1969 Pontiac Catalina Convert.

I was offered a 69 Pont ragtop titled no motor trans for $800 yesterday. Overall a pretty decent car w a working top being saved from the crusher. It comes w a low milage 73 455 + T400 however it is a BUICK 455! Wonder how it would be switching the Buick in. Pontiac folks would be up in arms but so what. The trans is a bolt in. I do not have any Poncho motors. On a second thought I DO still have a freshh BBC as well but it would mean finding a Chev T400 as I do not have any of those left either.

Both engines really present the same issues, radiator and engine mount frame stands.What do think would be nessesary to mount up the Buick ??? Trans should be a bolt up on the buick. The chev would be another matter needing both trans (or adapter plate ) and frame mounts (I THINK). Anyone ever done this aand have some tips ?? I know, I know, I KNOW, a Poncho motor would be best. but as a low budget use what I have kinda deal this is it.

I'll be checking the frame this weekend. Crusty ol bugger Ain't it???

Seems like a good way to distract me from our pets recent loss. HMMM????

Being that it is a pre 1970 car, and a convertible to boot, you really would be drastically reducing the value of it to put anything but a Poncho back in there. Convertibles are very collectible and for $ 800 you can't go wrong. There are enough Pontiacs in junkyards that you can score a nice 400 or 455 and save yourself a lot of mixing and matching to get stuff to work.

If you are low on funds right now, at least buy it and then do it right when finances permit. Some cars deserve to be done right, and IMO this is one of them.

Don

I thought I could get it going with what I have then in the mean tim ebuild a 455 or 428 to put back in later. I THINK all I need is frame mounts that match each particular engine, w/o doing permanant damage to the car. Beyond that i am in complete agreemant with you,Margue loyal would be best. Notice that pass qtr? It is a long ways from being a jewel.
.

Yeah, I'm not saying make it a numbers matching, totally correct car, but just keep it all in the family. Otherwise, people are going to look in the engine compartment and wonder what you were thinking. :D

Here is something I pulled up quickly to show you a base value for that car:

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Ca...ertible/Values

Don

ITUS is correct.
There is a guy in town with a 69 mustang and he has a chevy motor in it.
Lost all respect for the guy cause HE did that.
What was he thinking?
Just saying.

I am checking CL as I write this , being as I have evrything to put a poncho back in except a motor Maybe I'll find one there cheap

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trjohn57

ITUS is correct.
There is a guy in town with a 69 mustang and he has a chevy motor in it.
Lost all respect for the guy cause HE did that.
What was he thinking?
Just saying.

---

Probably wanted it to RUN circles around other Mustangs and for a lot less $$$$$

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cffisher

Probably wanted it to RUN circles around other Mustangs and for a lot less $$$$$

---

Charlie!!!!!!!!! Tsk, tsk, tsk!!! :LOL::LOL:


Don

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dgas56

I thought I could get it going with what I have then in the mean time build a 455 or 428 to put back in later. I THINK all I need is frame mounts that match each particular engine, w/o doing permanant damage to the car. Beyond that i am in complete agreement with you, Marque loyal would be best. Notice that pass qtr? It is a long ways from being a jewel.
.

---

Since you already have the Buick engine, why not just stick some Poncho emblems on the valve covers, drop it in and drive it. If you don't say anything, the average person would never know the difference.:)
Then, when you have the body work, suspension, interior and top done, yank the Buick out and stick in a proper Pontiac engine for the purists.:D

How many miles are on it. Looks like the last time it was licensed was 74.

Looked again 77.

I'll find out this weekend,But I know he said its been in that shed since the seventies. 1977 made it less than 10 years old at that time. Body looks a lot tougher than a ten YO car would if taken off the road at that milage. We will see this weekend.
Actually My question was not if but how for those same reasons Restorod metioned.

The Buick install is a snap, frame stands and motor mounts and you're there. BUT, for gods sake as you build l
keep an eye out for a Pontiac 400 or 428. The car will be worth more with a Pontiac in it. Plus, the Pontiac crowd tend to be diehards as far as engine choice is concerned.

If you find a 455 cheap, it's only a crank & piston change to make it a 428.

Good luck, that looks like a worthwhile project.:D:D:D

But what model/s should I be looking for stands + mounts from? I found a couple 455's on CL but they bare blocks, I'll keep looking **) :3dSMILE:

My 1971 455 mounts were alittle different than the 1969 400 mounts were. I drilled a few different holes for the mounts. I'm glad that I did. I was able to put an electronic distributor in it so it wouldn't hit the firewall.
That's the whole deal about keeping it pontiac to make it worth the cost of money you are going to be sticking in it. It's ok to stick money into the car, but not the motor because of it being worth more with the pontiac motor.
Eventially you can sell the other 455.
I'm doing a 1937 pontiac and did find a 67 catalina 400 motor for it. Took awhile, but will be well worth it when done.
I hope you get it because they are getting harder to find.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ws...276087741.html

Yah, saw that one,"the 455 are blocks with caps only" ,Not interested in a piece by piece or motor. I'll wait for a complete 400, 428 or 455 runner. If its anywhere in MN on CL I've seen it.I spend HOURS on there as well as the PY online forumns for various things I am looking for. PY is NOT the place to ask about this swap :eek: heh heh.

There's a complete 400 in the ad.

There should be a ton of pick and pull type junkyards in MN and I bet if you start searching in those you will find a motor and trans that might just need a slight freshening up to get you by until you decide to rebuild it the right way. From what I've seen, MN is one of those places with a bunch of old cars.

Here is a huge list of some junkyards in your State. Some specialize in cars that won't be of interest to you, but I bet if you get on the phone and let your fingers do the walking you can find one of these with some Pontiacs sitting around. :)

http://www.usedpartscentral.com/search_minnesota.htm

Don

Seems like a great deal to me. In California it would be gone already! Don cool posting on that website for values! Looked up the truck and was surprised!

Turns out the original stuck motor comes with. Apart but all there. 4 BBL motor w what he says are original chrome valve covers to boot.

Glad to hear that. There's something cool about having the original. When you get it, soak the inside where the pistons are so when your ready to take it apart it will be easier. Whether it's a year or two when you take it apart it will help out alot.

Cool. Pontiacs are not a difficult rebuild and lots of parts are available to bump up the HP. Aside from a couple of GTO's I owned I also had a 63 Bonneville convertible with a 389 that I put a 421 HO cam in, trips, and converted it to stick shift. That big old convertible surprised quite a few 327 owners back then. :D I LOVE Pontiacs.

Don

Frame stands from a like year Buick LeSabre will do it for you. Probably 66-72are the same.

Go for it, then assemble a Pontiac engine as time and $$$$$$$$$$$ permits.:cool:

I bought the car ,It IS crusty from over 34 years in that shed. After it gets here today I'll first to jack it up and check out the frame, then check the top mechanism, It is supposed to work. Checked out the motor codes (YC) 290-hp 400, 4 bbl, 10.5 comp. LONG shaft T400, 4 Core radiator, No idea what these things have for a RE, But as it is in the heyday of POWER it probably has 3 something gears, BUT I have seen a lot late 60's cars w 2:93 and 2:73 gears. I've also found a 78 400 Q jet 4 BBL motor w a recent rering locally for $400 including a T400. I'll probably buy that motor and shelf the 455 idea. I'll keep the original numbers (YB) matching 400 for the next owner.

Awesome Dgas. Should be a fun project. It's worth more than that. Have fun with it today.

I have to ask. Did you sell the convertible?

Not yet,No offers even. But it has only been listed a day so far. She can go for not much more than I paid, Not looking to rape anyone.