57 chevy motor swap.?

Question

is there somthing wrong with dropping a Pontiac motor into a chevy. Got some weird looks at the last cruise night when i mentioned it.

D.E.O.N. What are you talking about? Pontiac Produced some Great things in the late 50's/early 60's. For one they offered more torque and more cubes than chevy, Did better in NASCAR/NHRA, (chevy really had nothing on Mopar or ford in the late 60s) Offered Tri-power and Rochester Fuel Injection. And of coarse the GTO is considered by many to be the 1st muscle car. Compare a 64 GTO to a 64 Chevelle SS. The GTO had a 389 Tri-power. What did the chevelle have. a 327. (great motor but not enough to hang with the GTO.) And the SD Catalinas and Grand Prix of the early 60's gave the 409 some tough competion. From what I have Seen Oldsmobile and Cadillac had stronger blocks than chevy (more nickel content.) Pontiac is definatly not a Poser Muscle car. True the Chevy v8 is a great engine with a million ways to build for cheap. but you can only see so many 55-57 chevies with the old 350/350 combo before they all look the same. Thank you for taking the time to awnser my question.

Answer 1

There are some people who think that the only motor you should put in that car is a Chevy motor. They gave you strange looks because they think it is a bad idea.

A Pontiac drivetrain can fit in your car, as a matter of fact I have seen a 57 Chevy with a 351 Cleveland (Ford) motor and transmission installed. It all depends on what you want, and your goals for the car. If you want to have a show car, stay with a Chevy motor. If you want a fun cruiser, the only one you have to worry about liking the car is you!!! The "wrong" motor may cause a drop in the resale value, it that is a concern to you!

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

Your comment is true- "but you can only see so many 55-57 chevies with the old 350/350 combo before they all look the same.". But there is still something about a true Chevy engine in a Chevy car. Now depending on what you are going after would be the decision maker. Obviously your not going STOCK. Are your going after a street fighter muscle car, pro street, or just a weekend cruiser. Myself would love to see the stock engine in a beauty like the 57 Chevy belair but I have also seen some beautiful sleepers to using a huge 427. To be totally honest- I would have given you a strange look too mentioning a Pontiac engine in a Chevy. The aftermarket parts available for the Chevy engine are countless and there are ways to make a 350 or larger really stand out. But your right when it comes to the Pontiac engine. Not only Nascar but look at the classic Pontiac legacy (My personal favorites) -'67-'69,& '72 Firebird, Trans Am(Long live the Bandit), '64-'69 GTO, '73 Grand Am.~I say GO FOR IT !!! - There will likely be some modifications needed to make everything fit but It will be well worth it. Just be warned that you will get a few odd looks but rest asure that there will be those who know more about the Pontiac engine will give up a big thumbs up!!

Answer 3

Chevy always had the better motors..sure, the Pontiac had the 400 and 455 cid V-8 but the 350 and 454 were more powerful once tuned up....
come on, man; i know that Pontiac and Chevy are both GM products but Chevy has always been leader in racing and street performance...you're driving one of the most reverred machines in the Chevy arsenal...you could stick a 350 from a 85 Camaro in there and be straight...Think about it, besides the Goat...Pontiac is mainly for the looks...it's a poser muscle car...the real performers for GM have always been the Camaros and Chevelles...even the Monte Carlos dominated the race world...Chevy has so many engines to chose from ...the 396, 427, 454, and 502 could fit in that crate...but all you need is a 350...if you can find one...a 409....that is kind of like a unwritten rule, you can drop a chevy engine in a ford but you can't drop anything in a Chevy but a Chevy engine..the exception is a 540...that is a Aftermarket product...I've heard of people dropping Chevy engines in Pontiacs especially the 70's lame duck mobiles but a Pontiac engine in a Chevy...blasphermy...what kind of Chevy Man are you?

Answer 4

Understand this from a die hard Poncho fan:
What was done with rhe Pont v-8 from 287-455 was engineering. Best tourque for a street engine too. Unfortunatley, with production stopping in 1978(79 t/a with a 400 were engines built in 78) I feel factory development stopped with the 73 SD 455. The head design is handicapped, as is the bore size compared with a BBC. Still, the aftermarket parts for Pontiac engines are more available now than ever...and it is justice to swap it.

Answer 5

Both engines are made by G M I had a 58 GMC cameo pickup that had a 389 GTO 3 duce setup and a Cadilac Auto Trans. needless to say I won alot of races. They put a lot of 350 chev small block engines in Ford body Hot Rods . So if your not restoring back to Original I say go for it!

Answer 6

If you ask me, it's fair payback for the guys who stuff smallblock Chevy V8's into everything from Pontiacs to Chrysler products.

Answer 7

The '57 engine bay is HUGE -- you could probably fit a V10 Viper engine if you got creative. Anyway, why would you give a rats-@ss what anyone else thinks? Go for it...

Answer 8

Why would you want to drop a pontiac into your chevy? Pound for pound, you'll get better performance from chevy engines, and you don't have to modify anything, such as the motor mounts and drivetrain, and you don't have to use a pontiac transmission.

Answer 9

Purists(snobs) want only chevy engines in chevys.....hot rodding is about individuality.....if you want a pontiac engine , then go for it.

Answer 10

Nothing wrong with that, be yourself! If it was mine, I would put a 460 Ford in it.