[tom s]

Steve,the first 57-58 crank I got for Kaase was cast,he then found a forged one local.I have 2 in my motors that are forged.Tom

[Jack Gifford]

Thanks, Steve, for confirming my recollection of the 389 crank flange interference with the Dual-Range flywheel. Yeah, you could just hand grind it. Back when I had free access to flight-line machine shops, I chose to be more elegant and turn a chamfer onto it.

I'm also surprised at the lack of the rib by the pan rail of the block. I had a couple '55 engines an awfully long time ago, and honestly don't remember about the rib.

Here's my understanding of forged cranks-
'55- none.
'56- some. Some member (H.I.S.?) once posted old Pontiac literature that described Pontiac's in-field testing of forged vs. cast cranks in '56. The quantity of forged cranks was mentioned- 20,000+ maybe?
'57- apparently some. I haven't had a forged '57 crank, but some people say that they have.
'58- all, to the best of my knowledge.

[BruceWilkie]

Excellent post. I am curious too why the 58 head had extra water holes but no extras in the block. Was Pontiac debating a change at that point? Any 59 or newer heads/blocks with those extra holes? I'm going to try flowing water across 6x heads with a 59 pump/cover on my 59 block. the 6x's lack room for the distribution tubes so I plan to run a line from the rear of each head to the front crossover. (I may just need those three extra holes in both block and heads and possibly restrict the water holes at the front crossover for this to work) The guys with E heads on newer blocks are running lines from the back of the heads to the crossover with most noticing a temp decrease but they are flowing water to the block first.

[Steve Barcak]

I had some time today to play with the 287 a bit. Here are some facts in this 287- arma steel crank, no strengthening rib on block, no extra cooling hole above the middle head bolt on the lower row.
I did put a fel pro 8518 head gasket on this engine and everything aligns up just fine.
Did you hear me out there Axle?

Here are some pics from today.

Steve Barcak www.pontiacheaven.org

"Real Pontiacs only...no corporate nonsense!"

[blase]

I know Im off on the topic years.. but just a question.. I was offered a turbo hydramatic 400 trans from a 70 catalina. will that fit my 1960 catalina.??thanks

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by blase

I know Im off on the topic years.. but just a question.. I was offered a turbo hydramatic 400 trans from a 70 catalina. will that fit my 1960 catalina.??thanks

You can get an adapter plate from Wilcap or Bendtsen's that will mate the 1970 transmission to your 1960 engine, but it won't bolt in there all by itself. Modifications to the transmission crossmember mount and probably the driveshaft would be required as well.

[Vagrant]

I've been following this topic for a little while and I'm curious if any of you know what interchanges on the top end? I have a 58 starchief with the stock 370 and ideally, I'd like to swap in an HEI distributor but there's clearance issues with the stock intake. Sometimes I'll find intakes listed on ebay , noted as they fit years 55-60 or 55-64. Something like that. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

[Bill Hanlon]

An HEI fits just fine with my '56 4 barrel manifold.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by Vagrant

... HEI distributor... clearance issues with the stock intake...

Stock Tri-Power? How about the "small cap" HEI?

[Vagrant]

Pontiac Jack, I just have the single 4 barrel intake. I haven't actually tried installing an HEI. The measurements aren't really encouraging. About the small body HEI, as in MSD I'm assuming is what you mean, according to summit racing , the msd small body HEI won't fit my 370. I've tried to contact some local speed shops to see about just "sizing up" something that would work and NO ONE has any sort of performance Pontiac parts in stock, just Chevy and Ford. (go figure )

Bill, what brand of HEI are you using? I'm assuming you have the stock 56 motor?

[Bill Hanlon]

I have a '57 engine with a '56 Pontiac cast iron four barrel manifold. I removed the HEI myself from a '77 400" Pontiac in a local automotive parts recycling yard. Fit to the intake manifold was not a problem. The throttle linkage came REAL CLOSE to the side of the distributor cap. So close that I cheated the "stock" alignment of the distributor gear one tooth so the cap's screw towers wouldn't hit the linkage.

My "Pontiac" is a '57 GMC truck that came from the factory with a Pontiac 347 V8. The carb is an Edelbrock AFB knock-off, which is wider than a WCFB or 4GC. That helps to move the linkage away from the HEI cap. I don't know if the throttle linkage mounts to the manifold the same on the Pontiac car as it does on my truck.

"Your mileage may vary."

[Pontirag]

Its a little off the topic but I just pulled a dual range hydro out of a 60 GMC with a 305 v6 in it. Relevent none the less because its going in my own 57 GMC 102 De Luxe with a 347 pontiac V8. They stopped installing the dual range hydro's in trucks in '62. Mine is low miles but the inner throttle lever spine stripped. Otherwise pristine inside. Lot and Lots of bolts and they are all fine thread! oh and she is heavy!

Keep the info rolling!!!!

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by Vagrant

... according to summit racing , the msd small body HEI won't fit my 370...

In general, any Pontiac V8 distributor will swap for any other (excepting 455SD and maybe 301/265?). You'd probably need to tailor the advance curve to your engine's needs, but that's usually true with any aftermarket distributor. I suggest you talk to Scott Esterle at Summit- he's 'Pontiac' and a member of these forums.

[Vagrant]

Thanks guys. You all are giving me a better perspective on upgrading my land yacht!
The next thing I've been researching (mainly through a huge collection of ebay auction photos) is figuring out if any aftermarket intakes would fit my 370. Anyone know ?

[Bill Hanlon]

EP4B will fit.

[Jack Gifford]

Old aftermarket 6-2 bbl log manifolds pop up on eBay every now and then. Or try Belmont's Rod & Custom in Massachusetts.

[Pontirag]

301 wil fit too.

[stevep]

Originally Posted by pontiac jack

Old aftermarket 6-2 bbl log manifolds pop up on eBay every now and then. Or try Belmont's Rod & Custom in Massachusetts.

Billy Belmont's # is 781-326-9599.

[Vagrant]

You guys are great! Thanks again. I'm so glad I joined this forum. I'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress with this.
On a side note , I think I saw some pics of those log manifolds on another forum I go to. Pretty cool .

[Steve Barcak]

The '77-'81 265 and 301 HEIs are the same dimensionally as other standard deck Pontiac V-8s so they are interchangeable. Some or all of the later models ( '80-'81 ), do not have a vacumn advance, but it fits.

Steve Barcak www.pontiacheaven.org

"Real Pontiacs only...no corporate nonsense!"