'57 Super Chief Engine Swap
 

Hi,

I have a '57 Super Chief (Texas car) and the 347 is completely shot (yes, everything has been tried). Therefore I need to get another motor and would like to put in a 350 Chevy. I know the '57 had the chin mount and rear mounts, and beyond 1960, Pontiac went to side mounts. Which means if I want a newer engine I need to figure out how to mount it. I'm not a fabricator nor can I weld very well.

Are there any crossmember, swap kits or conversion kits available to put a 350 into a '50s Pontiac?

Dave

I'm not aware of any kit available, so mounts will probably have to be fabricated and welded in. I do know others have done this sort of thing in the past, try the advanced search function in the upper right of the screen.

Doubtful you’ll find anything off the shelf to facilitate that swap.

You have 2 reasonable options.

One being pay a hot rod shop to make the mounts for the Chevy engine and trans.

Second one would be to simply rebuild the 347 and not have to mess with everything involved in changing the complete drivetrain to something foreign to the car. Also the ‘58 370 and ‘59 389 are both bolt-in swap candidates that will mount the same way as your 347.

Neither option is cheap. One thing to consider is both the value and your ability to sell the car sometime in the future will be greater if your keep it as originally built.

to me it is an opportunity to source a 58 370 or 59 389 (preferred) and get a larger CID bolt in or full 59 389 build

Rebuilding the 347 would make sense unless there is another reason you want the Chevy motor (we all have our preferences). Unless you already have the 350, you will probably spend just as much or more swapping in the Chevy motor.

Sounds like you will have to pay for the fab work,
May need a different transmission due to the bolt pattern,
Starter mount is different so I don’t know if that will cause an issue,
Wiring is a little different
Pulley assemblies are different
Radiator is different
If you change the transmission you will need to change the driveshaft,

It’s kind of a chain of events that sounds easy but really adds up. I think you will spend less just having the 347 rebuilt and the car will definitely be worth more as well.

When I was going to LS swap my K5 I started adding up all the changes I needed to do and it added up quickly. I ended up putting a stock motor back in it. The junkyard 5.3 swap for $1000 isn’t realistic anymore

I would prefer to swap in a Pontiac motor but they are few and far between, especially in Canada. I've even looked in Michigan, Buffalo and a few other places just across the border with no luck. I will take your advice and continue looking for a '58 or '59 motor since it sounds like the best route. Thanks for your advice.

I'm in mich. and I've got a 370 ci that has been bored and stroked
to 428 ci. it is in my 57-pontiac right now that I will sale if interested
contact me here on the board. I am going to rebuild the original motor
and put it back in.

GT

Not to hijack this thread, but I'm curious how you stroked the 370.

Me too.
And I have a 347 in Milwaukee.

I bought it that way.
It has a 4 inch stroke crank and a set of mickey thompson allum rods
A set of forged venolia pistons, ported iron heads1960 I think.
It is an old super stock motor from back in the day small hyd cam.
I don't know if the crank is a MT also not sure
I thought I could use these parts in a later motor but there specific
to the small main block. It runs very well thats why I put it in my 57.
At lease until I get the original motor done.

GT

Also a 1960 389 !