[Bill Eveland]

Pretty much, unless you wanted to pay $600 for the trans adapter kit.

[1955Chieftain]

Well guess I'll get the orginal motor up and running and play with that and continue thinking about what I'm gonna do. I'll probably end up with SBC just because it could be cheaper in the long run.

[Tempest69]

where are you from? i would be more than happy to take that 287 off your hands (if your close by) and put it into a 55 pontiac of my own some day .

[1955Chieftain]

I'm in Maryland but I wouldn't be selling it any time soon. Sorry to disappoint.

[Tempest69]

hmm , thats cool. i cant wait to find my own 55 again someday. my father bought one when i was 10 as a dad/son project but sold it when i was 14 for my '69. i want to do up a 287 like ive seen before with EFI, so if you ever do, ill fork over a small chunk to own it.

[1955Chieftain]

My father brought this for the same reason, a father son project. He then decided he couldn't afford it so sold it to me. I wanted to keep it in the family and learn how to do everything.

[Tempest69]

i kicked my dad off my projects, he gets annoying. never lets me do anything. he'll crap his pant when he comes and see's ive seperated body and frame one day and stripped it, instead of just cutting off whats rusted and replacing it. wants me to do it his way and im not. i want a full body redo and EFI, six gears and one badace suspension setup.

what have you got done so far or you just looking at setups?i dont really ever support corporate power in a tin injun. I still wish you luck!

oh btw, if you use a SBC you might consider using the old shortsnout waterpump. theres a waterpump change somewhere in the 60's and ive seen late model SBC swaps into other 50's cars and they always hit the radiators to much to work.

[Bad Karma]

Speaking as someone who Has had the same car with a Pontiac Ram air III engine and a Built SBC engine I am Going back to pontiac!

There is no comparsion. An EFI motor is Far from Bolt in Turn Key. A Lap top is most likely needed To tune the Injectors Pulse width and Duration. There is Alot of Tuning involved and More Wiring.

Yes EFI is Nice But Honestly I strongly suggest
Putting in a Stroked 389 or 400. Im sure your car is heavy The torque will be appreciated Very much when You finally get it on the road.
Someone else posted in this board a company who
Builds up and modify the 200r4 and 700r4 Trannys to handle Pontiac power and torque.
Going with a Highway gear and Overdrive will bring back some of the Mileage you crave. The low end Grunt will Keep the car feeling good even with a 3.07 gear or 3.23.

you can build an Awsome street stroker that doesnt have to rev to the moon to make respectable Power under 5500 rpm. I have been there and Let me tell you SBC unless its a SPecialty 427 SBC cant ever compare to a Nice Poncho motor.

Now I dont know but I have heard about a tranny from the early 60's called a TH 375. I dont know if that will bolt up to your original motor but I hope it helps in someway. SInce there isnt much needed to convert them to a TH 400 while rebuilding them.

THE vendors Like P dude and Butler Can build you a "turn key carb motor" that you literally install and Drive away. I know atleast one of them does it. It will also cost about the same as the Ram jet 350 that wont be "plug and play".


If I was you and had the means to do it here is a short plan of my ideal build up for a street car ingeneral.

Stroked 400 60's to 70 Block mated to a TH700R4 Built right with lock up converter for extra Highway mileage. If I got real Crazy I would add a gear vendors over drive to get even more gears and better economy.3.23 to 3.55 gears.
Id go with a Hydraulic roller cam for the most power without constant lash adjustments. I would install a Digital Multispark Box like an ACCEL HI-6 or MSD. Upgrade the Tranny and engine cooling system for security.

Ok if you went with this it would be easier to replace parts and keep the Old engine and Tranny IF NUMBERS MATCHING on a Palet in Garage for when you sell car.

Good luck hope it helps. I got the lemans with a SBC for cheap But after a few years of running it I can say SBC isnt enough for a Pontiac IMO.

[Jack Gifford]

That's a big thumbs-up on staying with Pontiac torque!