Torn!

[blackout5.3]

Ok, i Dubbd this post as torn because that is what i am at the moment, let me catch up. i have a 79 trans am, i am taking my 400 to have it striped and rebuilt tomorrow, BUT heres the catch, the guy that im taking it to has started in on me as why not go small block chevy 5.7, he says they are easier to work on,cheaper to work on, he knows them better,and they rev higher and has two in his garage that has the lower end built already and stroked to a 383.
im wanting to go retro cruiser, not street fighter, yes power is nice because the pontiac makes crazy low end power, and its staying loyal to the bird, and i have already got my game plan layed out for it being built,also, i know the shaker hood will function with the 400. in my books two great motors and one hard ass choice for me to make, so thats why im taking it to the masses what do and be best applicable.

:seesaw:

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

400 or do a LS6. Everyone has a 350.

[D!ck]

400 or do a LS6. Everyone has a 350.

he dont want to spend 4grand on geting the ls6.


I say use one of those 383's. he has two. use one!!!


nobody behind you can talk shit bout what ur runnin. 400 would be nice, but you get more bang for the buck 383. leaves more money for tire fryin!!!!!

[snaggeltooth]

rebuild the 400. with just a cam a small bit of head work it will eat all those 383s ....

[2KN1Z28]

Is it a Pontiac 400 or an Olds 403? Build the Pontiac dump the Olds. And if your guy can't handle it say buh-by

[D!ck]

the rebuild costs money. the 383 is free, he didnt say that to you guys.

[D!ck]

pontiac 400.

[D!ck]

if money wasnt an option, id say go for a built 400. the thing is, money is always an option. the 383 is free. Didnt he give you two JP? :slapboobies:

[blackout5.3]

money really isnt the problem here, ive done enough side work and saved i have enough to build the 400 no prob, he was goin to trade the core of the 400 for the 383, plus the labor and some more parts are comin in as trade, those 86 irocs didnt like holding onto paint very well LOL

[blackout5.3]

Is it a Pontiac 400 or an Olds 403? Build the Pontiac dump the Olds. And if your guy can't handle it say buh-by


LOl no gettin rid of this guy, hes famialy LOL. ..unfortunitally so is
d!ck :hahano: LOl just hackin on ya bro. also hes makin me a good deal with no catches or half assed work

[ss~zoso~ss]

get a huge carb and cam for the 400 and some nice head work

[blackout5.3]

I wish, ok one crappy thing about these things, aftermarket carbs wont fit the stock manifold due to the smaller secondary holes, unless you find a older 400 intake with larger secondary openings, Or aftermarket intake,BUT the factory quadjet will have to be used so the shaker hood will fit, wich isnt to bad the quads can be jetted out relativlly easy and flow really good, aluminum vs steel, im gonna take the aluminum for heat dispersment and weight advantage

[98MustGT]

Do What I do 15 years ago!

Go to the junk yard ang get a used 455 shortblock, everything from the 400 will fit, heads waterpump all accessories. GO 455

A stock 455 will rape a moderatley built 350 any day of the week. You will have torque like you have never known. How does 510 foot punds of torque at 2700 RPM sound?

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

:stupid: I like his idea!

[05gtoautoX]

Well I'd go with a 455 as well, BUT they're not exactly just lying around anymore, and if you find one you will pay for it. The 455 is a great engine, but so is the 400, here's a good cheap way to make alot of HP./TQ , have the 400 bored .030 etc. find yourself some pre-1970 heads like #16, 62 etc. have a good 3 angle valve job done and if you can port and polish them. then find yourself a good sized cam around 230in.-240ex.@50, Do not go real big, pontiacs have a weak #6 lifter bore when a Huge cam is installed, they will break off, then add you some good roller rockers, and top it all off with the stock intake, port matched to the heads and a new edelbrock Q-JET carb.There are tons more little things you could do to add HP. like MSD ignition, electric water pump/fans etc. STICK WITH THE PONTIAC, you'll love the torque.

[blackout5.3]

Do What I do 15 years ago!

Go to the junk yard ang get a used 455 shortblock, everything from the 400 will fit, heads waterpump all accessories. GO 455

A stock 455 will rape a moderatley built 350 any day of the week. You will have torque like you have never known. How does 510 foot punds of torque at 2700 RPM sound?


I Like this idea also!!! :flex:

[iLIKEtransAMS]

Go

With

The

400

400

400

Yeah!!!

[anniversary30]

If it is the original engine I would keep the 400 and build it.You can make some nice power and still keep the driveability.

[Agent13]

Stay with the PMD 400. Don't know what condition your T/A is in, but you will loose a lot of value in the car by putting a Chevy motor in it. These cars are rising in value and are getting hard to find.
I have a warmed up 403 in my 78, and even these motors can be made to work decently with early heads. Have a Royal Bobcat prepped 389 in my GTO and that car is always impressive to drive.
As stated in earlier posts, there is lots you can do with a 400 or 455, true they are a little more costly to build, but you will save the value in your T/A down the road & your shaker hood will fit properly. Plus, the fuel lines are on the opposite side Pontiac vs Chevy & you will have to change out your bellhousing (Manual)or (Auto) tranny, BOP vs Chevy.
My 2cents worth

[joerockhead]

If the car came with the 400 originally, I would say stay with the 400.

If the day ever came that you HAD to sell the car, the original 400 will = more $$.

You can do some nice things to the 400.

Unless you are going really wild on the customizing of the car.

[0to60n4.5]

The 403 can be built up also with 455 heads and intake and such.

Huge bore -short stroke , Oldsmosqueals Rock.

[Agent13]

There is a guy in my City that runs the "Rocket Revival" running 11's with 455 heads, in an Olds Cutlass. His Olds is actually a factoy preped race car, I thinks it's an 83 or 84, not so sure on the year.
I'd love to rework the 403 a little more in my T/A, but I'm not willing to start hacking up an original Gold SE car. Don't know wy the Olds 403's got such a bad name, they are just as good as a 400 from the same year, and they seem to be a little more durable.

From Toronto Motor Sports:
John Chatwood Foxboro, Ont 83 Olds
Rt. .564 Dial 11.18 Et. 11.206 Mph 118.43

[JonB]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but does't pontiac small block's have a different bolt pattern for the tranny, meaning a potiac tranny would't mount up to a chevy small block.

I still would go with the 400 no question's asked.

[05gtoautoX]

yes, you are exactly right, it's referred to as the B.O.P. pattern, meaning buick,oldsmobile and pontiac. It will not bolt up to a chevy, Also I'd like to add, I think if you guys do some research, you'll see the W-72 cars outperformed the 403 cars by a huge margin, stock. Now I do realize that you can build a 403, but there's alot more work involved, the oiling systems suck, the cyl. walls were cast thin, etc. just my 0.02

[05gtoautoX]

here's a link: http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofe403.htm

[PontiacFan]

Old school Pontiac, deserves to stay old school pontiac.
Build the torque motor, ...

[judgeraiv]

Go with the Pontiac
400
455 or IA2 with a set of Tiger heads!
www.allpontiac.com
www.butlerperformance.com
:yup:

[Jims455]

I'm building a 455 for my Cutlass, bet you dont see many of those around and built with say; Edlebrock aluminum heads, roller rockers and roller cam, performer intake, LT headers, flowmaster exhaust, electronic ignition its gonna be a torqurer for sure. As for your engine of choice, transplanting an LS 1 or LT 1 in a classic muscle car is still a relatively fresh Idea, but a real head turner is the tried and true simple but very reliable TPI. Those runners look really good in a hotrod.

have fun building you car.

[JimmyGTO]

15 years ago - had a 69 judge , had the 400 block bored .060, crossdrilled the crankshaft, TRW pistons (flattop), the ram air 4 hydraulic cam from H-O Racing, new lifters and springs, pushrods, retainers and locks, bought a set of RA 4 heads for 300, had the heads ported and polished with 5 angles cut on the intake and 4 cut on the exhaust. Added a torker intake and a 800 cfm holley. Put in a dual point distributor and set of 1 3/4" hooker headers. Ran a blowproof clutch, pressure plate and bellhousing. Transmission was a stock muncie with a mr. gasket v-gate shirter. The car sounded awesome and was very nice driving around town. On the strip with a set of 10" wide slicks it ran a 12.1 sec. on the very first day. Never did take her back to the track but it had more in her maybe another .2 or so. Go with the 400 it is a great street/strip engine with alot of torque. My son has a 69 GTO with a 400 that we are rebuilding. It's a great engine with alot of parts available to make it run.

[blackout5.3]

If the car came with the 400 originally, I would say stay with the 400.

If the day ever came that you HAD to sell the car, the original 400 will = more $$.

You can do some nice things to the 400.

Unless you are going really wild on the customizing of the car.

the car is originally a v6 car, bottom of the line, t-top, but its virtually rust free two small holes quarters (already checked and double checked) no other rust, two soft ball holes in the floor and thats it. Only thing wild im doing is a factory package black and gold special and a 77-78 front bumper

[blackout5.3]

Ok oK, i get the idea, pontiac rules LOL Iron Elephant it is!!!! :nana:




and BTW everyone that has posted has gotten a positive for their responses for their input and honesty. thank you!

[05gtoautoX]

GOD BLESS, you'll love the poncho.

[D!ck]

once its done maybe a cheater kit. like a 50 shot wet. more bang for the buck and works with all mods. i never use mine!!! you wont either. not unless you really need it. that is few and far between. so you amost beat them, then beat the living shit out of them.

[blackout5.3]

Bad News!

just got the word! from the machinist, he magnafluxed it and, it is spider cracked all around the mains. he said the cylender walls lookd great and it was clean on the inside.. he didnt suggest using the motor, he said it might fire up and go and it may run, but progressivally get worse.. soo he suggested to use it as a core for a late 60's early 70's 400, saying is easier than done. im gonna keep mah heart set on a 400 maybe a 455...but push comes to shove...i may have to take my bros. punched out 350.. :cuss:

[Thorazine Shuffle]

Years ago I had a 1970 350 Firebird, that I blew up racing a 5.0 mustang. (I still won by the way) Went looking around, and found a wrecked '69 Catalina w/ a 400 in it. Long story short, put a cam,intake and headers on it, stuffed it in the 'bird, and that damn thing ran fu#%*n' great. It had enough torque to spin the tires if you nailed it at 40mph. Do yourself a favor go with a big 60s poncho engine, You'll love it....

[blackout5.3]

Years ago I had a 1970 350 Firebird, that I blew up racing a 5.0 mustang. (I still won by the way) Went looking around, and found a wrecked '69 Catalina w/ a 400 in it. Long story short, put a cam,intake and headers on it, stuffed it in the 'bird, and that damn thing ran fu#%*n' great. It had enough torque to spin the tires if you nailed it at 40mph. Do yourself a favor go with a big 60s poncho engine, You'll love it....



i have a few guys out there diggin in the salvage yard for me for such a beast **crosses fingers**, the guy thats working on it for me said where he works he can get a new 383 stroker block and full lower end cheap, all you do is add heads cam and intake, and they will still back it up with a 2 year warranty

[Thorazine Shuffle]

So what's the verdict??? Did you get the poncho?

[blackout5.3]

no go for the poncho,the guys were full of themselves,so in the meantime 383 is almost built in under 2 weeks, then the real fun starts, tear down and yankin the 3.8 out and start patching a few holes in the floor while i have crawlin around room.

[mullenh]

a poncho fan here too but not for your engine. to may changes to be made, wrong heads, wrong intake, wrong pistons, wrong cam. some of the post that are pro 400 are talking about a 1972 or earlier engine which would be fine but yours would be expensive to do. your mechanic was right 383 is a good choice the only better choice would be dropping a used LS1 in it but that may cost a bit more than the 383.

i had a 400 in mine but it was a 78' ta , what a dog it is in stock emmision form.

[blackout5.3]

oh id definatlly take a ls1 swap in it in a heart beat, the motor is done, but i havent picked it up yet, after that is known i squatted a ls1 out of a ohp interceptor wich im gonna take for sure ya never know where it might end up in LOL, i also chose the 383 because it will be easier to make the shakker hood functional.

[zero_proto]

yeah i'd keep the 400 and keep the engine bay looking stock but bore and stroke it to a 434...............GORILLA BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rl:

The only problem with the 400 is that it is more prone to overheating than any of the heyday blocks, get some better cooling for it and your straight. High 500's to the wheel out of a 434.........plus it stays true to the ponch.

[ShelbySS]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but does't pontiac small block's have a different bolt pattern for the tranny, meaning a potiac tranny would't mount up to a chevy small block.

I still would go with the 400 no question's asked.

:iagree:

[mullenh]

yeah i'd keep the 400 and keep the engine bay looking stock but bore and stroke it to a 434...............GORILLA BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rl:

The only problem with the 400 is that it is more prone to overheating than any of the heyday blocks, get some better cooling for it and your straight. High 500's to the wheel out of a 434.........plus it stays true to the ponch.
i think you are talking about a chevy 400 with heating problems. and changing the crank on a 400 to a 455 crank will net 462 cubes.

[mullenh]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but does't pontiac small block's have a different bolt pattern for the tranny, meaning a potiac tranny would't mount up to a chevy small block.

I still would go with the 400 no question's asked.
yes you are right it (tranny) won't bolt up but you can use an aftermarket adapter. and the pontiac is realy not a small block or a big block

[67CamaroRSSS]

Go with the 400, or at least hang on to it. 79 was the last year for a Pontiac 400.

[silverz28camaro]

i only voted on the 350 cause you want a power CRUISER right? and not a street fighter, plus the 350 will get slightly better mileage, and with a good set of aluminum heads, mild cam, good tune, it will run good

[67CamaroRSSS]

i only voted on the 350 cause you want a power CRUISER right? and not a street fighter, plus the 350 will get slightly better mileage, and with a good set of aluminum heads, mild cam, good tune, it will run goodBut the "shaker" hood scoop won't sit properly nor will the hood seal to it if you use a chevy engine.