I just got a 64 Pontiac 389 engine and slim jim trans that I want to put in my 53 Chiefton. I currently have a 55 287 4 bbl, I used a 59 bellhousing and a 66 4 speed saginaw trans. The question is will my bellhousing or flywheel work or fit on the 64 Engine? I think I already know the answer but jst wanted to be sure. I got the engine and trans for $400 and they came out of a running car. The engine looks clean inside and so does the trans fluid. I check the engine compression and all cylinder are within 5 lbs showing about 175 to 180 each.
How you going to hang an auto trans on a manual bellhousing? It doesn't work that way. I wouldn't run the Slim-Jim, sell it to a restorer, the '64 block should have the ear to take a '65 up starter and let you run a BOP pattern TH350, TH400, or 200R4. There are slight changes in bolt pattern but the '59 bell should work on the '64 block; not sure on the flywheel. The other problem you have is you're going to have to put side mounts for this motor, it does not have the provisions to use the front mount the '55 motor uses - #1 the block is not drilled for some of the bolts and #2 you'd have to swap the front cover over, which may not work due to difference in the main sizes on the cranks.
the slim jim was attached to the engine when I get it. I have a 59 bell housing and a 4 speed saginaw that I still wanted to try to use, but I don't see that happening without having to buy a 61 to 64 bellhousing and flywheel to make it all work correctly. I haven't checked the block to see if has the starter mounting holes.
I am giving you this info from 45 years ago when I played with Pontiacs, so this might be a little off, but will get the experts chiming in to correct me if wrong. The 59 parts will not fit a 64 block. You need a 61-64 bellhousing from a full size car and a flywheel from a 64 up. I did this swap on a 1963 Bonneville years ago and found out the hard way the 60 flywheel didn't register right on the crank and it shook loose in a few minutes of running time. Pontiac pulled some real switcheroos back in the 50's and 60's and mixing and matching parts was always a challenge. Oh, and 64 was a crossover year for starter bolt holes in the block, early 64's didn't have them, late 64's did. Don
I did some internet digging for you and found this site which might give you some additional info: http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/pontiacdude428/InterchangeList.html Don
I checked out the engine and it does have 2 bolt holes for a starter to mount on the drivers side of the engine block. Does that mean that I can use the 64 to 76 Pontiac bellhousing? The engine is from a 64 Catalina.
61 and up have the same bellhousing pattern, so yes. Only 55-60 is differant. Just have the matching parts for that style bellhousing.
Ok, that helps out a lot. It much cheaper to go with the block starter and 65 to 76 bellhousing than trying to get a 64 to match the engine. I appreciate the help gentlemen!
You lucked out, not only that it has block starter bolt holes, but 61 to 76 bell pattern is BOP. So finding modern day transmissions with BOP pattern isn't difficult.
So what year did they switch from 7/16 to 3/8 threads bolts holes in the block? We have a 62 389 in the shop that has 7/16 threads.
Ok, so now that I know what I need does anyone have a bellhousing and flywheel they want to part with for my Pontiac?
I'm suppossed to be a Pontiac XPert, you've been given good advice. If you want to do a swap like you wanted, a trans dapter is in order.
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