1978 Firebird Formula: Need Advise
#1
1978 Firebird Formula: Need Advise
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.
#2
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!
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!
#3
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.
#4
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?
and whats more badass than a 400?
#5
Originally Posted by Gluemaker
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.
#7
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!
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!
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#9
Originally Posted by The Butcher
the 326-455 blocks are the same...the 301 is GARBAGE, trust me...I know.
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!
#13
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!
#14
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.
Last edited by smokin2002; 12-01-2006 at 08:47 AM.
#17
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...
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...
#18
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
#19
Originally Posted by 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.
#20
Originally Posted by 01FireTurd
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"