Here are some choices of trans to use. Personally i would go with the TH350 or TH400 if u want overdrive use "Chevy overdrive automatic (TH700 could be used also, so if your car has a good transmission by all means use it. You will need an adapter plate such as TCI #23001." Also there is no such thing as a pontiac big block all block castings are the same size, but different bore size.

Great thread. Brings back memories of the late '60s Pontiac 400 that I rebuilt a few years back. The Pontiac big blocks are a breed of their own.

thanks and ya they sure are!, when i started the engine before i tore it out of the old 70's trans am i started it with open pipes and set off my neighbors porsches alarm that was two blocks away. lol

"Nearly any stock Pontiac V8 frame mounts can be adapted to the F-body, either bolted in or welded. This will be the cheapest way to go, and will work fine as long as you have a stock K-member in the car. As an alternative, you can buy the above mentioned engine mount brackets from Indian Adventures. These have the advantage of working with any stock V8 frame mounts in the third gens, cutting out any modification and making this a true bolt in. They also serve to lower the engien slightly. This should also allow those of you with a tubular K-member to still bolt in the engine in a clean fashion, without any fabricating." (LT1guy) As for trans crossmembers and torque arms go to the Spohn web site there you can find basically every custom part for your swap.

Hood clearance is going to be a prob. What i plan on using is a 4 inch cowl hood just to be safe because im not sure yet what type of carb. im using yet. But of course there are many other hood options.

So far im still on the rebuild of the engine and looking for a car to put this bad boy in. When i install the engine and trans ill let you know all of the problems i face.

P.S. I also figured that im going to have to replace the rear. I guess im gonna have to start saving for that moser 12 bolt 32 spline, just to be safe. lol

A lot of people use TH200-4Rs overdrive trans for Pontiacs because many have a dual Chevy/BOP bolt pattern. The gear ratios are more suited for the low end torque a Pontiac engine makes and there is no need for a bellhousing adapter plate.

Indian Adventures went belly up about a year ago and took all the 3rd-gen conversion peices with them.

Hood clearance shouldn't be a problem. Back in '84 there was a guy that had a '73-74 SD-455 in his '82 T/A and it fit fine even with a working ram air hood setup.

How much or were could i find the TH200-4R overdrive trans?

Early to late 80's G and B-bodies.

Would i be able to find these kind of cars in a junkyard?

You should unless you're in an area where the junkyards don't keep anything that is older than 10 years.

Ya i only have like 4 junkyards in the area and there small. ill prob just end up rebuilding and using the th-400 trans.

Where in PA are you located?

www.car-part.com has most of the boneyards inventory on it. try it

That site is great! i might look into buying one of those trans. down the road.

Chalfont, PA

Hello, i am alive. lol ive been wrestling and the season is almost over about a week to go!!! Then ill be back in the shop. My poor baby is collecting to much dust!!

I was thinking a SD-455 or a Ram Air V (yes RA V motors are real) build with a T-56 (I DON'T want no auto) in a base Firebird made to look like a TA. Could be done...only I don't have the space or the money at the moment.

Trying to make it to the shop tomorrow. Hopefully to get some work done and get some more pics.

I hate the Stomach Bug!!! The guy at the shop is sick today. Hopfully ill get there next week.

I know 4 people now that have gotten the stomach bug!

i know its going around like crazy this year!

Got to the shop today!!! Got the pistons and heads on. Here are some pics.

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Here are some of my cam specs... Cam lift intake .295, exaust .310 Valve lift intake .443, exaust .465 Dur .050

Just wondering if any one would know the hp rating i would have it has a mild cam and going to use performer intake and performer or the quadrajet carb. also will be running headers not sure what kind yet though but, does that change the hp?

Going to the shop tommarow.

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Hello, today i put the rockers, lifters and push rods in. I also grinded down the oil pan, timing case, valley pan and other parts etc to get ready for paint. I dont have pics of the oil pan, valley pan and other parts cause there to big to post.

Where are the screw in rocker studs? With the lift you're running they are going to eventually pull out. Are they still the non-adjustable bottle neck too? You MUST have an adjustable valvetrain with that cam.

i know but i plan on getting different heads anyway.

If im repacing the heads anyway why should i spend the extra money on the stock ones? i understand that they have the potential to pull out but, the guy who is rebuilding my engine with me has been doing this for 30 yrs+, and is an experianced vet. and he said it will be ok unless i run a high lift cam. But what do i know im 18 and stuburn lol. if they pull out before i get new heads then i deserve the grief and ill learn my lesson.

This motor is going in a '91 T/A? Have any pics of the car?

no not in my 91 i would have to convert to fuel injection and that would cost big bucks i dont have. Im trying to find a mid 80's t/a or iroc, to trade for my 91 t/a.

Oh, ok. You want a pre TPI Camaro or T/A....it should be easy to find one. Is your '91 T/A a hardtop?

no t-tops. they dont leak either.

These are the engine mounts that everyone seem to be using and what i will be using as well.
http://www.pontiacgroup.com/enginepa...part/10776.htm

Still looking for headers. If i cant find anyone that makes them i might just have them made or buy the ram air maifolds.

First off, I appreciate how you're taking the time to keep everyone posted on this , you definitely need to post a video when it's done. I wish I could give ya a car to use, lol. I am thinking about doing a Pontiac motor swap myself sometime in the near future. Are the mounts in that link still for sale? I'm just wondering because I read that Indian Adventures went out of business and that's who the link says made the mounts. Seems like the key parts to find are manifolds that fit, the motor mounts, and a trans adapter depending on trans choice. The mounts are what are worrying me right now as I haven't read of a sure place to purchase them from. I'd like to just start collecting parts here and there. Anyways, keep up the good work man, I'm sure this thread will help a lot of guys wanting to power their Pontiac with an actual Pontiac motor.

Thank you, I would love to post video clips! im not positive if the mounts are for sale but they look very easy to fab., but ill do more reasearch into finding more. about the manifold and headers i beleive the ram air manifolds would fit but there heavy and i dont like the look of them. i would love to find someone that actually produces headers that fit but i think the way to go is to have them custom made and have the dementions and measurments taken so if other people want them fabed, then they can do so. About the trans adapter i beleive that sophn makes them for the tranny im using which is a th400.
Thanks again, Gary

Hey, im painting the engine monday. I have a dilema i want the car to have a black and red color scheme, would doing a color combo on the engine look bad or not clean looking? also im going to get custom headers made at a shop in bensalem, this seems like my only option except for manifolds.

For the engine, I'd choose Black for the block and heads and the aluminum color for the intake.

Ok i have decided! For the oil pan, water pump and harmonic balencer i'm going black for the block and heads i'm going red, for the intake i'm doing the natural finish and chrome for the valve covers.

How much are the custom headers gonna run ya Gary?

around $1000. i think it would be worth it

Here is where im going to get them done.

Painted the block and heads today. sorry no pics yet ill post them when i get the oil pan and water pump painted black.

THANK YOU, I will need to be ordering these, then my pontiac can have a pontiac motor lol

Anything new Gary? Have you ordered/ decided what you want to do about engine mounts? I might be doing this swap early as I'm pulling the Chev 350 out do to a pretty bad knock and if it needs more money than I'd care to blow on it, I might throw a Pontiac in there. So as you would guess, if I go Pontiac I'd need to snatch everything up fairly quickly. Will know the fate of the engine next time I get to finish taking the 350 out. Supposed to rain for like the next 3 days so it kinda sucks. Anyways, just thought I'd check up on ya, lol.

ya sry i havent been on i need to save up money for prom and senior week...and also coming soon water pump, intake manifold and carb, might run stock carb.

Why don't you just get a fuel regulator to regulate the fuel pressure for carb? That would be a lot easier than getting a new car...

i would have to get fuel injection to pass visual inspection in pa. i have a 91 and they all had tpi.