Don't give up on the Pontiac motor so quickly. They're out there. Similar to Bonnewagon, I have 5 400s in various stages of completeness and only one 455. I started picking up 400 blocks to use with stroker cranks. This summer I had a guy give me a '75 400 block. The stuff is out there. You just have to give it time and keep looking. If you haven't checked out the Performance Years forums that I mentioned in one of your other posts, you should. There's a much bigger supply of motors and parts for sale over there.
Don't give up on the Pontiac motor so quickly. They're out there. Similar to Bonnewagon, I have 5 400s in various stages of completeness and only one 455. I started picking up 400 blocks to use with stroker cranks. This summer I had a guy give me a '75 400 block. The stuff is out there. You just have to give it time and keep looking. If you haven't checked out the Performance Years forums that I mentioned in one of your other posts, you should. There's a much bigger supply of motors and parts for sale over there.
I've been looking there too. I think I'm just impatient! The rest of the world doesn't have my sense of urgency when it comes to doing things (responding to emails) I suppose. Go figure I have the money and can't find anything. if I was broke there would be a million of them available.
Well hope isn't lost yet. I've got solid leads on two 455's although I'm going to have to drive a few hours for either one. I'll know tomorrow.
I'd address the title of this thread with... maybe no one bought them. I've seen one G-Body GP (in person I'm saying) when I was about 15 and haven't really seen another one until I was about 30. Kinda smart-*ss, but kinda not, as in off the showroom floor there were other cars that looked better. If I had to rate them in oder it would be Regal, Monte, Cutlass... and GP last. I know that's kinda harsh and GP owners will probably think I'm a douche, but it is what it is. Maybe it's a NASCAR thing. When they used G-Bodies in NASCAR, Pontiacs were crap and didn't usually place too well... so you gotta throw in the NASCAR fan retail factor. Think of it as: if the Cleveland Brown was a car... I wouldn't buy one (and I live in Cleveland).
I'd address the title of this thread with... maybe no one bought them. I've seen one G-Body GP (in person I'm saying) when I was about 15 and haven't really seen another one until I was about 30. Kinda smart-*ss, but kinda not, as in off the showroom floor there were other cars that looked better. If I had to rate them in oder it would be Regal, Monte, Cutlass... and GP last. I know that's kinda harsh and GP owners will probably think I'm a douche, but it is what it is. Maybe it's a NASCAR thing. When they used G-Bodies in NASCAR, Pontiacs were crap and didn't usually place too well... so you gotta throw in the NASCAR fan retail factor. Think of it as: if the Cleveland Brown was a car... I wouldn't buy one (and I live in Cleveland).
In regards to the thread title I was actually referring to the engines. But.....you actually have a good point in the other regard. To be honest I never liked Grand Prix's when I was younger. I'm still not a huge fan of the '81 & up years. The '78-80 kinda wore on me and now I like them, the same with the rest of the 78-80's. I know a lot of people don't care for the 78-80 Regals either but I like them too. I would assume that maybe they were like the 90's Grand Ams of the 70's. People probably thrashed the sh*t out of them until they quit. Come to think about it, the Grand Prix has always kinda been the underdog. How many '70 Montes have you seen as opposed to '70 GP's? I bet most people can't even picture what the 70-72 tail lights look like.
I do think you're more likely to find a floor shifter and buckets in the Pontiacs though. I think they have the nicest gauge set-up too. How can you not think this is some cool interior for a '78? This is the only g-body I've ever owned with leather....well "Viscount leather" anyway. And no offense taken :wink:
"Luckily my woman has an Accord that I use as a daily to get to work. My "grown man car" is a mint '94 Deville that might get driven once a month, garaged now that it started snowing. I've come to terms with the fact that gas is never going to drop again. That's why I'm going to use an OD trans and just deal with it. There's no way I could have something with that many cubes as a daily."
Exactly. Get a fwd 4 cylinder economy car for commute transportation and an overdrive / lockup converter for your v8 street car as gas prices will never drop far and stay down. I used a built overdrive with my big block Cutty for the other benefits more than the 33% jump in fuel economy. But the fact that it could get up to 17 mpg hwy instead of 10 or 12 with the same quarter mile gears made it so that I could afford to commute with it or take it out of town when I wanted to.
Some people especially someone who is a Pontiac fan and has a couple engines in the barn may be willing to sell you one with a guarantee that if the sonic check reveals its cracked beyond safe use for your needs that they will either return your money or give you another one of their Pontiac core engines. BOP fans often help each other out and if you think parts are high price something for an old Cry-sler product.
Sometimes shipping an engine core isn't cost prohibitive depending on where from and to. It helps if you are shipping it to a "business" name and or can drop it off and pick it up at a terminal instead of shipped to your door. And if you are pre plan your shipping size & weight containers the best you can.
I am also a fan of the 400 blocks with after market rotating assembly from one of the Pontiac vendors for your 461/467 cubic inch build. Especially if you had planed on new pistons rods & balance anyway.
Never mind all that. Every classic Trans Am and GTO came with a 400 or 455 (except for a few 403 and 301 and 305 motors at the end). Plus most Catalina, Bonneville, Grand Prix, and GrandVille had at least a 2 barrel 400. They are there, but it's over 30 years since they were built, so now we go through what the Model "A" guys went through years ago. I find some on Craigslist now and then that aren't Barret Jackson priced. Seek and Ye shall find.
Pontiac 350's and 400's seem to come up often on my local craiglist. Theres a $400 nice lookin 350 for sale now, $350 400 and a fresh rebuilt 400 for $600. Its been a while but there was a few 455's for sale this summer. All late 60's motors. If only I could find a late 60's C headed 455 olds or and 80's buick V6 20 bolt pan motors. Funny how stuff you dont need come up for sale but stuff you dont need always seems to show up.
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