Incredible. Well done, and good for you for never giving up!

WM
 

Persistence paid off!

I found a WM engine a few years ago and am looking for the GTO. I hope I have a similar result.

That's awesome Congrats! What are the odds? I'd love to find the 72 that my 455 HO belongs to but it was probably smashed up and totaled long ago.

I have the original motor, trans and rear from a 70 T/A. I have been on the look out for the car but no luck so far.

Congratulations Dave, couldn’t happen to a better guy.

Great inspiring story! Congrats! NICE CAR!

While we're at it......i'm still looking for the 69 warwick blue / black interior automatic judge that the RAIV motor [code XP] I have came from. Was sold new in the Dallas Georgia area from a Chevrolet dealership. Had the saf-t-tr-hd option with 4.33 gears!!! I'm surprised that the block survived without a rod coming through it.

Unreal!! Congratulations


Kris.

Glad that worked out for you Dave, great story!! The odds of that happening are slim.

Hi Dave, When you replace the engines. What was in car? Was it a WM?

The car has a WM motor in it now that came out of a 1972 T/A that was totaled years ago in NY, Confirmed story throught previos owner and have PHS for motor. I had rebuilt 5 yrs ago Motor is Stoked, Over 500HP and 575 Torgue on dyno.

I put the orginal M22 transmission and 10 bolt rear end of to the side. Found, had rebuilt and install another M22 out of a 72 Formula. I also install a 12 Bolt out of a 70 T/A rebuilding it with a 3:42 Gear I install the 3:42 as this in a AC car, which I now have a AC working.

When I purcahsed car it had a 74 SW 445 engine in it.

At one time I had a 1969 Ram IV WW engine that came out of an early 1969 Ram IV Judge with a 4-spd and 4.33. It was in a 1969 Firebird at the time. The owner had no idea what the engine was since he bought the car cheap with the intention of reselling it. I was lucky enough to find the car before he adverised it. The seller was reluctant to put me in touch with the previous owner, but I managed to track him down through the address on the title (the title was open). The previous owner also bought the car with the Ram IV already in it, and he knew what a Ram IV was. He told me engine change was made after a friend of his wrecked the Judge and sold him the motor. His friend sold the body to somebody else, but the new Judge owner never registered the car and I was never able to track it down. I sold the motor about twenty years ago, but I still wonder if that car is still out there. It's my understanding the car was hit in the rear quarter pretty hard, but was probably salveable.

Attached is a video that tells the story.

A few Corrections, The Motor was complete, when is was rebuild with the SD internals, Pontiac Racer Bill Blair was involved with engine, may have used engine. Ron has provided a few names and numbers so I can continue to look into it history of engine and the car.

The entire top end was used atop a SR block to make another 1972 car complete. That made me happy to hear.

In the coming months I will be making requests in the Parts Wanted section to complete the top end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhIvhnPC0U&authuser=0

First attachment for me, hope it works.

Great story!!!!

it is so cool that you found your car's "born with" engine!
congratulations!!!

Hi Dave: Awesome story. Hard to believe after all those years to find the correct engine. I watch the video. Nice that you put faces to everything. Also kudos to the guy for helping you get the engine back, because without him there is no story. Thanks for posting.

Thank you for the nice response. Yes, I am lucky, and greatful for all the good people in the Pontiac Community that assisted.

Found Engine
 

Thank you for the nice response. Yes, I am lucky, and greatful for all the good people in the Pontiac Community that assisted.