Buford 6 to Pontiac 455

[kraven]

So, I may swap my v6 to a v8 to use it as a tow vehicle.
Ideally, I'd like to put a poncho engine in it since a 455 will give me the torque without the weight penalty of the BBC. And, they're getting to be really cheap for the 70's stuff.

From what I can gather, I'll need mounts for the pontiac v8, hoses, radiator, and maybe another trans x member for the t350 or t400 trans (whichever I run across in the junkyard.

Am I missing anything here? Does a 455 swap need any other parts? Will the A body manifolds work or will I need to find 326-455 intermediate body manifolds?

Thanks

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I believe there are several different A body manifolds based on generation, so which one you are referring to will tell what interchanges. ( A bodies are intermediate sized cars, by the way) Early A bodies were 64-67, and I believe they were what is called "rear steer"- meaning the steering linkage is behind the crossmember. Later A bodies are all front steer like a G body. They have the following generations: 68-72, 73-77 ( "Colonnade" style) and 78-80 or 81. The 4th gen is just a G body but in earlier form. ( they were renamed G bodies singe GM wanted to use the A body designation on the Celeberty/Century/ Cutlass Ciera/ 6000 FWD car in 82.) The G body manifolds likely are the ones that will not work. I believe the Pontiac 301/"Buick" 265 have siamesed exhaust ports and are special to these worthless engines. Now some of these cars may share the same castings, but it would be advisable to see what is what. There are also manifolds used in Pontiac powered X and F bodies too as well as the full size Catalina, Grand Ville, etc and some combination of them may also work. If using a standard Pontiac head however, do not get Ram Air IV or Super Duty manifolds as they have different ports than a standard Pontiac V8. I may be wrong on some of these points, so if I am please someone correct my errors. I am a Chevy/AMC/Nissan guy and have not played with too many Pontiacs.If you are going to tow with this vehicle make sure you get a real rear axle for it. The 7.5/7.625 will not take the load of the weight of the vehicle combined with the added torque of the 455.

 

[kraven]

The motor I'm looking at came from a 74 A body.
Sorry, I thought the G's were the intermediates and the A's were the full sizers.

So, to recap, the wagon is a 79, the motor would be a 74, and I'm just looking for the laundry list of what I might need to do the swap.

Will my V6 frame mounts work for the BOP motors or will I need to get V8 parts?

And, yes, the rear would blow out pretty quickly if I tried to tow with it.

 

[shotgun]

To put the poncho in you will need engine mounts from a 78-80 gbody that came with a 301.

The holes are in the frame,you can get the clamshell frame mounts new.
I recommend putting a Poly mount on the driver side.There is a trick to using the poly mount,let me know if you go that way.

You will also need a BOP trans,th400 would be my choice with a good cooler.
You can modify a stock crossmember but then you still have single exhaust.Just get an aftermarket one and be done with it.

The logs from almost any Pontiac will work,Ram Air manifolds bolt up,3 tube cheapy headers pretty much slip in.If you are going bux up Indian Adventures make headers($500).

Also note the fuel pump and starter on the chevy are on the "wrong" side,from my point if view anyway :lol: .So some mild wire and fuel line rerouting will need to be done.

If staying with power steering,Firebird/TA brackets work since you will be using a metric pump.

Make sure you grab everything you can that goes with the motor.

That's all I can come up with off the top of my head for now.

Have fun.

 

[kraven]

Thanks for the info. That really helps.
This car is my junkyard beater, so I'm not really into spending too much money on it.

I also found a 74 ish Buick 455. Given that i already have a Buick 6, would a Buick 8 be an easier swap?

 

[pontiacgp]

I noticed you mentioned "since a 455 will give me the torque without the weight penalty of the BBC. "...the Pontiac engines were intermediate blocks so they so do weigh more than a small block...

 

[kraven]

I noticed you mentioned "since a 455 will give me the torque without the weight penalty of the BBC. "...the Pontiac engines were intermediate blocks so they so do weigh more than a small block...

So, am I incorrect in saying that a Pontiac 455 is lighter than a Big Chevy?

 

[shotgun]

He is right,there are no big or small block Pontiacs.The closest to a small block is the red headed step child 301 and that is a low deck block,not small block.

The 455 weighs between a SBC and a BBC,closer to the BBC.

I you really want lite(as compared to BBC anyway) get a Caddy 500/472.
From what I have read they are a manifold swap and battery relocation away from the weight of a sbc.

 

[kraven]

He is right,there are no big or small block Pontiacs.The closest to a small block is the red headed step child 301 and that is a low deck block,not small block.

The 455 weighs between a SBC and a BBC,closer to the BBC.

I you really want lite(as compared to BBC anyway) get a Caddy 500/472.
From what I have read they are a manifold swap and battery relocation away from the weight of a sbc.

I never asserted there were big and small pontiacs. Only that the 455 weighs less than a 454. Which, it appears, is true.

500 caddy is out of the question. It was my first intention when I got this car, but every sample I find is seized or someone wants 2 grand for it with sieve-like gaskets and 100k+ miles.

It's either SBC, a BOP 455, or a Ford 460

 

[pontiacgp]

I never asserted there were big and small pontiacs. Only that the 455 weighs less than a 454. Which, it appears, is true.

well you made it sound like in your first post there was a substantial weight difference...the SBC runs around 575, BBC is 685 and the Pontiac is 650 so there isn't that much of a weight saving factor as you seemed to imply...