Pontiac crate motor search

[bills cat]

Does anyone know of a company that has a 389 crate motor. I can find 400, 455 & 350 pontiacs all day.

Is it true that the 389 was only made up to 1966?

[bills cat]

Does anyone know of a company that has a 389 crate motor. I can find 400, 455 & 350 pontiacs all day.

Is it true that the 389 was only made up to 1966?

[Mr. P-Body]

Yes, 389 was discontinued in late '66.

A true "crate" motor does not exist for Pontiac V8s. There are shops that will certainly ship a rebuilt engine to you in a crate. In today's vernacular, "crate motor" means a NEW engine from a manufacturer, not a rebuilt or remanufactured engine. For the Pontiac, there simply aren't any. This is because it has been out of production for over 25 years, and the tooling is long gone.
What is your goal for the 389? A custom-built engine by a competent shop will ALWAYS outperform, and usually outlive a reman. Often by a wide margin.

[bills cat]

My 389 only has 104k original miles on it. It runs strong but I am in the process of restoring a 1966 Catalina conv. Since I am pulling the motor and transmission, I will be putting a manifold, carb, etc on and was going to go thru it while it was out. Now since there are no crates to be had, I will just build the one I have (if it needs building). I will have to redo the heads for unleaded.

The turnkey engine was going to be faster because I like to drive the car. I was thinking about putting another motor in while this one was being rebuilt but don't have the money for both.

Guess the ol girl will set for awhile.

[Steve O]

Just curious...are you the original owner? Do you know for a fact that its the original engine and that its never been rebuilt before?

[bills cat]

I am the second owner and know for a fact it is the original 389 2bbl with 103k original miles.

[connman]

why rebuild it with only 103 thous miles just put a steel timing chain in it and new gaskets where needed and u can put in new valve guide seals with out pullin the heads and drive it
ask us how and we will tell u


DRIVE IT LIKE U'ALL STOLE IT!

[mrrat1]

I agree with connman. My step fathers 66 cat has over 350,000 miles. Never rebuilt no valve jobs, quite a few timing chains and gears, and 1 rear main seal repair job per 66 shop manual. A side note is that he has spent more $$ on oil & filters than he did on the car in 66. Strange but true!!! Dave K.

[mrrat1]

Daily driver 66-2001!!Oh and it's still going, and going. Dave K.