I have a 69 Pontiac 400 cu. engine. I want to swap into my 89 RS Camaro, but I'm not sure what I need to do exactly. I know its possible, but I need some tips on how to make the swap easier. I chose this engine because of the torque it can produce.
Also, I'm using a TH400 trans. What torque converter should I use?

Any pics of this engine into a camaro would be very helpful...

Thanx

 

www.chiefmanyhorses.com
send them an E-mail and Dick Duclow will contact you
Install kit part#10776
hearders coming in by Feb.28
Havent got my engine in yet. As for converter it depends what you want (streetabilty), gears and tire height.I am going with 3800 to 4200. But mine is far from stock
Curious about your combo... what heads intake and carb are you running? 69 is a good year for the 400, mine is a 71 W7.
Tell Dick bob8748 sent ya

 

How much for the install kit? Also, does he have a price on the headers yet?

MILT

 

click the link and send him an e-mail. He is usually pretty quick to get back to you. Mine is a 71 412 going in 87 Camaro. Wish I could be more help but the engine is still sitting right behind me now.

 

Glad to see I'm not the only one with this insane idea. I have two 400's both '67 or about, I'm at work now I can get casting numbers later. One engine unfortunately has a hole in cylinder, badly burnt rod journal, busted rods pistons and cam. Someone evidently didn't do a good job building it. The cam appeared to be unused (no wear) as does the heads, valves have very little carbon. The other engine was running when it was pulled by a friend. I plan on going though it myself. The blown engine came with a TH350. I also have a 12 bolt posi from a 67 Le Mans.
I'planning on putting this in my 91RS. It has a 6cyl with 700r4.
I want it to be street and strip.
I've been searching for some one to share in the misery, misery loves company.

stop the maddness!:rockon:

 

I also have a 400 that i'm waiting to put in my 89 iroc. mine is a sbc though. Are there not many people out there with 400's in there camaros? Mine is in an early 70's impalla. Its good to know of someone that has done it.
Ryan

 

Chickenhearted
67 was the year of change I believe. Parts from 67 and up all interchange, parts from 66 and earlier are different. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. Mine have always been '70 models. Let me know your casting numbers. Still curious about what everyone is running as far as heads, cam, intake... etc. I was wanting a th400 but my donor came with the th 350. The th400 is practically bullit proof from the factory, but I decided to stick with the 350. Lighter weight and better gearing. I'll just spend a little to make it stonger. The 400 can be made a great top end motor, the bottom end torque is already there. Mine is a little more radical than most but I can try to help with different combos if you have any questions.

 

Well I've got my casting numbers, going by Chilton's I tried figuring out what I have.
The blown engine is 29L74956 PWH, some of the numbers are hard to read but I'm sure of WH which means it's 421 with ramIV heads ,or at least I think... On the heads are stamped K187 and K147. Can't find anywhere to reference those numbers.
The good engine is 0834933 YU, The first number doesn't match Chilton's scheme but YU is a 69' 70' 350 the heads are F169 and F199.
I'd like to get the most bang for my bucks using what I have.
I'm thinking the 400 heads on the 350 block. They seem to fit.
Any suggestions?

 

Blown engine... 79 Firebird W-72 400/4bbl/ 4 speed
Replacement engine... 69/70 LeMans, Firebird 350/2bbl/automatic

Not sure of the heads, they will interchange but keep an eye on piston to valve clearance.

 

didnt find out I was looking for, valve size... cc's. but the 79 400 heads are a better choice.

 

Dont the 79 400 heads have small valves and big chambers compared to some earlier 400 heads with huge 2.11 in. 1.77 ex. valves and 72 cc smaller chambers?

 

The '79 400 heads (6X-8) still had big valves (2.11 in + 1.66 ex valves, '72 and earlier had the 1.77 ex valves), but your correct about the chamber size the '79 400ci 6X heads had huge 101cc chambers and are best left for 455's or 461 stroker build-ups. If you want to use 6X heads on a 400 ( 6X heads are some of the best flowing D-ports out there plus they have alot of meat in the exhaust ports and enough in the intake ports for porting) then go with the 350 6X-4 heads with 91cc chambers (some 400s even came with 6X-4s but mostly just 350's).BTW the #'s 4 and 8 that I have typed after the # 6X is stamped onto the A/C boss on each head and is the easiest way of telling wich chamber size you have. 4=91cc 8=101cc.

 

The numbers you gave (K187, K147, and F169, F199) are date codes and what they tell you is when the heads where cast.
K187= 11/18/1967
K147= 11/14/1967
F169= 6/16/1969
F199= 6/19/1969
Thease numbers won't tell you what motor the heads came on or if they're performance heads ,the numbers that will are the ones that are cast on the tops of the center ex. ports (i.e. the numbers 16, 62, 13, 12, R96A, 6X, 7K3, 4X, 48, 722, and 614 are just A FEW of the hi-perf pontiac heads out there) some times the casting number is a smaller number cast onto the far RH exhaust port(614 and 722 RA IV heads have this and so do old 389 heads, like 76, 77, 91, 92, and93s).

 

If i remember right, the early #46 castings were the best performance heads, but be careful if you find some! there were 2 different heads with the #46 casting number. One was a good performance head from the later '60s, the other was a smogger 7.6:1 compression 70's head. The early #46 had a smaller chamber and bigger valves. Also, the good heads were on the 400 and 428ci motors if i remember correctly.

 

I'm using the 6x4's. have them milled to 81cc for 9.5:1 compression and they have the screw in studs. of course you need to trash those 3/8 bottlenecks and put in the 7/16 BBC studs for adjustable valvetrain.