Looking for thoughts/opinions on a low mileage/cheap Pontiac 350 I came across. I've never owned anything with one so I'm kicking around the idea of using it as a driver for the summer. Although I'm in the middle of a 455 build, I'm thinking about yanking my 305 and playing with the 350 until the 455 is ready. All I know for now is that it's out of a '73 and has 31K on it. It can't possibly be worse than the 305 could it?
Pontiac 350 thoughts?
- Thread starter G-Body_Vet
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I had a couple Poncho 350's way back when. Good engine. If it's from a Firebird, make sure it has both types of engine mount bosses. F-bodys engines use a different mount location. I know some 400's only have the F-body mount bosses, they set the engine further back. Had to use them in my old '69 Custom S convertible. Not 100% sure about the 350's.
Nothing wrong with a 350. I've owned many and they all did the job, though gas mileage won't be much better than a 400. All the same external stuff from the 326/350/389/400/455 family will fit and even a 2 barrel 350 will run rings around a 305 all day. The first V-8 I swapped into my Malibu wagon was a Pontiac 350 and everyone thought it was a 400 because I put a towing/RV cam in it. Of course the 400/455 snobs will look down their noses at it, just as they will a 301, but they don't get it. It came standard equipment in zillions of Pontiacs for a good reason. The 73' should have all 5 mounting holes and fit no problem.
You can stroke a Pontiac 350 to 383 ci 
What kind of car is it out of? What heads are on it?
eta: http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/tech/hppp_0712_small_bore_pontiac_engine_build/index.html
What kind of car is it out of? What heads are on it?
eta: http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/tech/hppp_0712_small_bore_pontiac_engine_build/index.html
Well the guy emailed back and he sold it this morning. I'll keep my eyes open for a 350 or 400 to play with in the meantime. Seems like every time I find one they're disassembled. Lots of failed project I guess.
I found another 350 that someone is selling. It's in a '68 GTO and he's planning to pull it to put a 400 back in it.
The heads are 94's, which should be from a 250hp '71 engine. What would be a fair price for a 350? It's a driver as it sits. Need nothing. Already has a q-jet and HEI too.
The heads are 94's, which should be from a 250hp '71 engine. What would be a fair price for a 350? It's a driver as it sits. Need nothing. Already has a q-jet and HEI too.
Wow, that's a good deal! A low compression 4 barrel is the way to go. First, try not to act excited, and tell him 350's are junk ( 
) and offer $100. Point out that the 71' heads are probably missing the outermost exhaust bolt holes and you can't use headers because they'll leak. (The trick is to bevel the flanges so they seal- shhhh). Act like you really wanted a 455 and just need a cheap beater motor for now. If it's tight I guess it's worth several hundred but that's up to you.
) and offer $100. Point out that the 71' heads are probably missing the outermost exhaust bolt holes and you can't use headers because they'll leak. (The trick is to bevel the flanges so they seal- shhhh). Act like you really wanted a 455 and just need a cheap beater motor for now. If it's tight I guess it's worth several hundred but that's up to you.Bonnewagon said:Wow, that's a good deal! A low compression 4 barrel is the way to go. First, try not to act excited, and tell him 350's are junk (
Haha, I already had the "less than desirable" 350 talk with him. He's a Chevy guy at heart but got a good deal on this GTO. I shared some info about Pontiac sites, builders, books etc to help bring him from the dark side :lol:
He was already talking like he knows nobody really wants Poncho 350's. I told him to think about a price and get back to me.
I did tell him it would be a beater motor too, which it will be while the 455 is being built. I want to yank the 305 and get the engine bay detailed but I don't want to disable the car completely (driveway on a slight grade....see why?). At least this way I can get the mounts, fuel lines and wiring in order then set this 350 in it. That way the 455 will be a drop in deal when it's ready.
in 1969 the 350 H.O. with manual transmission had 330-335 h.p. depending on build date and they were serious players but often ignored for 400's. :wink:
Bonnewagon said:Wow, that's a good deal! A low compression 4 barrel is the way to go. First, try not to act excited, and tell him 350's are junk (
if vet gives us the contact info we could low ball the guy to the point where he just wants to get rid of it..
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