Engine Swap issues 64 Catalina
 

New member looking for help. I am restoring my 64 Catalina convertible and attempting to put a mid 70's big block 400 in. I have the engine setting decent but...
with the factory headers need to make engine fit I have a clearance issue with the pitman arm. I can turn right but not much left, hitting header.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

When you say 400 big block,... did you put a Chevy motor in? All Pontiac V8 engines have the same external dimensions from late 50's to early 80's

Ron

Long branch manifolds from RARE if it's a Pontiac 400.

When I got the car it had a small block 350 in it. Obviously not the original motor.
I wanted to get back to all pontiac. And yes they are R.A.R.E. factory headers.

The physical engine dimension is not the problem. The blocks in reference to the motor mounts changed at some point. Thinking 1970 ish and nether the 64 or 75 style mounts would work. 64 would not bolt to block. 75 made engine sit to high can't close hood.
so I made some mount brackets to work with mounts.

The headers fit real tight between starter and steering box, a little to tight to turn left much.

Thanks
Pat

Thats correct, nice headers and nice fit or so I thought.

64cat/Pat: Welcome to the PY board!

OK, (still) assuming you have a Pontiac 400 as I type this, use the '64 motor mount. The '70s blocks have five holes drilled in each side of the block - one style for F-body and one that is compatible with the early mount like your '64 was born with.

Using homemade mounts + RARE's LB HO manifolds is uncharted territory. As such, posting pics of your arrangement would also help a lot.

I will try and get some pics posted. The 64 mounts would no match up. if i had 2 bolt holes I would be OK. I think the 400 came out of a 75 Grand Prix.

Thanks

Pat

I am not an expert, but to the best of my knowledge, if it IS a 400 it has 5 holes on each side. Then again, a block as late yours will (should?) have the displacement cast into the side of the block.

Motor Mount Holes
 

Not sure but I got this:


Motor mount holes

Ok, I didn't say this was easy, but check out the number of drilled motor mount holes on the block. Go ahead get down there and look. Pontiac blocks with only 2 bolts holes per side were cast before 1970. Based on my observations,1964 to 1969 Pontiacs engines were all "2-holers." Blocks cast in 1970 to the last of the run (1978) had 5 holes per side, at least in theory. Some blocks, like my 400 that's in my 79 TA 6.6, is different (below left). It is a 3-holer with two blank pads (no holes). These pads can be drilled and tapped if necessary to accommodate a different engine mount. The other earlier block (to the right) is a "5-holer." These are all drilled and tapped.



from here:
http://www.pontiacstreetperformance..../blockIDa.html

The motor mounts I think I have worked out took a little welding and some drilling seems to sit OK.
The pitman arm is the biggest issue right now. I am wondering if the 68 firebird pitman is possible. It has kind of a banana shape to it which would solve my issue.

Thanks for your info.

Pat

Pat,

Where in Cincy are you? I think I may need to make a trip down there this weekend and see what is going on. If you have a Pontiac motor, correct motor mounts, and RARE headers.... you should be fine.

What I'm trying to stay is STOP!!! lets check the list.

PM me your address and phone number

Ron

Yeah, I'm wondering about this as well...everything should all just bolt together and fit in that car. Which R.A.R.E. manifolds are you using, their long branch manifolds? They shouldn't get in the way of the pitman arm.

I agree, I have the long branch headers. I even called Paul at RARE.
I don't know if its because its a drop top and the frame is thicker or what. it will turn but its like having 24" rims or something.

Thanks
Pat

Candian Pontiac?
 

I know it's reaching, but it would explain the Chevy engine and "not so fresh feeling" of the Pontiac engine.

The Candian units have an X frame like the Chevvies. The American made pontiacs have perimeter rail frames.

May need the older harmonic balancer (3 piece) to help with that steering fit.

Good luck,
Greg

I'm going to give Pat a call tomorrow and go down and take a look-see. He's only about 30 min from the house. I'm more curious about how they used the Pontiac motor mount pad on a sm 350.

I'll take a look and report

Ron

Chances are they used an early chevy mount.


Mike

I just spoke with Pat, and it sounds like the original crossmember engine pad mounts have been removed/replaced. I've got them here in the shop that he can reweld in....

I'll (we'll) update as we know more

-r-

wha wha what??
 

W T F ???

Mike,
Yes they did use sb chevy motor mounts welded in.

Ed,
when the sb350 was put in they erased all evidence of the original motor mounts/pads.
Ron was cool enough to stop by and shared his wealth of knowledge I will post pix of engine block later today camera battery died.

Thanks

engine swap issue
 

Here are the pix of the block and cross member that is giving me all kinds of grief to get engine in right position which should solve the pitman arm issue.

Thanks