Thread: 1969 Pontiac Catalina Convert.

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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.
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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.

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

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 $$$$$

Originally Posted by cffisher

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

Charlie!!!!!!!!! Tsk, tsk, tsk!!!


Don

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.

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.

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

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.