So the guy I bought my 57 Pathfinder from has a few 57's and when we were wandering around looking at them this past weekend, he was showing me one of his recent acquisitions and it has the Power Pack 283 4 barrel. Missing valve covers and air cleaner, but other than that complete. Should be the 9.5 CR 220 hp version.
So, now I'm wondering if I should stick to my guns and keep the 261, or grab the Power Pack 283 before someone else does? Either way I'd keep the 3 speed manual.
rabbit64cs said
Jan 27, 2015
Hmmmm.....what to do....
The car is so clean...would be cool with a story...
57 Pathfinder said
Jan 27, 2015
Yeah, that's the dilemma. As you said it's clean and unmolested, a time capsule in it's own way. 99% stock would be very cool. OTOH, that 283 is obviously the correct year and not so easy to find and would also be cool. If I did go with the 283 I'd keep the 261 stored so it could always go back to being original and numbers matching. Just not sure on what the real world value of that is on a base model.
427carl said
Jan 27, 2015
How much ? 500.00? 900.00 ? price helps deciding
timbuk said
Jan 27, 2015
get that 6 in a row fired up first then decide
57 Pathfinder said
Jan 28, 2015
I'm pretty sure I can get it for $500-$700. I'll get the 6 running first anyways...
He has a half dozen 348's too, if anyone else is interested. lol
4SPEED427 said
Jan 28, 2015
If you can afford it, grab it, even if you won't use it. That's gotta be a rare engine.
Nothing wrong with choices. Drive the 261, if you don't like it, you have an option that way.
Pontiacanada said
Jan 28, 2015
Buy it!
HonestDave said
Jan 28, 2015
I'd say your space and cash flow situation might dictate. I like to buy extra cars and have them sitting in case I need parts. Already gone through two parts cars on my 65 Olds. If you have room and money, buy the whole car and tuck it away.
-- Edited by HonestDave on Wednesday 28th of January 2015 10:31:06 AM
2drpost said
Jan 28, 2015
fast car back in it's day, '57 283 power pack 3spd....
long stroke said
Jan 28, 2015
I agree with every comment on here. Two great engines no doubt but i am partial to the trusty 261 inliner. You should buy that sweet 283 "Power Pack" motor any way. I had the very same motor in a 57 Chev Bel Air hardtop i owned for 24 years. Keep in mind it will cost you some bucks converting to the 283. Not only the motor but a number of items to make the conversion complete. Every part required for the conversion is readily available as reproduction parts but you have to factor in the cost there. Let us know what you have decided and the Pontiac brotherhood here needs photos.......... lots and lots of photos of your 57 Pontiac. Good luck with your Poncho. Cheers. George.
Indian said
Jan 28, 2015
Run the numbers, make sure the 283 is what he says it is and not just a 2bbl 283 with a 4bbl intake and carb setup. The 4th digit on a Rochester carb identifies the year.
57 Pathfinder said
Jan 28, 2015
I might get a chance to swing out there again this weekend. It did look very correct and original, but I'll pull all the numbers I can find and post em up here for confirmation. I'l make a point of taking lots of pics for George. :)
I would probably prefer the 283 over the 261. I'm not an inline hater, but I'm not a super fan either. At least with this particular 283 I wouldn't consider running it to be molesting the car in any way. I would not consider a disguised newer crate sbc for this car...
427carl said
Jan 28, 2015
you should buy it "while its for sale"....
57 Pathfinder said
Jan 28, 2015
That would be ideal...
57 Pathfinder said
Feb 8, 2015
Well, a little update. I went back today and bought the 283. The 4GV Rochester is still on it, but it is missing the air cleaner and valve covers. Everything appears original and I got it for $500.
He did offer me another 283 he had in his shop already. Ran the numbers and it was a 58 corvette 283. Seemed to be fairly messed with as far as original parts go. Late model exhaust manifolds, HEI, Offenhauser 4 bbl intake. Early heads though and had the finned cast aluminum Corvette valve covers with the offset bolt pattern (possibly worth more than the motor). Coulda had it for the same money...and maybe should have grabbed it. I chose the 283 in the 57 Laurentian though as it had all the original parts on it, and is of course the correct year engine for the car.
I can't wait for spring.
Who does the Pontiac registry thing here? When the snow is gone I can grab pics of a half dozen 57 Pontiacs and the VIN tags if I know who to send them to. He just got another one this weekend, plain jane 4 door pathfinder.
vin: 72219600138
engine: W60180
body no.: 22
paint 2010
trim 926
Looks to be very early in the production run. Pretty much a parts car...
hawkeye5766 said
Feb 9, 2015
Do have a set of off set valve covers with raised Chevrolet not Pontiac stamping if interested. Air cleaner will be a hard find, been looking for a long time.
Pontiacanada said
Feb 9, 2015
Good stuff! I love a happy ending!
bjburnout said
Feb 9, 2015
2drpost wrote:
fast car back in it's day, '57 283 power pack 3spd....
....my first car was a 57 4 door with a power pack and a 3 speed......fun car,
terror on the road in it's day..........I know what I'd do.......
So the guy I bought my 57 Pathfinder from has a few 57's and when we were wandering around looking at them this past weekend, he was showing me one of his recent acquisitions and it has the Power Pack 283 4 barrel. Missing valve covers and air cleaner, but other than that complete. Should be the 9.5 CR 220 hp version.
So, now I'm wondering if I should stick to my guns and keep the 261, or grab the Power Pack 283 before someone else does? Either way I'd keep the 3 speed manual.
The car is so clean...would be cool with a story...
How much ? 500.00? 900.00 ? price helps deciding
He has a half dozen 348's too, if anyone else is interested. lol
Nothing wrong with choices. Drive the 261, if you don't like it, you have an option that way.
Buy it!
I'd say your space and cash flow situation might dictate. I like to buy extra cars and have them sitting in case I need parts. Already gone through two parts cars on my 65 Olds. If you have room and money, buy the whole car and tuck it away.
-- Edited by HonestDave on Wednesday 28th of January 2015 10:31:06 AM
fast car back in it's day, '57 283 power pack 3spd....
I agree with every comment on here. Two great engines no doubt but i am partial to the trusty 261 inliner. You should buy that sweet 283 "Power Pack" motor any way. I had the very same motor in a 57 Chev Bel Air hardtop i owned for 24 years. Keep in mind it will cost you some bucks converting to the 283. Not only the motor but a number of items to make the conversion complete. Every part required for the conversion is readily available as reproduction parts but you have to factor in the cost there. Let us know what you have decided and the Pontiac brotherhood here needs photos.......... lots and lots of photos of your 57 Pontiac. Good luck with your Poncho. Cheers. George.
I would probably prefer the 283 over the 261. I'm not an inline hater, but I'm not a super fan either. At least with this particular 283 I wouldn't consider running it to be molesting the car in any way. I would not consider a disguised newer crate sbc for this car...
you should buy it "while its for sale"....
That would be ideal...
Well, a little update. I went back today and bought the 283. The 4GV Rochester is still on it, but it is missing the air cleaner and valve covers. Everything appears original and I got it for $500.
He did offer me another 283 he had in his shop already. Ran the numbers and it was a 58 corvette 283. Seemed to be fairly messed with as far as original parts go. Late model exhaust manifolds, HEI, Offenhauser 4 bbl intake. Early heads though and had the finned cast aluminum Corvette valve covers with the offset bolt pattern (possibly worth more than the motor). Coulda had it for the same money...and maybe should have grabbed it. I chose the 283 in the 57 Laurentian though as it had all the original parts on it, and is of course the correct year engine for the car.
I can't wait for spring.
Who does the Pontiac registry thing here? When the snow is gone I can grab pics of a half dozen 57 Pontiacs and the VIN tags if I know who to send them to. He just got another one this weekend, plain jane 4 door pathfinder.
vin: 72219600138
engine: W60180
body no.: 22
paint 2010
trim 926
Looks to be very early in the production run. Pretty much a parts car...
Good stuff! I love a happy ending!
....my first car was a 57 4 door with a power pack and a 3 speed......fun car,
terror on the road in it's day..........I know what I'd do.......