Ok I am talking to a guy with a 400 for sale here is what he wrote to me:

it is a virgin 400 block. It has never been bored. You can make a 467 stroker by boring .060 over and using a 455 crank. The block is in excellent condition. The heads are Pontiac 4X with screw in studs. I have brand new Ferrera racing valves (stainless steel) they are 2.11 intake and 1.77 exhaust. The heads came with 1.66 exhaust valves, but with a little work, the 1.77's will fit. All your accesories will fit. Basically all Pontiac blocks from 326 to 455 are the same. The only difference is the small journals and large journals. Hence, Pontiac does not make a big block or small block. I also have A torker II intake with a 750 Edelbrock carb. The block needs pistons, rods, and crank, plus all the bolts. The main jornal bolts are on the block though. I am asking $250.00 for the block and $250.00 for the heads and $125.00 for the intake and carb. With the right pistons, rods, and crank you would be pushing around 500 horses.

What do you think good deal??

So my question is will my serpentine belt system work with this?? better to go aftermarket pulley system?
Should I buy a used carb??
Bolts right up to my stock auto tranny?
Can I use my existing wiring harness and just not hook up the computer and injection stuff?(i have the TBI 305)
Any other problems you guys can think of?
How much would you estimate it would cost for me to get this thing built with at least 400 horses??

I do have a posi rear end in my car, so I am thinking of building a nice turbo 400 in the future after the engine. And Painting the car and cosmetic stuff............but would like to get going with a engine this winter..........what you guys think about this??

Please be patient with me I am a V8 newbie.....LOL..........thanks Nick

 

OK first off I am going to say that youmight be getting in way over your head. Nothing from your old engine will work. Alright the alternator will but not much else. 3rd gens were never ment to have pontiac motors in them so anything you would have to do would be aftermarket. I believe indian adventures sells motor mounts and headers for the swap but it still is a big deal. Your transmission will not work with out an adapter but that is a moot point since the 400 would blow your tranny in to little pieces. Ditto for your rear end. You will need to get acessory brackets from something with a poncho motor - there isn't a non aftermarket serpientine setup. And what is the point of having a wireing hareness in there with nothing to hook up to it? I can't tell you anything about the prices though you would be better off cheacking out a pontiac site for that (3rd gens are all chevy powered so there aren't many ppl around here that know much about poncho motors). Anyway I hope I atleast pointed you in the right direction.

 

1. You never, ever, should bore any block .060 right off the bat, you loose all future opertunities to bore the block on rebuilds. Keep bore as is, or if you really feel the need for speed, go .030 over. Get the *NEW* 4.25 cranks madde, I think by Jim Butler Performance in Leoma TN (going by memory here), about $325. not a bad price. THis setup will get you slightly more thatn 455 cubes. You will need to get some chebby rods though to make up for the increased stroke, but you get to use .030 over 400 pistons & save $$$$

2. Check out this months issue of High Performance Pontiac, as they have a nice article on teh 4X heads. Should be right up your alley.

3. Are you going to be using this as a strictly drag car? if not, pass on teh Torker II, get a regular Edelbrock manifold, or depending on your intents, the RPM for street use. Edelbrock carb is fine.

4. March does make an aftermarket serpintine belt system, for about $1000

5. Yes, checkout the Indian adventures sight for the motor swap kits (brackets). They should also have, or reccomend hedders to fit the chassis. BTW, also in this months issue of HPP, they test the ***NEW**** Headman Poncho Shorty hedders.

6. Built TH-350, or at least warmed over w/the B-O-P pattern will do, or stock TH-400 w/same bolt pattern.

7. Get 75-80 non CC HEI distributor (cheap from junkyard), rebuild w/all new electronics & internals.

8. 400 horses, you might want to look into a smaller CC head. Look at Edelbrocks combos, Jim Butler, Jim Taylor, hell, just read the damn mag & research. Also, don't forget Mr. Man himself, Nunzi.

good luck :rockon:


p.s. do a search on this, at least 6 other threads covering this most rightous conversion

 

Thanks for the replies guys.....................Dont matter what I do I will be in over my head....... I will pick up that magizine you mentioned. Please dont discourage me on this............I really like the 400's and would love to have one in my 88 trans am.

So, a stock 400(or rebuilt to stock) would handle the 400 engine?
What with my posi rearend is not going to handle the power.

I want this to be a street car............but also a car to take to the drags and run some nice times.......12's???.......and someday maybe be a show car.

He also has another intake by edelbrock.........not sure which model...........have to find out.

Ya guys think it is nuts to have two projects at once..........my 85 GN and my 88 Trans Am........LOL

 

is it nuts to have 2 projects at once? only your wallet can answer that

but then, I'm taking out perfectly good running engine (except by **** e-check pukes) and putting in another engine that requires more wiring time than fitment time

btw, I have about 50 or more back issues of HPP mags if you need more info on actual street combos that have been done.

 

How bout building a small block 400 and save yourself time and money...

 

So is this big block 400 not worth the hassle? I like the idea of a big block and being able to stroke it out to 455ci........Money is no problem...............as I am in no hurry.:lala:


Is the deal the guy has worth it?? What should I buy off of him......I was thinking just the block and heads, but he did say he may give me a deal If I take it all off of his hands!! This car would probably be setup for racing(i keep changing my mind..LOL), but also want to drive it on the weekends, if I am not driving my GN.

Let me hear you opinion, If you had my car and a chance to buy this engine would you or not..................and the reasons for your decision............Just need some imput.........thanks a bunch guys.....Nick

 

Jim Butler Performance

Rock & Roll Engineering

Nunzi

Some car/engine combos to think about

 

I dont even know if a pontiac motor would work in a thirdgen. Have you ever seen how pontiac exhaust manifolds mount to the heads? I doubt it would clear the frame rails. Stroke a small block 400, or build a big block chevy 400, but stay away from pontiac stuff in a thirdgen.

 

Did you read thewhole post? Motor mounts and headers are manufactured for the swap. There are plenty of 3rd gens running around with poncho power just none on this board.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=81408

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=56182

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=56246

Good reading, should answer almost all your questions of putting a PONCHO motor in your thirdgen.

 

Well thanks a lot guys..........I have changed my mind on this engine.........I am going to pass it up.

My good buddy down in Iowa has some 350's sitting around and I will probably take one of them off his hands.......much easier and at this point in time cheaper. Maybe go bigger in the future..........till then.....Later

Nick