Pontiac engine in a C10
 

Hey guys,

As you may know, i'm putting a pretty stout Oldsmobile 455 in my 86.

I have an opportunity to pick up a 461 stroker Pontiac built from a 400 block. Should be in the 500HP range with about the same torque, it's pretty badass...

Has anyone ever put a Pontiac 400 or bigger in their truck? :) :smoke:
If so, got any pics or tips?

Kind regards

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

I know i'd like to find an older Olds 350 Rocket ... That block is the one GM converted to make the diesel trucks.

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

Oh yeah, get you an olds 350 DX block. can get them pretty easy, can build a hell of a motor with one of those blocks. The 455 Olds is bad ass too. I can't wait for mine to be done.

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

I'd hurt myself with a 455 rocket (just like the police drive) Or a good 400 olds motor my folks had in their 79' firebird.

Also i'm a bit of a noob but found why the SB 400's are tough to find... seems they used to stroke them to 383 and use the daylights out of them.

Of course i may have learned to drive in the 82 but the drivers ed car at my school was a modern front wheel drive ford taurus

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

more power the better :metal:

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

I had a 77 c-20 crewcab with a 400 pontiac a few years ago. I didn't put it in, but it looked like it came from the factory that way. whoever did it,did a clean swap, and it ran very good too. about like a big block chevy on the gas useage though. Thanks for your service to our country

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

YW, I'll probably get it to see how it compares to my Olds 455, should be interesting

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

Not being familiar with pontiac motors, was/is there something about them that made it easier to drop into the squares? Over the years I've come across more than one pontiac powered square in the wrecking yards.

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

Back before high performance heads became cheap, and available. The BOP 350's were slightly better starting platforms for performance. Or he could of gotten one cheap.

All GM engines use the rear sump in those years so it wouldn't be that hard if you had one lying around.

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

Anyone know if the motor mounts/perches are in the right place for a 389 Pontiac to sit right under the hood and be able to use the same driveshaft? My truck is a 66 GMC with straight 6..

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

Ive seen a big block Cadillac in a square before, that was cool

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

I have not done this for over 40 years, but put an Oldsmobile 350 in a Chevy - both A bodies. I used the Olds motor mounts from the Olds doner and bolted to the Chevy frame, the Olds 350 Rocket and TH350 trans fit right where the Chevy stuff was. To put an Olds 350/455 in a square body is easy because you can get the motor mounts for an Olds diesel (78-81 I believe) and drop the Olds block right in.

I was told back in the day that to put a swap a Buick/Olds/Pontiac from one platform to another to use the motor mounts for the for the desired engine in the desired chassis. In other words you could put a Pontiac in an Olds (or Buick) A body by using the Pontiac motor mounts for that year A Body in the olds (or Buick) and the engine would drop in. You may want to cross reference the Olds Diesel mounts for the C10 to see if they fit other auto chassis, and if so the corresponding Pontiac mounts should work - in theory!

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

This is a rather straight forward swap. Ive done 2 Olds 455's into the trucks (a 2wd & a 4x4) which are very similar to the Pontiac. You will typically leave from the bell housing back where it is and move the frame stands to match the block. If you are using the same transmission, get the adapter plate first so you can factor that in. I prefer the thick one which moves the engine another 3/8" forward. In your case of the straight 6, the frame stands will need moved back & likely new holes drilled to match. Lorne

Re: Pontiac engine in a C10
 

I ran a 1985 Olds 307Y & TH200R4 from a wrecked Delta 88 in a 1974 C10 and a 472 Cadillac V8 in a 1979 K20.

The 307Y had noticeably more torque than the smallblock 305 it replaced and was noticeably better on fuel than the clapped out 350 & TH350 I pulled out. I used the 1979 Olds 350 Diesel motor mounts and re-located the transmission crossmember. It fit great.

The 472 was an animal but fitting it so it wasn't a bodge job was a challenge. All kinds of fun to mate the SM465 & transfer case with the Caddy engine. I ran 1985 pedals and clutch master. It's a BOP bellhousing bolt pattern but the Caddy starter doesn't clear the Olds & Pontiac bellhousings. I ran a Buick bellhousing. That one cleared the Caddy starter. There was a bracket kit for using the 1985-1991 CK/RV hydraulic slave cylinder.

A buddy had a 472 Caddy in a 1977 C20 towing a 29' Airstream back in 1992. The TH400 & Caddy engine didn't take a lot to install in a 2wd truck. Cliff said he could accelerate Southbound up the grapevine with the AC running with that beast in tow. I drove it up the other side going North from Burbank to Santa Clarita and it had torque to spare even with that big 29' two axle monster behind it.