bbeck

I'm not sure about the mounting and air/heater box questions, but I think your stock radiator should be sufficient with the stock electric fans. Also, as far as the alternator question goes, I believe that your 400 would have had a 10SI originally. You'd have to research it, but if you wanted a higher amp alternator for your application, I'd think a 94 amp 12SI would suite you well. Here is a link for some good reading on alternators:
http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...elcoremy.shtml
Good luck, sounds like a fun project

Formula_Fire

Yea I'm not sure on the rad this is the base model 305 which has the single fan setup, if I go ahead with this project I will probably just get a 3 row version of it and T/A dual fan setup. I want to stick to my TBI setup for a few reasons. For one its the simplest electronic fuel injection setup that I know of and still makes good power and better fuel economy than a carb. It makes for instant starts. And I could keep it pretty close to stock if I ever needed switch back. I'm also kicking around the idea of using a larger 454 TBI unit if I could score one for a decent price. I've heard that "log style" manifolds won't work but I'm not sure what those look like exactly are those the ones that would be in a second gen car? This engine looks like it would actually be easier to work on then my 305 I noticed in the pics I've seen that you can actually SEE the rear plugs on the 400 lol. Everytime I've changed plugs on my 305 those last two plugs I've had to get a jack out to do it! Thanks for the info on the alternator by the way.

__________________
92 Firebird, 305, TBI, 4L60, Mods: K&N air filter, poly trans mount & endlinks, accel cap, rotar, wires, coil, and boush platimum plugs.
~Show em the bird, light it up and watch em in the rearveiw...

Http://www.FormulaFire.iwarp.com

five7kid

And I may be wrong, but I don't believe Pontiac engines ever used computer controls. So, a vaccum/mechanical advance distributor wouldn't work.

poncho@home

I think a distributor from the '81 turbo 301 pontiac is computer controlled...someone should look into this

bbeck

if there wasn't one made, I don't imagine that a hybrid would be all that hard to put together.

jgetti

I talked to these guys about getting a custom one made. It would cost 400 bones, but it'd be a good one.

http://www.performancedistributors.c...mputerdist.htm

Here's also a link to a guy who talks about modifying an HEI distributor to be EFI using information he learned from a book called CUSTOMEFIS:

http://members.aol.com/__121b_nmuXeT...mxiv6iTesCqAvr

91shelbydaytona

Does indian adventures still make the pontiac to third gen motor mounts? Their website catalog does not work and i emailed them and they never replied. If they still make these does anyone know how much they cost? Also has anyone found a set of headers that fit these cars yet?

72vega

I dont see a problem as long as you have all the brackets and whatnot. just watch when dropping the engine, but i dont see it being a big clearance problem. if you wanna get all fancy, get the serpentine conversion from march. the fully loaded package, tho 1000 bucks, comes with a brand new compressor.

Formula_Fire

I have the base TBI version not the Tune port injection I think mine is a plain vacume advance. Otherwise how would we be able to use aftermarket MSD boxs on the birds with out it really messing things up... Hmm if I get a chance tomarrow I'll pop the hood and look but last time I did a cap change I thought it was a more traditional hook up. Even if its not I bet you could adapt it to the stock HEI distributor and have the person doing the chip reprogram adjust the curves. They should be able to do that considering if you get a bigger cam you can have a chip burned to match it.
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Those come with the compressor for 1000? I didn't know that it never mentions that in summit or jegs I wondered why the kit was so much money that makes sense if comes with the compressor I think that if you bought that compressor its normally like a 400 or so unit.

plathegame

you can mount a tuned port on a pontiac motor and its not as hard as alot of people will lead you to believe. you can do your own project starting w/ a torquer 2 intake or you can buy one of these http://www.rancefi.com/ManifoldsforSale/pontiact.htm

72vega

ok, hold on.. now that you said that, i looked and it doesnt say whether or not it comes with the compressor. i thought it did, but i stand corrected. i guess it seemed because it costed so much, it would come with the sanden 508 compressor... sorry for the misinformation.

maineak1970

Does anyone have any contacts at www.chiefmanyhorses.com. I've tried email and phone messages but haven't heard a word from them. Is there anyone else who makes a motor mount to put a pontiac 400 in an '84 T/A. Thanks.

swimster

First off, if links I posted YEARS ago are dead, well, they're dead.. NOT my fault or problem.. Performance Years tech forums HAD all this info on their site.. I posted those links a REALLY long time ago.


A computer controlled pontiac distributor.. you can build your own for maybe $20.. EVERY GM HEI distributor,(per year) meaning, if you take a 79 pontiac HEI distributor and an HEI chevy distributor, all the guts are interchangable.. As far as a computer controlled one, MOST of the pontiac HEI bases will accept about ALL of the newer GM computer controlled guts.

hmm.. what else... Oh.. headers from the BIG pontiac cars.. how much more explaination does there seriously need ot be there? WHAT big pontiac cars had actual PONTIAC motors in them? catalina and bonneville are BIG cars.. then you say the large MIDSIZE cars? well? if they're MIDSIZE cars, they're not BIG cars.. The headers I have were made for ALL the early 70's pontiac engine equipped BIG cars.. I can dump my pontiac engine into my 86 TA and use these headers so long as I cut off about the last 7-8 inches and find a way to put them back together again on an angle following the frame rails. they can also be shortened, but the trick is welding back together the 4 pipes. every inch of these headers clears everything factory installed in my car except that last section where they hit the frame rails. If this was a 4th gen, they'd drop right in. I have yet to perform this swap do to severe lack of time. As far as a part number? I have no idea.. I bought these headers used from Ebay to "play" with. But I would imagine a BIG car pontiac motor equiped header is going to be about the same no matter WHO you get it from.

As for transmission.. you can buy a BOP adapter plate to bolt any GM tranny to your pontiac motor. I am rebuilding my 700r4 to take about 500hp and 550lbs of torque and abuse this pontiac 400 will be pumping thru it.

anyways.. love how people start questioning and ragging on a 4 year old post.. most of what I said in the LAST post was directed towards all the people asking the same questions that were answered in MANY other posts and questions about things in my posts the DAY after I posted it. there are TONS of people who DO NOT read thru posts and just post their question regardless of what's already in the post.. If you are someone who READ thru the entire post, then obviously my last post was NOT directed towards you.

18inchboyds

im getting more serious about a pontiac 400 and a t350 or t400 . This is a good page for info.

i hope many horses is just having a glitch , since i might need some .
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also what oil pans are you guys using ?

__________________




http://www.cardomain.com/id/ramairetransam

Formula_Fire

Me too. I just got another car for a daily driver and an going to fix up my bird next summer and have a rebuilt 76 400 block sitting in storage. I have a question has anyone tried the headers for a 2nd gen car? This is probably a dumb question but I hadn't seen it brought up anywhere in the thread. One last question I thought I saw this in the thread mentioned somewhere but can't find it now. If I'm using my stock 700R4 and the adapter plate will I have to shorten my drive-shaft and change linkage? or will it all line up?

jgetti

Dataturbosix mentions somewhere in this thread that he's tried them and they don't work. I don't believe he gave any specific details of what the fit problem was though.

Not sure about your tranny question.

exktm525

Thanks for the good information

daturbosix

i tried 2gen and a-body headers off of my dads 66 gto. they fit against the k-member *BUT* it would no clear the front frame section and the floor pans.

as i mentioned before you could use ram air IV manifolds but they are VERY HEAVY.

poncho@home

Datatrubosix how does the engine sit in your firebird? basically how low or high is it? What intake/carb are you running? and do they clear the stock firebird hood or do you need a ram air style hood?

Any pics available? I am seriously considering going this route in my 89 GTA. I have plenty of pontiac parts, engines, cams and heads to choose from.

__________________
1989 Pontiac Trans Am GTA
5.7 - AUTO
1.89 60ft
13.34@103 MPH
www.HOBRacing.com

daturbosix

it sits, i think, where the factory 305 or 350 is. but the pontiac engines are taller. i have a torkerII intake on mine with a proform 750 carb and a 3" tall air cleaner. just the carb on the engine requires like a 1" cowl hood.

jgetti

daturbosix,

Just out of curiosity, did you use the motor mount brackets from tin indian?

Da Grim Reaper

in the jegs book they have a set of headers just for f body motor swaps $300-$500. If thats what your looking for. they are close to the block and are shortys.

daturbosix

i used the ones from indian adventures. and i have a AJE k-member, so i dont know if that may throw some things off like engine height?

425rocket

I have a dual pattern trans i might be willing to get off of, for something! just rebuilt b&m trans kit, shift kit. for my 1965 olds 425 rocket. let me know.

KrisW

Merry Christams for the ditto!

I am also putting a Pontiac V8 swap on my list of things to do for 2008. I have a 350 to start with to get all of the motor mount/exhaust/heater box issues worked out, so we'll see how it goes!!

72vega

ya id like to do that to my GTA, but... its a GTA.. so itll stay stock. but ihave a 350 to play with because im puttin a 455 w/ a tripower to put in my Lemans. fun stuff

455z4ever

I just bought a (what I think is an 84) recaro in need of re-assembly and is a 4 speed car. The bellhousing is drilled for both patterns so 1 set of indian mounts and HO manifolds and I'll be set! Probably do a high winding 400 to let the weak drivetrain live! I'll post pics soon..