Modified 400ci plus block out of a 76 Trans Am..

[DaTruth]

One of my co-workers is wanting to know what to ask for this motor. He does not know the specs, but is willing to let anyone come over and check it out b4 actually giving a price. What should I tell him?

[Frankie]

Is it a complete motor or just the block?

[DaTruth]

Is it a complete motor or just the block?


Its a complete motor.. You can call him.. 813-390-0876 and his name is Mike.

[76TA]

Complete. This is not the original motor, (This is why I don't have a problem replacing it) however, It was put in by the original owner after he broke the first one. He mated it to a Chrysler Transmission that's still in there. I have some pics of the engine that avg 1.5 mb in size that I can send. The specs I do know about the engine are that it has a '74 exhaust manifold, an edelbrock intake manifold, it currently has a holley carb that's too small for it. I'm going to try to track down the original owner and see if he remembers the specs on the engine again.

[DaTruth]

Anyone has an idea of what he should offer?

[Frankie]

$1500? :dunno:

Without knowing what's in it, it's hard to say. Are they stock '76 heads? If so, the engine prolly runs like butt. You'd more than likely make more money selling the parts disassembled.

[Ian MMF]

400ci 4bolt? I know of a couple people over here willing to pay a pretty penny. 454ci small block say what?

[DaTruth]

400ci 4bolt? I know of a couple people over here willing to pay a pretty penny. 454ci small block say what?

Then lets set up a meeting. Mike is just getting into this engine thing and a more experienced person might be able to look at the heads and know if they are aftermarket. I have Mikes number in the beginning of this post.

[ponchoV8]

Is this an SBC or a true Pontiac V8? Complete from carb to oil pan? I'd start at $900.00 OBO at least. Traditional Pontiacs are getting harder to find in junkyards so he should be able to get a decent buck for it, but without specs, it's gonna be harder to ask for more. Need to know what head casting #'s and what year block and what all has been done to it.

[formula69]

if its a modded true pontiac small block then he can get a little more for it... start around 1500, that could be a killer motor... worst case scenario some 400sb fanatic comes along and tells you exactly what its worth.. best case you pick up a quick 1500 for a good engine that is probably worth a little less

[76TA]

Got ahold of the original owner - Below are specs as provided by him. The Carb descrip is now inaccurate - It's a 400 series. I don't know what (if anything) else has been changed in the interim

Block is 1973 model.

Main bearing caps were line bored,

High perf cam & main bearings,

Cylinders bored 60 over,

Moly rings(all were filed to have the same air gap), Pistons & crank were balanced, pistons were measured & then cylinder hole was bored to fit each piston, each piston is numbered for the cylinder it was in.

High performance Melling oil pump.

TRW double roller timing set.

Camshaft was stock RAM AIR III.

Lifters were high perf Melling.

Heads:

Supposed to be 68 RAM AIR III,

Intake valves are 2.11"

Exhaust valves are 1.77", all were swirl polished.

Valve guides were bronzewalled.

Rocker arms are RAM AIR III, 1.65:1 ratio, which increases valve lift .050".

Rocker studs were from big block Chevy, 7/16"

Rocker nuts were from big block also.

All intake & exhaust ports were polished & gaskets matched.

Edelbrock intake manifold with Holley 750 dbl pumper with everything manually adjustable.

Transmission is short shaft turbo 400.

All B & M trans parts used. Somebody took off the pan, it was a deep pan that used a Chrysler filter.

The exhaust manifolds & muffler were stock from 1974 model.

[Ian MMF]

Do you plan on selling the transmission with it also? I noticed you posted the info on the turbo400 also.

[76TA]

Bad edit - but I could I be convinced. My ultimate goal here is to commit Pontiac sacrilege and put either an LS1 or LS6 engine in the car - something fuel injected yet still a worthy engine for it's heritage. I bought it for the body (I love the body style) and my plan is to make it modern.

[myltwon]

putting a cheby in a poncho :(

[76TA]

Well, it's the 00's now - it's a corporate world.. and Pontiac doesn't make engines.. anymore.. http://www.newtamparacing.com/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif So I'll use an engine that goes in Pontiacs.. The last TA's had LS1's and the the current Roo's have LS6's. FWIW, I think my father in law is on your side though, I think he's gonna try to convince me to keep the 400. http://www.newtamparacing.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif

I myself am not a purist. I do think the heritage of the car should be noted and acknowledged (I never understood how Pontiac could lose the Chicken from the hood) But I don't think nearly 30 years of technology should be ignored to keep the car like it was in 1976, either. This particular car is the original precursor to the ever famous "Bandit" model of '77. Black and Gold with all the striping. it's a 50th anniversary edition. All the exterior will be restored pretty much original. I may add a stripe along the sides to break up all the black. As far as teh interior goes, It's will get a complete re-do. The stereo sucks, the comfort is terrible, the seats are a whiplash lawyer's dream, and the creature comforts (cupholders, things of that nature) are.. uhhh.. lacking.

So, I my goal is to modernize her. Mechanically as well as the cockpit. In the cockpit, I want to keep as many of the styling cues as possible, bring in some modern seats with headrests. I do kind of want to stick and 8-track player in her though, she had one originally and I think that's kind of twisted and funny, see how many people go "what's that?" when they see it. Add modern creature comforts, and so forth.

So, cheby or chevy, tomayto or tomahto.. As a middle age guy, I don't see the point in ignoring the advancements of the past 30 years. I don't disagree with the purist point of view, either, I believe there's a place and a strong argument for keeping cars original. It's just not mine.