Gluemaker

iTrader: (12)

Ok, A firend of mine picked up a 1978 Pointiac Firebird Formula roller for $400. It needs a motor. Body is in great condition. What motor should go back into this car? I don't know a whole lot about these generation of cars.

cwaldt

iTrader: (4)

BBC , But I'm biased. Theres nothing like an older BBC muscle car. Thats what helped inspire me to do a 4th gen BBC. But of course a SBC 383/396 would be nice also.

Found this, here's the options they had for that year model

V6 231, "A" Code - 105hp
V8 305 "U" Code - 145 hp
V8 350, "X" Code - 155 hp
V8 350, "L" Code - 170 hp
V8 350, "R" Code - 170 hp
V8 400, "Z" Code - 180 hp, Note: Optional T/A V-8 same as V8 400, only with 220 hp!

ulakovic22

iTrader: (12)

Supposed to be original or not? If not then put a carb'd LS1/LS2 in it. If original you could put a Pontiac motor in it and make it whatever you want. That's great thing about Pontiac's, no such thing as SB/BB, all the block are the same.

Formula350sd

I say real pontiac power you can make huge power and the aftermarket is there for it with everything from heads to blocks and strokers and if you look a good core is cheap

and whats more badass than a 400?

GOaT Cheese

One of my toys is a '67 GTO with a .060 over 428 (440 inches), I say stick with the Pontiac power. A few things to keep in mind when building a Pontiac, 1.) It's a Poncho, not a small block Chevy, so treat it like one. 2.) It's not a small block Chevy so don't treat it like one. 3.) Build it right, remember it's not a small block Chevy. 4.) Don't try and build it like a small block Chevy. And last but not least, a properly built Pontiac can put alot of Chevy guys on the trailer, scratching their heads, wondering what just happened. I love thumping big blocks with my 40 year old iron!

The Butcher

the 326-455 blocks are the same...the 301 is GARBAGE, trust me...I know.

smokin2002

iTrader: (10)

Ive had my share of 2nd gen trans ams. I would try to find a 455 for it. even a stock bottom of a 455 has huge torque potential with the right set of heads on it. back that up with a cam, intake, and headers....
Ill have to dig up a carcraft magazine i read not to long ago, they found a 1975 455 motor. installed an all edelbrok top end on an original bottom end and put down 500/500. not a bad way to go.

I would deff go BB chevy or a bigger displacement pontiac motor 400CI or bigger.

Keep in mind to pick up a TH400 if you go with either, my 79 TA with a 455 couldnt keep a th350 behind it, i chewed up 2 of them in 8k miles!

The Butcher

Ya, I'm using a 462 (455 +.30) and they are deffinetly easy to make power with.

Genesis_26317

iTrader: (2)

Hey now, don't dis the 301.

Ahh, it is still sitting there rusting under the trees in the yard of the my friend who foolishly bought it.

Last year you couldn't even see it because the weeds grew over the car, his wife made him weed wack it.

Pontiac power people!

01FireTurd

iTrader: (2)

get a 400 and get a stroker kit from jim butler and get a street/strip port job on a set of one of the better stock heads

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

I agree to go 400 cubes or more Pontiac engine, unless you want to do an LS-based swap!

bigdcustoms

iTrader: (1)

stick with the pontiac 400 unless u have money for big block parts...

The Butcher

Just so you know bigd there is no pontiac "big block" The 400 shares blocks with every pontiac engine from 326 up to 455. Parts are mostly interchangable. Funny you say that Genesis...mines holding the floor tarp of my carport down as I type! thinkn of using it as a parking block in my drive...keep those crazy bastards from trashin the yard in the winter...haha put it inside a snowman and watch the neighbor kids smash their 4-wheelers against the worlds baddest snowman!

smokin2002

iTrader: (10)

Yep a pontiac block is just a block.... There is no big block small block. No real price diff either.. youll notice in most catalogs that most parts are sold as pontiac V8. Theres some confussion with pontiac 350's and 400's as well, they are configured just like the chevy motors.. put part wise nothing is interchangable. You would have to have a 78 z28 and a 78TA side by side to see how different the pontiac motor is. In the later years of the 2nd gen they did start using a 305 chevy motor in the Firebirds, and we all known from the 3rd gens and up no more pontiac motors.

LSWaaa?

406 and 2 stages of spray

GOaT Cheese

Just to be a complete antagonist. The hard core Pontiac guys consider the 3.00 main blocks "small blocks" and the 3.25 main blocks "big blocks". But that is totally nit picking.

Genesis_26317

iTrader: (2)

Do they still make "new" pontiac blocks or does GM only make SBC's now?

I mean Pontiac COMPLETELY left the performance (at least V8) field. I mean they killed the Firebird and never plan on bringing it back because now it doesn't fit their new "image".

i.e. cheaper FWD BMW's.

Apparently a rebadged Holden is okay though...

The Butcher

First off, GOaT CHEESE...I love you sig haha! And as far as pontiac blocks, the "corperate GM" took over officially in 1982 with the birth of the 3rd gen f-bodies. The 80s 2nd gens were even (very rarely) equipped with Chev 305's. I, personally, don't consider new engines that GM uses Chevy's considering Pontiac and Cadillac use them as well. If you look back Genesis, and I know ALOT of you guys may not agree with this but it's true, Chevy's always been GM's runt. Pontiac waas actually ahead of Chevy in the 60's and 70's as far as performance goes. They had the GTO in 64, ironic it was called "The First Muscle Car" isn't it? Then everyone else jumped on the G-body bandwagon (chevy with the Chevelle, Olds with the Cutlass, Buick with the Regal) and from what I read, GM passed "regulations" that kept cutting these cars off, but somehow Chevy could get away with bending the rules, putting them at an unfair advantage as far performance went. Chevy was kind of the spoiled favorite child. As sad as it sounds, I personally don't feel pontiac has much left in it as a company. Buick and Olds were in constant competition as they were both aimed for the step below Cadillac. Now look at Olds. Seems like GM is kinda cutting Pontiac out of the running yet again with the whole F-body return thing. I believe the GTO was just to improvise while GM was preparing the Camaros return. Kinda up the hyp sorta thing I believe. ut don't get me wrong, GTO's, Regals, Cutlass all were/are great cars throughout the lives. Somethings just aren't meant to be I suppose

01FireTurd

iTrader: (2)

really hard core pontiac guys call them small journal and large journal.you will never hear a knowledgeable pontiac person refer to them as "big" blocks or "small blocks"

GOaT Cheese

Well I am personal friends with some of the most knowledgeable Pontiac guys in the country. And I have heard them, as well as myself refer to the large journal (421, 428, 455) blocks as "big blocks". Don't know what else to tell you on that. The terms one uses in simple conversation refering to an engine type is open to each individual. To say someone would "never" refer to something in a certain way is rediculous.