Pontiac powered S10
 

So I have found several cheap S10s/S10 Blazers for sale. I happen to have a pretty stout 400 needing a home.
Anyone have any info or links related to puting Pontiac engines in S10s? I have goggled it and not really found any info.
Any help would be appreciated!

How 'bout this ? These pics were taken at our local show, last year.

J.C.you did the install. I think it has front & rear motor plates. I assume J. C. will provide some details of the install, if you'd like. But obviously can't guarantee it.

At our recent, local show, I noticed it had a bigger, badder Pontiac in it, with header collectors blowing thru the fenders. :eek:

TJ didn't know about it, so didn't take any pics. Hey, with a torch & a welding machine you can put a Pontiac engine in most anything, where a Chevy V8 will fit, especially where a BBC will fit.

May be able to use G-body mounts.

Thank you guys! Headers are my biggest concern...I doubt there is anything out of the box that would fit. I wonder if the 2nd gen S10s have the same amount of space under the hood?

if I were to attempt this , I would get some old perches and motor mounts from like a 64 leman's bolt them to the motor with the tranny already bolted to the motor , lower it down in the engine bay. find where you want it front to back , bolt a cross member to the tranny and locate it to the frame. mark the perches on the frame take the motor and trans out . take the perches off the engine and bolt or weld them to frame. do the same with the cross member. the rest will unfold from there......

That don't look like a Pontiac intake to me. What is that ? :confused:

I'd guess that your best chances might be with the Hedman 3-tubes, shorties, or RA3 manifolds. If there are a lot of Pontiac guys in your area, you can probably find some old 3-tubes to try. If you were close enuff, I've got a set you could try.

The new shorties are about $300.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hed-28164

The Pypes RA3 manifolds are only a few bucks more.

http://www.jegs.com/i/PYPES/958/RPE6...cPAaAl928P8HAQ

The s10 firewall was engineered for a passenger side rear bank headed engine. Opposite of the poncho design, which has the driver side head as the "back half" 4cyls. Not really a good candidate for a poncho, but where there is a misaligned will there is a way��. Also the stock steering shaft will dictate the engine will have to be offset to the passenger side. If u go headers custom built is the only alternative and a tight fit. Built a second set for this truck and went up and exit the fenders....much easier. Sorry on the sideways pic and the only one I took.

Pretty sure it's a Performer with a Moroso water outlet.

Just noticed in the pics of his exhausts, driver side had to exit forward and under the cross member with a stock exhaust manifold!

I swapped a Pontiac v8 into a European Opel Manta many years back, I swapped the headers side to side and ran the outlets towards the front of the car, exiting through the fender in front of the front wheel arches. Race use only as there were no mufflers on it.

Thanks everyone for the replies, info, links, etc. Not sure which direction I will go in. Brother in law has a 2 wheel drive 79 Ford pickup I could get super cheap. And then there are tons of other cheap options out there. A lot of which would be easier to drop aPontiac into. So keeping my eyes and ears open. Just really wanting to do something totally different so who knows what I end up with.
Thanks again!

a fox body mustang is a good swap for a poncho, done that one too.....much easier. Find one with a aftermarket k member and a 8.8 and you are almost home.

Thats an excelent idea! Can find those cheap as well.

I like the idea of a Pontiac engine in a Chevy body. For me, it's a revenge deal.

Ever since I started racing, I've come across LOTS of nice Pontiac bodies, which came with a Pontiac engine, but it had been replaced with a Chevy engine. :gag:

And, many of these guys seemed proud to show me their Chevy powered Pontiac, not realizing that I was a Pontiac freak. I'm quite sure that many of them were very surprised by my reaction to, and comments about, their Chevy powered Pontiac. :)

So, if I was gonna select a Chevy body, for Pontiac power, I'd look for something with a reasonable price, and with at least an 8.5" rear end. For a car, I'd want a 2nd gen Camaro, with either a 12-bolt or 8.5 10-bolt. I assume that a plain Jane Camaro should be slightly cheaper than a nice T/A or Formula body.

3rd gen Camaros would be cheap, but would need a rear end upgrade, for use with sticky tires.

Obviously, a '72 or earlier Chevelle, with a 12-bolt, would be better. But, I assume would be much higher.

I also like the idea of a Pontiac powered '77 or earlier El Camino or GMC Sprint.

Then, there are lots of GM truck possibilities. I put a 400/TH400 in a flat bed 1-ton, back in the day.

couple old pics, fun little car and really ticked the ford guys off....:D

Wonder why that was. (;>) Half of the New Generation Ford Guys would think it was a old 427 Wedge engine.

Tom V.

I'm building a Pontiac powered G Body, and I have to say I love this platform. Parts are common and affordable and I love the massive amount of room under the hood.

These cars aren't that heavy and they look good. The best part is that they can be bought cheap. I bought mine, which is a rust free body, with good running Pontiac 350 already transplanted for $800.

All the fast Mustangs we see at the track have Chevy engines, so seeing a Pontiac in one is a little something different. Everybody knows what Chevy's look like. 😉

The Chevy Guys are not stupid. Decent engine with a light weight car that hooks well and has good aero is hard to argue with and the Mustangs vehicle Mods work whether the car was built with a V-8 engine or the 4 cylinder mill. The chassis are everywhere and ready to be purchased and modded as a race car.

Tom V.

If I ever raced a Ford it would be either a 1967 fastback Mustang or a Cobra Kit Car and neither one is high on my build list. Just owning a 34 Ford though is very high on the list.

I totally agree with you, but the part of your quote above is why I'm not a fan (for me). Mustangs are just one of those belly button cars.

If I had to put a Pontiac in a Ford car, I'd at least go with a Mercury Capri or Fairmont. Yes, they are little harder to find, but at least it's something you don't see everyday.

All that being said, I have always wanted to build one of those into a Pontiac powered drag car.

Could have been the big arrowhead on the hood😬

Found a Ford Fairmont for 600...fox body so hey...fox parts+pontiac engine=sleeper. Lol...Now I kinda want to find fairmont wagon

Hey, they make a decent lookin ride, street or strip.

Was a couple of guys on the board for years running a Ford Fairmont (Like Glidden's) with a Pontiac Engine and doing very well. Believe Texas Guys.

Tom V.

Back on the original topic... See if I remember some of the tricks I did

I used 72 A-body mounts in mine and two RH factory logs (the driver side facing forward).... I had to clear the frame for oil pan and the pass. side log manifold.
I also added a third joint in the steering shaft, moving it outwards some.... I had to hammer the firewall lower lip in so it would flow with the trans tunnnel.
Behind the Pontiac engine I had a long tail t-400. Big HEI distributor and stock valve covers. This all with RPM intake fits under the stock hood...
Think I used a V6 4.3 '94 radiator out of a Police Blazer.. the bottom of it tilted forward and placed two electric fans behind the GMC grille.

This all came in at 2900lbs w/o driver.... all steel, iron heads, t400, 12 bolt rear, full interior, heavy exhaust etc. w/o driver.

Front to rear ratio was close to 60% though.... could be better with e-heads, batt. relocating etc. for sure..




Kris.

Definitely do the chevy!! They need some payback for all the stupid swaps they've done. I've thought about a 69 Z-28 with a Pontiac engine but can't get myself to put my name on the title of a chevy. Maybe put the metal on one of my 69 Birds to make it look like one? I'm all for the chevyac!! Good luck.

Heres an expensive 68 firebird that's been 69 camaro'd .Now its a *hitty chevy. More money than brains example of things that should just not be done.

https://nashville.craigslist.org/ctd/6084255576.html

Those cars are a rare find these days. Even the chev monza. 77 olds starfire had best front nose, followed by Pontiac, then buick, then chevy.

Fox body Merc Capri's and Merc Zephyr's have nicer look than Ford equvilant IMO.

A 32-34 Pontiac coupe with Pontiac power would be very cool...tough body to find though...Sedans are easier to find just not as cool looking.

Yes, those cars are hard to come by these days. Most of the 70's - 80's car didn't survive the scrap price spike of '08-'09 and Cash for Clunkers program. I had to wait quite a while to find my '78 Lemans.
I've been slowly pecking away at it since I got it.

I'm getting closer. I hope to get it on the track this summer.

I'd like to see more 4th gen Firebirds with Poncho power...

Too much of a hassle. 3rd gens are not that bad tho. There have been quite a few 3rd gen builds, & lots of 3rd gen drag cars.

I love the look of those cars, but the cab forward design of the body makes them a bear to work on.

Found a 87 Regal for 700......pretty solid car. I like the body style of those cars a lot

As long as Pontiac engine swaps are being hashed around...

Since 1959 I've done a few- '37 Buick opera coupe, '60 Falcon 2-door, '57 BelAir hardtop, '57 210 wagon, and '59 GMC- which were all pretty straightforward to accomplish. Also put Pontiac engines into a mini-rod pulling tractor and a drop-tank lakester. And I'm still enjoying driving Wangers' 'Bandit' Suburban with the 455HO.

As for "what-if" swaps... I never have gotten around to the one I've thought about for a long time- a small-but-potent Pontiac V8 (310-330 c.i.?) into a nicely restored '48-'50 Willys Jeepster. No crowding under the hood or floorboards, and a profile (short, high) that would be great for weight transfer.

78 Cutlass Supreme, 455 Pontiac, Turbo 350 and Ford 9" w/ 3.50 gears.

Late model El Caminos are cheap also.

what makes olds or Pontiac swaps into s10's a little harder than most folks assume, is that the exhaust port side of the head is pointing at the frame rail. To that end, the BBO is an easier swap into an s-10 than an SBO, because of the additional deck height. I know of a guy that went 455 olds over 350 olds because it was a lot easier. I'd save the Pontiac for a different vehicle. That's not to say I haven't considered making a Pontiac s-10 to match my olds one.

I like your Studie....what powerplant do you have in it?

400 pontiac! Dad built it in 1959 for B/Gas with a 389...He worked for a Pontiac dealer at the time. We redid it 2007 to 2009. Surprised him with it. He passed last June.

Great story, bet he was a happy camper

About 15 yrs ago (up in central ny)there was a 59 Corvette with a 59 Pontiac tripower under the hood. Neat for sure. Appeared to be an older build brought back out. It looked like it belonged there.

He was a tough old bird, but we got to him a little.

He was working at the dealer and committed a little bit of warranty fraud to get the 389. He basically got two engines to replace one that went bad under warranty.

Over the years, he did 3x2, 2x4, 1x4, you name it. big solid cam, alum Schieffer flywheel, B-W T-85N trans, and stock stude rear with 4.56 gears. I still have the 1959 389, it had 239 miles on it by the time he popped a head gasket in 1969 and let it sit til I took it.

I did a 462 Pontiac, TH400, and 9". That 462 went about 1000 miles, I wasn't happy with it. Got a mystery 400 from a friend, plopped it in. Runs like a champ, pun intended.

The 462 is on a stand. The first and only time I didn't double check everything when I got it back from the machine shop - and it bit me in the ass. I was on a very strict timeline to finish the car and was busting my ass to hit a deadline. Either needs align-bored or piston-wall clearance is wrong. I will get to it eventually, and possibly enlist the services of local heros M. Garblik and E. Larson during the postmortem.

Mr. Anonymous dabbles with Pontiacs, Studebakers and Oldsmobiles. Anybody else sensing a pattern here? ;)

Eric

Some people just feel the need to adopt 'orphan' cars....:)

Did he have an Edsel?

:D

No. We have standards. Well, they're really low, but we have them.

I have a late 80s Dakota sitting here with a broken V6 in it. The idea of dropping one of my "best engines" in it has crossed my mind. Not my truck, but the owner owes me so I could get it cheap. My entire family is a bunch of Dodge nuts, how cool would it be to show up with a Pontiac powered Dodge that runs better than all of theirs?