    '51 Merc.
    [​IMG]

    '39 Ford.
    [​IMG]

    '36 truck
    [​IMG]

    This car
    [​IMG]

    Had this
    [​IMG]

    Model A.
    [​IMG]

    I built a few more that I can't find pictures of, so this will have to do for now.

    -Abone.
     
  23. 31 B'ville
    Joined: Feb 7, 2009
    Posts: 376

    31 B'ville
    Member
    from SE Pa
    1. All Things Pontiac

    Been working on this Pontiac in a Pontiac. 428 in a ‘31. D49EC80B-F0AD-4693-BD17-48F05E325F5D.jpeg 45DB6502-0B4E-42EC-B336-A6D57616ECEE.jpeg
     
  24. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 9,606

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Only drove a good Pontiac once in my life, my buddy's '68 GTO in high school. 400 4-speed. It left an impression. I can imagine in a light hot rod.

    I remember somebody saying that one of the members here has a fast Pontiac powered Model A coupe?... that's hard to beat at the HAMB drags?
     
    loudbang likes this.

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