Motor swap advice

Shawn · Veteran Member

Motor swap advice

2plus2 · Veteran Member

4.8/4L60e from a 99+ chev truck,with stand alone harness,PCM reflash,fuel pump,shouldn't be more then $1500 if you shop around

or

chev 292 straight six with dual webers,headers,cam and a T56

-- Edited by 2plus2 on Monday 2nd of March 2015 07:51:12 PM

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Shawn, no no no............ do not do it, please keep that sweet inline flat head where it belongs. Ok if you have to pull it, then replace it with a souped up 261, 235 or a bigger GMC inline. Here is a sample of a souped up inline six, now imagine that in your dream machine.

Shawn · Veteran Member

Ok my next question ,, what's it going to take to take the original motor to the next level..I know it's not a rod but shit,,,, I couldn't get a speeding ticket in this car in a school zone if I tried..lol

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

not much out there for your 239 if you upgrade you will need to install a newer rear end to eliminate your tork tube......

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

[IMG] [IMG]

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Shawn wrote:
Ok my next question ,, what's it going to take to take the original motor to the next level..I know it's not a rod but shit,,,, I couldn't get a speeding ticket in this car in a school zone if I tried..lol

Finding the original speed equipment for that engine is possible but you are going to have to look in the U.S.A. and it will not be cheap. Multiple carb manifolds, split exhaust manifolds, hotter camshafts and high compression aluminum cylinder heads were made for that 239 Flat head. It is just finding them that is going to be tricky. Like Tim said you are going to have to get rid of the whole drive line because of the torque tube set up, if you want to use a different motor. Now it starts getting expensive when you are replacing everything (motor, tranny, driveshaft, differential on and on and on. No matter how you look at it, it will not be cheap. If you can do all your own work and you can access some cheap Chevrolet parts, then a small block Chev V-8, GM automatic, open drive shaft and a GM rear diff is the way to go. Kind of a shame when your car is so original. Good luck with the project no matter what you decide. Cheers. George.

-- Edited by long stroke on Monday 2nd of March 2015 10:26:41 PM

hwscowboy · Guru

The easiest swap is probably a 350 chev,auto trans swap.All the motor mounts can be bought from multiple vendors.You wil have to swap in a newer rear diff and eliminate the torque tube.Again all the parts are easy to find and a few choices or rearends to be found.But why,there are a thousand out there that have been done like that,boring as hell to look at,yay another 350,woohoo!Sure the 239 isn't a tire screechin beast,it was never meant to be,these cars were never meant to be driven like that.They were made to drive a few hours stop for lunch,drive a few more stop again,see the sights.Not for getting in an going as fast from point a to b as fast as we can without stopping like everyone does now.I've had mine up to 130kmh and its a locomotive,takes a bit to get there but it will run all day like that.I get lots of compliments for keeping mine original,239,powerglide auto,6 volt system,it would be a shame to ruin such a nice example.If you want a hot rod,find an old 2 door with no motor and build a nice 400 or 455 for it.I did see one fellow in bc that had a 54 chevy,with a twin turbo'd 383 stroker,built by nelson racing,1200hp but totally stock looking on the outside and it was very cool.

Beaumont4008 · Uber Guru

55 to 57 Chevy diff bolts in with almost no mods . You just have to drill new pin holes on the mounting pads to center the diff in the wheel wells. Very easy. 55 to 57 fender exit headers also fit no problem with a small block swap.I have seen chevelle manifolds also work. I made my own frame side mounts but after market mounts are available. Just a small steel plate was used to extend from the stock trany crossmember to the trany mount. I used the stock rad. I did this in a 53 Belair but should be the same in your 53 Pontiac. I used a 365 hp vette 327 and a four speed. Auto would make for an easy instulation.

Couple of old pics of my belair.

-- Edited by Beaumont4008 on Tuesday 3rd of March 2015 01:23:44 PM

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I agree with Brian (hwscowboy). It would be easier and cheaper in the long run to just sell your car to a purist and find an already hopped up version of your car. For one thing it is a four door and i always thought four doors looked odd as modified cars and this is coming from a guy who loves four doors. A hopped up vintage car should really be a two door and the four doors look far better left stock. I realize each to his own and it is your car and all that other stuff but you should also look at it from a cost perspective. What kind of money are you prepared to put into this car when you consider all the many modifications you have to do and if you can not do it yourself, well there is another ton of money. Keep her original because once you do a bunch of mods to it, i doubt it will have much resale value. Right now she is an original survivor and in my opinion she should stay that way. Cheers. George.

Fitz · Guru

To me, (I'm a purist) don't get rig of your drivetrain. Keep it stock. Your Pontiac look very good. Your car is a 3 manual speed version? the best thing to do and the cheapest is to replace the rear end by a PowerGlide one. The ration is taller, and will get to you at a highway speed confortably. Mine, is a PG and it was keeping the 70-75 MPH really well. I know the 3 speed car are difficult to keep at that speed. Another mod (cheap) is to replace the head by a PowerGlide car, the PG has higher compression ratio.

Or, find a PG car, and replace those parts to put it automatic with original Pontiac parts (or Chevrolet for most of them).

Just my tought.

Fitz.

PS: if you need a shop let me know, if you want to get rig of your engine and tranny let me know again...

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Shawn, listen to what Andre (FITZ) just told you, all excellent words of advise.

Shawn · Veteran Member

Thank you ... Advise taken ,,if I'm going to spend $$$$$$ I mite as well sell this car and find the one with the set up I want....

10/4 loud and clear ...

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Shawn, now your 'cookin" good advice on moving on to a more desirable car, More doors are OK for a stock vehicle [ if your into that] but have seen a few More doors "fur sale" here in Ont. {the scandal province of Canada] that have been Modified with V8's & most are still for sale!!! Too much $$$ for what's the cars worth, & no market. Pete

bzbaz63 · Addicted!

I have a 1994 Buick Roadmaster LT1 350 MPFI / 4L60E
complete running car for sale
the mileage is high but it runs excellent
The transmission has less than 10,000 km since complete overhaul.

1750.00 obo

you can even road test it

MickyG · Veteran Member

Here's what i did on my 51 Fleetline and i think it's the same width as your car.

95+ Mustang diff Fits perfectly with Crown Victoria 15 inch wheels ( Same wheels as a newer 5 stud Corolla) and you'll now have Disc Brake in the back(200-300$ )
S-10 driveshaft with Ford diff adapter machined to fit (400$)
700R4 Transmision (500$)
305ci engine from a old pick-up truck (500$)
you can build the engine mount yourself or buy a conversion kit for cheap ( less than 200$ )

All in all ... you're looking at around 2500$ with carburator and everything ... and about 100 hours of work .

Good luck on your project !! :)

MickyG · Veteran Member

But .... like they all said ... I think you're better off finding a car with no motor or a ungoing project you can finish than choping up your car .
A four door will be worth less after those modification .