How about the 350's?
 

The car in my avatar came with a factory 305. It's completely drivable but it's a dog obviously. My 455 build is going to take longer than I'd like but I don't want to disable the car either. However....i do have a bead on a dirt cheap '71 350 with 94 heads. I also came across some cheap '69 46 heads locally.

Given the outrageous gas prices, how would the 350 do as far as power & mileage in the meantime? My only Poncho experience was with a 400 about 8 years ago. if it matters, this car only weighs 3200lbs. I already have a 3.23 gear and 200-4R sitting in the garage too.

Plenty of 350 threads here with good info.

Potential is good by most all accounts,and end results will vary based on build specifics same as most any build.

The '69 #46 heads are definitely the better head for a mild performance based 350 cid build,otherwise for a strictly MPG related emphasis the #94 heads would be fine too.

Carb choice will play a big role in the whole MPG scenario.

But like 250-300 FWHP and like 15-16 MPG/AVG should be pretty easy goals to hit with a mild 350 combo in a car like yours.

It's a light car,and the OD trans will help the highway mileage a bunch,thus helping the average MPG numbers some.

That would probably be like a low-15/high-14 second quarter mile if that matters to you.

Good luck with it if you choose to go that route.

Bret P.

It currently has a 2bbl on it but the guy is throwing in an early 4bbl intake and Q-jet with the deal. This car is just a cruiser so reliability is more important that 1/4 mile times. Don't get me wrong though....I do have a lead foot on occasion :D

Put a 204/214 with .420/.443 cam in the SBC 305 with a 4 bbl intake. Wil wake the car up some. The gear will kill any smaller cube engine anyway. Install the 3.23 or 2.42 gear for the future build.

Then build your Pontiac 455 and install it when you are done.

That way you can sell the mod'ed 305 and get a better return on your overall long term investment with the least amount of investment. ;)

Did you mean 3.23 or 3.42:)

I've had a few SS's with the 305HO that had that cam. Even with 3.73's they weren't very impressive. I know throwing a 350 in the car isn't the most cost effective route to go but I want to play around with something in the meantime. I'm already going to be taking the front clip off to coat the frame and install suspension. After that's done I don't want to have the car sitting for another 6 months. I already have a buyer for my 305 too.

I'm just impatient and have a hard time passing up a good deal I suppose.

keep it simple.....

I would reseal the motor and put a new oil pump and timing gear set up on it. electronic ignition and call it good.

That's usually the bare minimal that I'd do to something I plan on driving. I might even look into a cheap Summit cam if need be. The guy I'm getting it from is throwing in an HEI too. The Q-jet will get rebuilt in the process as well.

it's one of those deals where I don't need to drive the car, but I sure would like to this summer. I mean worst case scenario....I'd get stuck driving the Cadillac :D

that is worse case senerio. caddle crapp

WTF is that all about? Are you trying to insult me or telling a lame joke? Hopefully the latter because I treat everyone with respect unless persuaded otherwise.

If you stuck on instaling a Pontiac engine. Make sure you get ALL the brackets. None of the SBC are the same.

Motor mounts?

I would install the 068 cam (We stock it and Melling makes a copy) as you can use the same valve springs, etc. Use a pre 72 4 bbl intake with the Feplro 1233 gasket and go have fun.

Yes..........3.42 gear. . LOL.

get as angry as you want. it was a joke. Thanks for sharing you caddlac alternative on a pontiac website. Your lucky you did not mention f$%d.

I'll take a Ford anyday over a Chevy.:cool:

wtf....
 

you would take a Ford any day over a Chevy? Then why are you on the site lol pretty sure our cars are made by gm, but I could be wrong......:rolleyes:

build the 350 if you can get it cheap and have it running cheap... It's an engine and will respond to all the same hotrodding tricks. Don't expect to get good mileage with it over a larger Pontiac though. 3mpg or less at best in difference.

Be realistic about the costs, add it all up including every nut and bolt you would need to get the 350 in your car. Then look at the cost and consider putting toward the 455 instead, from the beginning if you intend to go that way anyhow.

my advice from experience.

Who cares about the squabbles, we're all gearheads. If it burns gas and tires it's good to me. Get over yourselves.

A better question would be why would you blindly support Chevrolet just because they share the same landlord?

If you knew the history of Pontiac (actually BOP in general) vs. Chevy, you wouldn't have posted such a naive statement.

Geez guys,,,dont trash the fellas thread... :focus:

Yeah,an 068 type of cam is about as large a cam as I'd ever use with the OE pressed studs.

And even then I'd only use the OE low lift versions,not the aftermarket high lift versions,and only with the OE 1.5 ratio rockers.

That's mostly because I dont trust the OE pressed studs very much @ all.

I usually convert all my pressed stud heads to screw in studs and adjustable valvetrain.

That's because I also tend to prefer using good valvesprings with a bit more pressure as a whole too.

I got a low/no budget 350 build like this in my garage right now,it's stock low miles '72 350 shortblock,a good used 068 cam & lifters,with a new timing set,and new oil pump in it,a late model baffled oil pan and a modified OE windage tray,yadda,yadda,yadda.

Have a set of '70 #16 small valve heads for my budget 350 too.
(pretty much the same heads as those '69 #46 small valve heads)

I'm gonna run a TII and either a 3310 holley VS carb or a 4777 650 DP carb on mine.

But I aint gonna be remotely worried about gas mileage on mine.

Also,for the stock port heads,the fel-pro #1233 is a little too big as that is the RAIV port size which is like 1/8" taller than stock,so I mostly use the Mr. Gasket ultra-seal intake set #5848 when using a mostly "stock" port opening.

Mine has the stock points distributor with mallory HD points/condensor,MSD cap & rotor,and the Crane adjustable can & adv. springs.

I'm kinda building it like the 350 H-O's were built.

Those were like 320-330 fwhp engines.

FWIW

Bret P.

Yea I made a joke,it was taken the wrong way I opologied. lets get back on track....
any way...Caddillac..er...ford...er...pontiac 350's...er boat anchors...

In my opinion, no matter what you do with the engine, stick with the Q-Jet. It can come in handy with MPG if tuned correctly. Those tiny primary intakes will stretch your gas out a long way as long as you stay conservative on the pedal.

As far as 350's go, I have had nothing but good luck with my 350 SBC engines in both of my 9C1 Caprices. I had an '87 that I literally sunk under water (don't ask) and it was running a couple of days later with nothing but new spark plugs, wires, and an oil change. I gave it to my Uncle so I could buy my '95 Caprice and it still runs to this day.

I've never owned a 350 Poncho, but I would imagine that they're just about bullet proof. In any case, good luck with your car!

Duly noted Bret, apologies to the OP.

Re: the 350P, it is quite underated and can be a great street engine fr all around perfrmance. They take to simple changes. On example of a simple yet rewarding build was our old 79 TA which went 14 flat consistently with a "thrown together" 73 Block, 76 6X-4 heads, 067 sealed power cam, Performer, 600 holley-vac sec., HEI w/only light springs from a Mr. Gasket kit, elcheapo Cassler 4 tube 1-5/8" $99 headers. 2.25" full Exh w/H pipe, 350 turbo w/B&M kit, stock convertor and 3.08 l/s.

Car was a great driver, dead reliable, good mileage and cruising rpms yet pulled like a freight train from idle to @5000. Longest and flattest torque curve I've had in a Pontiac and we could run ANY gas in it.