Pontiac vs Chevy....open minded opinions wanted
Tyrone Hall
condition, could be a 2 with a little work. Anyways, it has the original
Pontiac 350 in it. The motor only has 75k (original) and runs smooth, but it
really lacks in the performance department. I'm torn as to exactly how to go
about getting more performance in to it. Do I spend my money on hoping up
the 350? Do I upgrade to a different Pontiac motor (400, 455)? Or do I go
out and get a Chevy motor and take advantage of the low prices for Chevy
components? I'm looking at the Chevy 350 or 427. So here's the question,
what are the pro's and con's of each? I don't have a background with GM
product's so I need to rely on the knowledge of others. What are the strong
points of each?
Any help is appreciated.
Ty
WPiersol
Well Ty, If your wanting performance and not worried about put a Chevy
drivetrain in a Pontiac body then a SB Chevy is the way to go. A 350 SB Chevy
is the cheap motor to build. But you can build other SB Chevy motors very
strong on a budget. If it was me, I would build either a 383 or 406 both with a
5.7 rod.
WPiersol
Bigbird
that in one fell swoop you remove all value from your car.
I'd build the Poncho 350. It's a strong motor. I should
know; that's what I run.
Sure it's more expensive, but the results are worth it.
Pontiac engines have a longer stroke, and make much more
torque than their smaller Chev cousins.
Have fun!
BB
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MkM430
by, if i was you i would go for the chevy 350 few hundred will get you over
350hp
MkM430
Joe Bloggs
MkM430 <mkm...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19990811100233...@ng-cp1.aol.com>...
Joe Sez:
It's been my experience that the tall deck 427's aren't too hard to
come by. You find them in larger old trucks and school buses. Just buy
the intake manifold spacers and you can build em as big as you want.
Joe
>
Bigbird
one or another"
True, but then your car is in pieces. I was just at a car
show. The guy beside me had a nice 69 Bird with a Chev 327.
No one cared whether he had the Poncho block at home (he
didn't). Some of the comments ranged from mild amusement to
outright disdain.
I'm not a Pontiac fanatic, but I figure that if you want to
run a Chevy, run a Chevy. IMHO you're protecting yourself in
the long run.
L8R
m-cooper
between small block and big block cost wise.
Tyrone Hall wrote in message ...
Bird Of Fire
in 1985 with 40,000 miles on it and that thing has more torque than the
Queen Mary. Now if the original owner had dropped a Chevy motor in it I
never would've bought it. Pontiac 455's can be had at junkyards for a dime a
dozen. Even the 350 Pontiac is receptive to change, just depends on what you
do to it, and yes it will cost you a little more than hopping up a chevy
motor would, but at least you'll have an original motor. Here's what I would
do if I had your motor. Assuming you probably have a 2 barrel carb/cast iron
intake combo, switch to a hi-rise dual plane aluminum intake manifold with a
4 barrel carb of your preference. The most power in any motor is dependant
upon 2 things - camshaft selection and heads. The edelbrock RAIV heads are a
bit pricey but well worth the dough from what I've seen them do With the
right cam these heads can make over 100+ horsepower over what you have right
now. As far as camshaft selection, talk to anybody from Summit or Jegs with
what your kind of daily driving will be and they can select a grind in stock
for you. If you choose all out with the heads and a radical cam, you might
as well get the damned thing rebuilt. Rebuild prices aren't too far over a
350 chevy and if you just yank the original 350 and plunk down a 455,
well......be prepared to buy plenty of new back tires. And hell I've even
seen 428's at the boneyard before for 100-150 bucks. So if you just drop
down a chevy engine into a second gen firebird that has the original motor,
you might as well just sell the damn car, and buy a nova or chevelle with a
350 chevy block and be like everybody else.
p.s. - If you don't believe me, go to http://www.pontiacpower.com/ and ask
Bruce Fulper on what you should do. He'll make a believer out of you.
Tyrone Hall <ty_...@email.msn.com> wrote in message
news:uSzEVK$4#GA.109@cpmsnbbsa03...
Joe Bloggs
Bird Of Fire <ph...@rglobal.net> wrote in article
<rr3enf...@corp.supernews.com>...
> I have a 1967 pontiac Firebird with a 400 built by H-O racing clear
back
> in 1985 with 40,000 miles on it and that thing has more torque than the
> Queen Mary.
Joe Sez: Amen. I run a built 428 in my 67 bird. Over the years it has
blown away chevies, small blocks as well as big blocks. A stock 400
firebird can turn 12's. Those big Pontiac V-8's make incredible power with
very little modification and are nearly bullet proof to boot.
Joe
Mike T Ereon
Tyrone Hall wrote in message ...
>condition, could be a 2 with a little work. Anyways, it has the original
>Pontiac 350 in it. The motor only has 75k (original) and runs smooth, but
it
>really lacks in the performance department. I'm torn as to exactly how to
go
>about getting more performance in to it. Do I spend my money on hoping up
>the 350? Do I upgrade to a different Pontiac motor (400, 455)? Or do I go
>out and get a Chevy motor and take advantage of the low prices for Chevy
>components? I'm looking at the Chevy 350 or 427. So here's the question,
>what are the pro's and con's of each? I don't have a background with GM
>product's so I need to rely on the knowledge of others. What are the strong
>points of each?
Overbore the Pontiac 455 to 501?? cubic inches, install 301 badges, and
enjoy yourself
-or-
Install the same old Chevy 350 with a Holley and Performer Intake, install
SS badges somewhere, and follow the herd
You make the call. Seriously, Id like to see more Pontiac engine build ups
cause I said so.
GrandPrixMike
JimE
>Here's the scoop. I recently purchased a 1970 Firebird. It's in strong 3
>condition, could be a 2 with a little work. Anyways, it has the original
>Pontiac 350 in it. The motor only has 75k (original) and runs smooth, but it
>really lacks in the performance department. I'm torn as to exactly how to go
>about getting more performance in to it. Do I spend my money on hoping up
>the 350? Do I upgrade to a different Pontiac motor (400, 455)? Or do I go
>out and get a Chevy motor and take advantage of the low prices for Chevy
>components? I'm looking at the Chevy 350 or 427. So here's the question,
>what are the pro's and con's of each? I don't have a background with GM
>product's so I need to rely on the knowledge of others. What are the strong
>points of each?
Ty,
Personally, I'd build up a real Pontiac motor for the car. I had a
1977 firebird which came with a 305 chevy in it. My father and I
removed that motor (and the TH350) and installed a 400 pontiac and a
TH400 in there (then later a few 455's went in, but that's a longer
story). If you convert to a chevy motor, you will have to change the
transmission because the bolt patterns are different. Chevy engines
are a dime a dozen, but Pontiac engines have character. Although a
chevy would be cheaper to build, a good 400 or 455 torque monster can
be built for a decent price.
I loved the torque of my 455's, but if I had to do it again, I
might go with a higher-revving 400. I'd build a stout bottom end,
slap on a pair of edelbrock aluminum heads, and put a holley
projection unit on top. Then again, I now have an 95 Trans-Am, and
it's small 350 is just as fast as my 455 was, so who knows....
JimE jrevans at netcarrier do-t com
Tricky
or 455. You can also take a 400 and convert it to 455. The great thing about
Pontiac engines is that the vast majority of them use the same parts...same
engine mounts, block (basically), etc. If you look in any Jeg's or Summit
Racing Equipment catalog you'll notice that Pontiac 326-455 engines use mostly
the same parts. I think its better to stay with the Pontiac engine, mainly for
originality. The Chevy engines are fine, but if you can stay with the original
engine manufacturer it simplifies everything.
Tricky
'78 Firebird Esprit 350 (Daily driver, 109K original)
'76 Capri II Ghia (Was daily driver, currently on life support LOL)
http://members.aol.com/tricky4707/garage.html
CJB
ORIGINAL motor? If you change it, you are just making it another car. A 350 and
400 have the same block, with a different stroke? (or bore then) And, the
Pontiac 350 can be built up pretty fast. Again, it depends on what you are going
to do. If you want to build a motor, a Chevy 350 is cheaper. But, like the guy
said, you'll need a different trans. I'd build up what you have, maybe put a cam
or headers on it. I have a 400 w/ a small cam, Performer intake and carb, and it
hauls ass. I can get rubber in second if I shift it by hand or let the (auto)
trans shift at it's point.
If you want to keep it original. Build up the motor, and maybe put a carb or
headers on it. Then you can take it off easily to go back to stock. W/ the cam,
you'll have a bit of work.