Hey guys. After 10 minutes of thinking I couldn't come up with a sentence to start myself off with, so bear with me.

At first it started off I was going to build up my lil' 305 (only 78k mi. now). Got the engine out and tore it down, ready to start my rebuild. That fell through when I found a guy selling a 69' Pontiac 400. I scooped it up for $600.

Now I have a torn apart 305, and the 400 is on my stand. The 400 supposedly just needs lifters and an oil pump....and a carb. I want to tear that motor down as well so I can repaint it and such .

What I'm torn between is what to do with them. I don't think there's any way to sell the 305 in pieces and I need the space to work with the 400. PLEASE, do any of you think I should put $ into the 305 to get it back together and running? I'd have the TA to drive around until I find a buyer, and I'd have space for the 400.

OR, scrap the 305 and just put the $ into the 400?

These engines have been sitting for about 2 months and IT'S KILLING ME!! Also, sorry for the story.

-Ryan

 

i love the idea, but it's up to you when it comes to new mounts, headers/manifold, bellhousing or adapter, different driveshaft I think, and the torque from the 400 might burn out the trans real quick.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...-v8-swaps.html

 

I vote scrap the 305 and put your money into the 400

 

yeah, I've been looking into all the upgrades I'm going to need to make it work. i'm still reading through the V8 swap thread. for now, I'm going to try and have it work with stock transmission and the rest of the rear end. Just going to go with the adapter plate to work with the 700R4, as well as a new torque converter.

also still researching if I'll actually need new motor mounts(?) somewhere in the Pontiac thread was a post that I might not need them, but it would leave the engine too high for a stock hood.

like I said, still reading up. Thanks guys. the 305 is no more.

 

Good luck with your project, be sure to post some updates.

 

I've been asking my friend for some input, he does a lot of his own engine work as well. He suggested, for replacing the lifters, that I go with solid lifters.(?). Is there a benefit to solid over hydraulic, and will that mean I will have to replace the cam that came in the engine? I don't know cam brand or specs. (any way to find out?)

EDIT: There are solid, hydraulic, and roller?

If I have to go with a new cam, anyone have any suggestions to cam and lifter kits??

I'm shooting for around a 400 horse engine. (1:1 on cubic inches, haha)

Thanks,
Ryan

 

There are solid flat lifters, hydraulic flat lifters, roller solid lifters, and roller hydraulic lifters. Each has to have a cam designed for that specific type of lifter.

For a 1:1 HP/cube engine, there's no reason for using solid lifters.

 

Yep.

Also maybe turn a profit with the pontiac and.. :

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...ine/index.html

 

OK, so here's a little update. Ordered a CompCams kit from summit: all matched Cam, lifters, valve springs/retainers/locks/seals, and timing chain. .

Had a friend take my oil pan to work and re-finish it, just have to paint it. Still needs an oil pump. Looked up the #'s on the supposedly bad one; it was a Melling M-54D, stock replacement I think. Just grab another one of these(?).

Took a look at the bearings on the crank; looking good. Nothing really seems to be out of order.

Gonna' give the heads to a local S&K to install the springs and such. Any other headwork suggested?

All that's left is a Torque Converter.... I think...

A few other things I wanted to clear up as well. First and foremost, I've been through the Pontiac swap thread a bunch of times and either I'm not looking hard enough or something, but is there a section on what wiring can be pulled out/kept in??

The other thing is mounts. I read that it would be a good idea to get the Indian Adventure block and frame mounts to keep the engine sitting right? @ pontiacgroup.com they are part# 10776 and 10292, correct??

Thanks a lot guys, you're all great
-Ryan

 

well, was tinkering with the engine again. found something i hadn't seen before. rotated the pistons a bit and found some scoring in the #2 cyl.
going to have to bring the block somewhere to be bored, or at least honed.

 

yeah, bracket p/n's look good.

also *** good find on the brackets & headers to fit the third gens ***


those brackets remind me of teh ones I had made up for my 3800 swap a few yrs back https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...-brackets.html


edit: what heads are you putting on it?

 

ok, cool. at least I know I'll be getting the right brackets now. And yeah, they do look pretty similar.

As for the heads, I'm gonna' stick with the heads that came on it: a pair of 670's. It looks as though they had been worked on before, it looks like they were painted (for better oil flow is it?), i don't know if any other work was done.

I'm going to have them worked on again anyway. What I'm going to have done? still thinking, haha.

 

I know I havn't posted anything in a while, but it figures since much hasn't been going on with the swap. Holidays are coming up though

Anyway, looked up the intake that was on it - an Edelbrock Performer RPM, and started looking around for a carburetor to match up.

I'm pretty set right now on an Edelbrock Performer series, 750 cfm., manual choke.

Edelbrock recommends a Performer or Thunder series carb.
Any suggestions? Pros. Cons. on edelbrock stuff?

If that sounds good, I'll pretty much order the 750 real soon.

Thanks a lot,
Ryan.

 

indian adventure closed down so motor mounts are not available to install your 400 to correct hieght under hood im waiting to do my swap until i find some any help with this would be greatly appreciated