ok i know theirs a stick on this but most of the links dont work any more and could just use some quick help..... so here is the deal i have a 1970 pontiac catalina i know not a camaro or firebird but anyway someone plowed in to the the back of it at a redlight with a truck and its totaled.... i have a built pontiac 400 stroked to a 463 butler performance heads hydro rollers roller rockers the works..... has anyone done a resent pontiac swap that would know were i could get the stuff i would need like the mounts i would need to drop one of these engines in an f body... im looking for options in cars were i could keep my old engine and drop it in another car so a little help please...

 

I'm finishing my pontiac 400 swap right now actually. Motor mounts for me was a combination of yearone, autozone, and half inch steel. Your engine is a '70 mine was from a '74. I'm not sure when this change was made...I think '70 or '72. My block is set up with 3 bolts to hold the clam shell to the block. Depending on when the change happened you may only have 2 bolt holes. Either way here's a good place to start.
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...ain2.asp?cat=4
All the choices there have potential. I used the mounts from RW81 but made my own adapters so I could set the engine as far forward or backward as I wanted. If you're lucky you could find a TB389 kit on a 77-79 Trans Am with a 403 engine (good luck with that) as that kit is a replica of the ones used to outfit the 77-79 TAs with the 403 engine. I have one of those TAs and know that for a fact. Check ebay for 'em. you might get lucky. I took the stock frame mounts off, and got a set to mate up proper with the block mounts I had (meant for 77-79) then welded them in place. If you go that route make sure the engine is perfectly level before welding anything down. I ended up making just about everything for my sway myself. Tranny crossmember, torque arm mount, and had a 79 firebird driveshaft cut down to fit my application. This is a frusterating swap, but it's fun and worth it in the end. Let me know if you have any questions along the way.

 

The engine mounts that go on the engine need to be for 2nd gen firebird and the frame mounts for the Pontiac or Olds engine . The engine mounts from '69-'81 Pontiac engines all used the 3 bolt pattern . You can buy an adapter for the Pontiac engine to mate to a 700R4 or small block 5 or 6 speed trans for around $60 bucks .

 

The adapter to use the 700r4 is definatly the easiest way to go and I do recomend it. I wish that I would've. but by the time I made that decision I already had too much invested in my BOP turbo 350 not to use it.

 

so bad idea to use my TH-400...... i was hoping to find a nice 3rd gen already set up for a manual n use a 5 or 6 speed anyway this time.... i think it will be noticeably faster then my old car just because of weight difference 5400 pounds vs 3100-3200 how are hood clearance issues will i need a scoop or will i be able to hide it under their

 

the big problem is im trying to find one without an engine in it to save some money but no success so far iv found 2 4th gen's but it seems really unrealistic to put a pontiac engine in one of those cant find any info on it ever being done

 

You're gonna need a cowl hood. I can't even get the whole carb under my stock hood.

 

If you use the firebird engine mounts on the 400 it should fit under the hood with the stock intake and no spacer under the carb but if you want to change any of that you will need a cowl hood . If I was to do this and be wanting any room for future improvements I would get a cowl hood so I could put different intakes and carbs on and to help with heat removal from the engine compartment .

 

I lowered my engine about 2 inches than the stock 305, used the stock 400 intake and no spacer under the carb and I'm not close to getting it under my stock hood.

 

yea i have a torker 2 manifold and a 750 cfm carb on the engine right now so id probably need the hood

 

What engine side mounts did you use because I know of friends who have dropped in Olds and Pontiac engines using the Firebird engine side mounts and they fit under the stock hood but the air cleaner may have been for a Firebird without shaker hood . Just like a s-10 uses the same style air cleaner as the carbed 2.8 Camaro and Firebird but the 3rd Gen uses a shorter cleaner to fit under the hood .

 

The block mounts were from an olds 403 out of a 79 TA. 77-79 TAs with the 403 had the 2 bolt conversion brackets. And the frame mounts were OEM 79 TA. I'll get some pictures and post.

 

What air cleaner did you use ?

 

I've got a Holley carb with a K&N drop base 2 5/16" air cleaner.

 

I used a 71 pontiac 400 with 71 catalina engine mounts and the stock 88 firebird motor mounts. Worked the ***** and fit under my 2 1/2 inch cowl. What did u guys use for headers/manifolds........there's a guy near me that posted a car on craigslist that has a pontiac 400 in it and he said he used 77-81 firebird headers

 

I measured up for my exhaust but havn't put oit in yet. That'll be when it warmed up. I was just gonna get some header flanges and fab up my own since the rest of the exhaust is gonna be custom but from what I measured I think that I could fit some late 2nd gen headers down there. It'd be tight, but could work. We'll see when it warms up and I finish the project.

 

Ok I'm gonna try and find some cheap 2nd gen headers and try this