Different twist...Pontiac engine in my el Camino?

[Greg Reid]

I have a 1969 el Camino with a very tired 307 under the hood. A friend of mine has a 1973 Pontiac 400 4bbl that I could get fairly cheap I think.
I didn't really have any use for it at the time so I passed it up. Today, I got to thinking about my nice El Camino (http://scooby.cs.nwu.edu/greg/74TA/elcamino.jpg) with the tired engine. I hardly even drive it any more because of the oil consumption.
Am I wasting my time daydreaming about the possibilites here? How much trouble are we talking to make the Poncho motor work?

Greg Reid
Palmetto, Georgia

[Greg Reid]

I have a 1969 el Camino with a very tired 307 under the hood. A friend of mine has a 1973 Pontiac 400 4bbl that I could get fairly cheap I think.
I didn't really have any use for it at the time so I passed it up. Today, I got to thinking about my nice El Camino (http://scooby.cs.nwu.edu/greg/74TA/elcamino.jpg) with the tired engine. I hardly even drive it any more because of the oil consumption.
Am I wasting my time daydreaming about the possibilites here? How much trouble are we talking to make the Poncho motor work?

Greg Reid
Palmetto, Georgia

[Greg Reid]

Oh well, that'll teach me to check the archives before posting a new question. I just found the "Pontiac Power in Other Makes" thread and it kinda answered my question...that is..it can be done but not exactly a drop in.

Greg Reid
Palmetto, Georgia

[Skip Fix]

Greg , It should be almost a drop in. Get some GTO frame mounts, pulleys and brackets for the Pontiac motor. May need a new Ponitac P/S pump. Fuel line is on the opposite side but not a big deal.

A buddy in the 70s put a 455 in a 65 Chevelle for a street racer and was a killer car!

[Greg Reid]

How about the transmission? It has a TH-350. Is the bolt pattern the same for the bell housing?

Greg Reid
Palmetto, Georgia

[Skip Fix]

Different bolt patterns but TCI etc make adapters.

I've got a 79 Camaro about to get a 455 and a TH 400, going to have to modify the crossmember for it.

[Greg Reid]

Thanks Skip. It's just something I'm kinda thinking about right now. A Poncho 400 sure would breathe new life into the ol' girl.

Greg Reid
Palmetto, Georgia