[Bzltyr]

I have one of these engines in my driveway. I bought it today. The guy told me it was a 370. I want a 370.

Mine is oil pan to air cleaner with Generator, A/C and PS pump. It has all the pulleys and the trans attached. The oil looks good - no rust on the dipstick. The guy ran the engine for a minute or so and then pulled it to put in a SBC. I his defense it is not his car but a client's.

I am thinking of giving it back.

[Bill Hanlon]

Originally Posted by Bzltyr

I am thinking of giving it back.

Why?

[b-man]

Originally Posted by Bzltyr

I have one of these engines in my driveway. I bought it today. The guy told me it was a 370. I want a 370.

Mine is oil pan to air cleaner with Generator, A/C and PS pump. It has all the pulleys and the trans attached. The oil looks good - no rust on the dipstick. The guy ran the engine for a minute or so and then pulled it to put in a SBC. I his defense it is not his car but a client's.

I am thinking of giving it back.

I suppose if you have your heart set on a 370, you wouldn't want a 389.

If you need the 370 to be correct for a 1958 car, definitely hold out for a 370.

The thing I like about the 1959 389 besides the added displacement is there are more parts readily available for rebuilding them. Finding main bearings, pistons and oil pumps for the '55 -'58 engines can be difficult.

[Bzltyr]

I want the smaller main journals and the shorter stroke.

A 389 is a 400 less 0.058" bore. When I was building engines it was always, "When in doubt, bore it out." The 370 can be bored to 4.121 and use a stock 400 piston. Use a 428 piston and lengthen the connecting rod. The bore/stroke ratio and the rod/stroke ratio get real attractive. Compression ratios from 7 to 1 all the way to 12 to one are attainable.

The cost for the adapter and motor mounts are the only issue with the 370 being one of the best Pontiac motors.

[Jack Gifford]

I agree on the attractiveness of a '58. And don't forget that it's a forged crank with straight-shot oiling of the rod journals.