287 Pontiac replacement in 55 GMC

[spitfire_er]

I tore into my 287 today after failing to get it to turn over. The truck sat outside for many years, but everything is complete and the hood was on along with the air cleaner.

Over the years it looks as though water vapor has gotten in there and put a nice layer of rust on everything under and inside the heads.

I'm sure I could clean it up, but I'm not sure it would be worth it.

Other than the 316 or the 347, is there another engine I can bolt my hydramatic up to without too much work. I know the engine mounts on the 287 are a little odd being in the front and rear bell housing, but I can always put new mounts in if needed, but I don't have a welder handy, so a similar engine swap would be best.

I'm just trying to get it running now as quick as possible, as cheap as possible.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'm no Pontiac expert by any means but IF you can clean it up and get it running I'd think that would be the least hassle/expense.

Plus, there's something awful sweet about how relatively few original GMC's are out there with original drivetrains and Hydramatics! Just my $.02.
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[mknittle]

How about a 270 or 300.

[spitfire_er]

Isn't the 270 and 300 inline 6's?

Here's what I'm' up against with the original engine. The fluid in the cylinders is penetrant from when I had positive hopes of breaking it loose without pulling it apart.

I clean up the top cylinder on the head a little just by scraping out some of the gunk. I've never rebuilt an engine, so I don't know if this one can be done without having it machined, but I know I can go through the motions. If it can be done, i'm thinking it would need new valves and most likely cylinder heads along with rings and all the gaskets and stuff.

[G&R's57GMC]

'60 Pontiac 389 will bolt in.

Your engine will need to go to the machine shop for cleaning and magna-fluxing before going ahead with machine work and rebuilding . Budget $3000 for the engine work. If its a good core it will most likely come in around $2100.

Here's a picture of my 347

[spitfire_er]

Looks really nice.

Is it just the 60' year 389 or did the later ones fit too? I guess I pulled a 389 out of a 67 Bonneville but that was a couple years ago, and I cannont remember the mounting configuration.

[spitfire_er]

Just found 350 from a 71 or 72 Pontiac, Will this thing work? I guess my main concern first being able to bolt the HD tranny to it, and second the engine mounts.

[G&R's57GMC]

The trans bolt pattern changed in 64 along with the water pump and front cover and motor mounts.

So the later stuff won't hook up to the Trans. or mount the stock way for the truck.

That said, One could use a later 350, 389, 400, 421, 455 with a later trans like a 350, 400, 700R4, 4L60.

Better yet a 5.3 or 6.0 or 6.2 with 4L60E But then it would have the originality of the early stuff.

[mknittle]

Sorry brain fart some how I was thinking 248. this whole day has been like that.
350 and 400 Pontiac are pretty easy to come by and make good power.

[spitfire_er]

I spent a few mins tonight cleaning out the cylinders and everything cleaned up farily well other than a thin layer of surface rust.

Would it be feasible to hone the cylinders re-do the heads and rings and any other broken/bent part as long as everything else is not needing repair?

All the gunk in the cylinders appears to be just carbon that fell loose. I'm working on a really tight budget before I head to chriopractic school this fall. Just trying to get it going before then if possible. I won't be able to spend $2-3K on an engine rebuild for at least another 5-6 years if not longer.

[lmdangerous]

I am assuming the engine is free and will spin over???? If so thats a plus the other aspects are just how much cleaning are you willing to do just to get it running?If - and thats a big if-it would clean up well- you might get buy with a set of rings (clean the ring grooves really good, Hone the crap out of the cylinders),rod bearings, and a valve job( assuming that the valves will clean up and can be reground - ditto for the seats). I have been guilty of doing patch work to get old farm trucks and field trucks back operational- but as stated earlier in many parts of this forum- don't expect it to go for 50000 miles or anything- I guess the truth is you get what you pay for. your call.
LMD

[spitfire_er]

If I could get it going I know it wouldn't be 50K mile engine. I probably wouldn't put more than 1,000 miles on it before doing something different, or having it professionally rebuilt, but that's a few years away.

I've got a 78 Triumph spitfire that I bought 14 years ago and have only put about 8,000 miles on it, and that one has been restored. So I drive them, just not a lot.

[spitfire_er]

I pulled the other head off today and the valley pan. Most of the lifters won't come out without some persuasion, due to being gummed up.

Also I poured some kerosene in each cylinder and most of the rust just fell off.

The engine is still stuck, but I'm going to see if I can pull some pistons and see if I feel any better about it after that. If it's still junk, I guess I just pulled 100+ lbs off the block when I go to pull it out. Those heads have to weigh a good 75 lbs each.

[spitfire_er]

i found a 283 locally, that would work wouldnt it?
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[dicer]

The main problem with using a sbc engine, is you would have to find the correct bellhousing for the hydramatic. So far with machine work and parts I have under 1K in a rebuild of a 283. I bet that engine could be done for close to the same.

[spitfire_er]

Thanks, Still Have Not Touched my engine but am looking hard for a replacement Pontiac engine. not the easiest thing to find locally.
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