[sprechs69firebird]

Reasonable 455? +-$400. Keep in mind reasonable is relative.

[chiphead]

The early engines (pre-64) are an earlier design. Parts selection is limited for these engines compared to the newer engines. You'll have a harder time finding parts, and making it run as well as a '64-newer 389/400 for the same cost and trouble. I don't think later cylinder heads or manifolds will fit. Dont even know if the motor mounts are the same.

$400 for a rebuildable 455 is cheap.

[Steve Barcak]

chiphead- get your facts straight, you don't know what you are talking about, ignore his last post. It is full of wrongs.
Steve Barcak www.pontiacheaven.org

[chiphead]

How about enlighting us? I'd like to learn as well. This site doesnt often touch on engines made before '66. '59 was the first year for 389, right? I thought the crank snout was shorter, the intake manifold bolt pattern was different, the heads had smaller valves and closed chambers, the front assemblies not interchangable with '67-newer engines, etc. Some early engines depending on year and size had the 'rubber rods', different starter mounting, etc. What interchanges between the early engines and the '65-later engines?

If I see a technical error made by a previous poster, I politely point it out. Why are you the asshole?

[tom s]

any pontiac head-timing-cover-intake will fit a 59 block if they match,that is a 61-64 head with a 61-64 intake or a 65up head and intake.The bellhousing and flywheel are issues which can be overcome with adapters but usually not worth the trouble.All the internals will interchange like oil pump,cam lifters etc.Tom

[chiphead]

Ah OK. So what's the diff between '59-60 top ends and '61-64? Did the early 389s use the same bore, stroke and journal sizes as the 65-later 389s? Was the crank snout shorter '64-earlier? Did the earlier engines use windage trays, baffled oil pans, etc? Oil pump driveshaft the same? And what about the motor mounts?

[tom s]

crank snouts are shorter but that is NBD.I have 2 engines with short snout cranks and 69-70 timing covers and balancers.Dont remember about the baffels.Valley covers are diff for diff years but are interchangeable depending on the intake.The motor mounts im really not sure about as I have never used a pre 61 block.The bore and stroke on a 59 389 is the same as a 66.One important thing is to use the correct timing cover with the correct balancer and pulleys as there are changes thru the years.Tom