The Small block 400s that came in the late 70s model firebirds/trans ams...were they Pontiac motors or chevy? Did they come in the Camaro also? What other cars/trucks can they be found in?

When were they made? (77-79?)

There are some aftermarket blocks available...who makes some good ones that are stouter and more reliable than the originals? Costs? I see there is a crate engine in Summit for about 10 grand...hoped there might be a more economical solution I could adapt some sort of fuel injection to.

 

Actually they're Olds 403's. They aren't a small block or big block really.

 

The Smokey and the Bandit edition 400/4 speed was an Oldsmobile???

What vehicles did the small block chevy 400 come in, then?

 

I know for sure they came in 76 3/4 ton pickups and whatever other years they were made also (can't think right now). They may have also been in 1/2 tons, not sure. The originals were just fine, but there are some 4 bolt versions that may be better. We have built ours about 3 times now and its been around for about 15 years. I thought the 400 in 70's T.A.'s was a Pontiac big block 400 (some will call it a wideblock, but what ever). Hope this helps.

 

A very few late 70's Firebirds had the pontiac 400. 90% of them are 403's.

 

the 400 pontiac was used for power sence 68' the famous "6.6 Litre" was in the 77-79 T/A's and Formulas and was a true pontiac engine, camaro never got it, biggest engine avilible for them was a 350 (the 2nd gen was all pontiac with performance and styleing) the 403 olds was only put in the 77-79 "emmissions areas" pontiacs. in other words cars going to california and colorado and other high alitude areas. the 77-78's ALL had the 400 in the t/a's and formulas. and most had the 400's. in 79' with an option 301 for the year. the 90% of them have olds engines statement is false. the 400 chevy was only in a chevelle for i want to say only 70' and after that it was only avalible as an option on big boats and trucks. they 400P's are pretty common and were made from 68-79 and the 400 chevy was from 70-80 and most likly be found in heavy duty trucks.

 

I am interested in the idea of a 400 SBC for my 5 speed car.
I thought these came in the late 70's firebirds. Obviously I was incorrect. Now I am intrigued with the idea of putting a true Pontiac motor in my 5 speed car (3 are available in my area, though it is possible they are 403s - 79 firebirds).
Possible to adapt to my drivetrain and TPI or some form related?
The expense may shy me away, but I might be willing for the Pontiac purity.

 

Alot of misinformation in this one so far...

There were quite a few of the Olds 403-equipped Firebirds, and alot of Pontiac 400 ones too. I don't know the exact years and numbers, but i recall quite a few of each running around in those years. AFAIK there was never a Chevy small block 400 put into any Pontiac.

400 Chevy motors came in Impala & Caprice, Chevelle, and Monte Carlo from 71 to about 76. For the first couple of years the full-size cars had a "400" badge, which could have referred to either a 400 4-barrel which was actually a 402 big block (.030" over 396) or a 400 2-barrel which was a small block (also actually 402). They were easy to spot from the outside, the BBs had dual exhaust and the SBs had single exhaust. Those were the 4-bolt-main blocks, easily identifiable by having 3 freeze plugs in the side of the block rather than 2 like all other small blocks including the later 400s. From 73 up all the 400s are 2-bolt-main castings, which is said to be a better block. I personally have never had any particular trouble with either kind. In 73 & 74 alot of the more optioned-up A, B, and G bodies got the 400 SBC. They dropped the 402, and all BBs in cars from 73 on were 454s. I still have a 74 454 Caprice convertible to this day. My wife had a 74 Monte Carlo, the emissions sticker said "350/400"; it turned out to be a 400. I stuck a set of 186 heads on it, which woke it up considerably even with the 2-barrel carb... she used to prefer driving that car rather than the convertible because it was faster. I threw the 882s that came on it in the garbage.

They also came in trucks and vans from about 73 or 4 up to about 78. I have never had one of those so I don't know the details.

IMHO there is no compelling reason to stick a Pontiac motor in one of these cars, and many good ones (in the form of $$$ and weight) not to. The Pontiac motors can be made to run pretty good, but parts are more expensive and harder to find than for Chevrolet on average. Whatever heads comes on some 400 that's just laying around, like out of a Bonneville or a Firebird or something, are almost certainly going to be just as crappy as the ones on a 400 Chevy. A Pontiac motor and a Chevy small block have similar power output capability with typical aftermarket heads (Edelbrock for example) but there's a whole lot more to choose from for the Chevy. Plus, a Chevy 400 is all but a bolt-in to one of these cars, where the Pontiac motor is a total hassle in every way. Exhaust, accessories, etc. are all different; the starter is on the other side; the trans won't bolt up, etc.

The 400 I had in my 83 car for a long time is a 73 model 2-bolt one. I used a set of 186 "double-hump" heads with undercut valves and a little machine and port work. I put a solid cam, a Comp 282S, in it when I first built it. It lasted about 110,000 miles like that. Then I had a Comp XE274H in it for a while, now I have a Comp XR282HR roller cam in it. It's not in the car at the moment because I put the OE 305 back in it to get through CA smog inspection.

OBTW - there is no such thing as a Pontic or Olds or Buick "small block" or "big block". They're all big. There are "tall deck" and "short deck" versions of them, but the block is the same length, bore spacing etc.; the same cranks and cams go into them even. In the Pontiac product line, the 301 is the short deck, and the 326, 389, 400, & 455 are tall deck. In teh Olds line, the 307, 350, & 400 are short, and the 400 and 455 are tall.