Well, I just bought a '67 Convertible GTO and just got it back from the body shop. Turns out that either I have a cracked head or either a bad head gasket. It just so happens that a friend of mine has a brand new, built to the hill 454 complete ready to drop in at an incredible price. I really mean dirt cheap. What would ya'll do? I don't know anything about this swap other than what I've read here. thanks, bo

Well, I just bought a '67 Convertible GTO and just got it back from the body shop. Turns out that either I have a cracked head or either a bad head gasket. It just so happens that a friend of mine has a brand new, built to the hill 454 complete ready to drop in at an incredible price. I really mean dirt cheap. What would ya'll do? I don't know anything about this swap other than what I've read here. thanks, bo

Bo,
Buy the Rat motor cheap, sell it for more and use the profits to finance the Pontiac motor. IMO, a 67 GTO convertible deserves to be cruised in it's original form, well maybe in stroked Ponco 400 form, LOL!
Where are you located? I'm sure there are other board members in your area that could help out locating a suitable head(s)/foundation.

Either way good luck,
Herb

I'm from Madison, a small town in N. Florida. I just got her about a week or two ago and just got her in the garage last night. I'm going to pull the head tomorrow and see how bad the damage is. I really appreciate your opinion because I'm definitely on the fence with this idea. see ya, bo

I'm willing to bet that there's a good chance it's just a bad head gasket. However, I agree with Herb. Do what you can to keep a Pontiac motor in your GTO. Even if worse comes to worse, a set of Pontiac heads may still be cheaper than the 454.

Another option would be to pull the engine in your GTO, put it on a stand and rebuild it when time and funds permit while running the 454.

Keep in mind that if you swapped to a 454, you'd have to find all the right accessory brackets for PS, alternator, A/C etc. Also, I believe the bellhousing pattern is different for Buick-Olds-Pontiac vs. Chevy so you'd need to find either a bellhousing or a TH400 with a Chevy bolt pattern.

This may be an good excuse to get a set of Edelbrock or KRE heads http://forums.performanceyears.com/g.../icon_wink.gif

Good luck.

Don't commit a sacrilage...not Chevy in a Poncho...haha. It will take a decent amount of funds to get that motor in the car. I would suggest what others have: buy that motor...the turn around time should be fairly quick if you want to sell it at a swap meet or something. If it is indeed dirt cheap, you may be able to get away with another $1000 on the price of that thing and some Chevy guy will be happy to get it. Get all the receipts on the thing if you can though so that when others come to look at the engine, they will see that it is indeed fresh and you are asking a great price.

Good luck in whatever decision you make.

Dave (Bandit)

just get a set frame mounts from a 65 -67 chevelle smallblock or big block there both the same... been there done that!!!

Get off the fence! Always remember:dance with the girl that brought you. You're a pontiac owner, that means you have more brain cells than the average joe. Chevy motors are great for chevy's! With all the pontiac guys in florida, I'm sure you can find a way to keep that classic all pontiac. BTW, I'd do a leakdown just to see which side it's coming from.

Ok, Ok...I found the problems and got them corrected so I'm keeping the pontiac ho 400. Is it incorrect to add an MSD ignition and maybe an electric fuel pump? Now what can I do with that 454? maybe I can sqeeze it into my humvee...I'll come up with something. I really appreciate the insights that ya'll have offered me! thanks, bo

Find a a big block nice body Chevelle in need of an engine and put it together. Or find an early camaro and drop the 454 in that. But outside of putting it in camaro's, chevelles and novas, just sell it outright.

My dad has a 67 GTO with a rat 454 in it. I get ill every time I see the 400 sitting on the floor of his tool shed.