Hi there! I just picked up a 1958 Pontiac Laurentian with an inline 6. The Engine code is W9128473 and the serial number is 8774932208. I just want to pick up a cap/rotor and plugs/wires but want to be sure that I have the correct engine.
Thanks a million for the help and I'll post pics as the resto gets going! Eric
Absolutely, no 235's in Canadian Pontiacs but the two look similar. Your engine is a 261, used from 1955 to 1962 in Canadian built Pontiac cars. Many folks say these were better performing engines than the first small block V8's
Click on the link where I suggest to see some former posts on these engines.
Absolutely, no 235's in Canadian Pontiacs but the two look similar. Your engine is a 261, used from 1955 to 1962 in Canadian built Pontiac cars. Many folks say these were better performing engines than the first small block V8's
Click on the link where I suggest to see some former posts on these engines.
-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 7th of September 2010 09:52:20 PM
I don't know about it being better than the 283, but the 261 is a great engine. I won't part with the one I have - I'd love to drop it in a Nova/Acadian sized car with a 4 speed behind it.
Absolutely, no 235's in Canadian Pontiacs but the two look similar. Your engine is a 261, used from 1955 to 1962 in Canadian built Pontiac cars. Many folks say these were better performing engines than the first small block V8's
Click on the link where I suggest to see some former posts on these engines.
-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 7th of September 2010 09:52:20 PM
I don't know about it being better than the 283, but the 261 is a great engine. I won't part with the one I have - I'd love to drop it in a Nova/Acadian sized car with a 4 speed behind it.
Does anyone else remember the Clifford ads in old Hot Rod mags? They made hop up parts for inline 6's. There motto was "6=8"
Thanks a bunch 73SC!! I really appreciate the help. The engine colour is dark green. What is the difference out of curiousity?
I'm really excited to get this old girl back on the road, I'm new to this but have always loved the classic Pontiacs! I'm heading out to hopefully buy 3 more on Thursday...parts cars. A lady has a 58 Laurentian, 58 Stratochief, and a 58 Pathfinder. The Strato is rough but some of the chrome is good and my dad and I need a bunch of parts off of all three of them. She's asking $1200 OBO for the three so you can't go wrong!
Great to have you on board. Good news on the parts cars, seems like a great deal.
Engine colour has been a mystery to us, seems like GM Canada used 3 different shade sof green and from my post you can see that in 1958 some were light green and some were dark green like yours.
...yeah, it's a 261. When I was in high school just north of Toronto my best buddy's grandfather from Saskatchewan died and willed him his '58 Pontiac Laurentian 4-door, black and white, and in MINT condition. Had like 40K on the clock. it was a 261 3-on-the-tree and it really went...nice car and I don't know what became of it...
The easy way to tell is the Poncho 261, has two casting marks by the starter. I had a picture but can't find it now. They are like two raised stripes.
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1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
The cousins south of the border call them 'Captains Bars'.
I have seen a fellow Canuck's Canadian 261 engine that came out of a '59 Apache. It seems to have had a remanufactured (by a Moose Jaw company) truck Jobmaster Six 261 with the original; 235 head. The valve cover was green and the block blue...I suspect that the cover was the original and the rebuilders sprayed the block with passenger-car blue. The vertical bars are there as is a 'M' mark for The McKinnon Industries Ltd on the block.
-- Edited by Oracle on Saturday 11th of September 2010 04:17:44 AM
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Automotive Historian, Author and Journalist Deputy Editor, VINTAGE ROADSCENE Southampton, England
The cousins south of the border call them 'Captains Bars'.
I have seen a fellow Canuck's Canadian 261 engine that came out of a '59 Apache. It seems to have had a remanufactured (by a Moose Jaw company) truck Jobmaster Six 261 with the original; 235 head. The valve cover was green and the block blue...I suspect that the cover was the original and the rebuilders sprayed the block with passenger-car blue. The vertical bars are there as is a 'M' mark for The McKinnon Industries Ltd on the block.
-- Edited by Oracle on Saturday 11th of September 2010 04:17:44 AM
Yup, Thats the bars...
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1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
The cousins south of the border call them 'Captains Bars'.
I have seen a fellow Canuck's Canadian 261 engine that came out of a '59 Apache. It seems to have had a remanufactured (by a Moose Jaw company) truck Jobmaster Six 261 with the original; 235 head. The valve cover was green and the block blue...I suspect that the cover was the original and the rebuilders sprayed the block with passenger-car blue. The vertical bars are there as is a 'M' mark for The McKinnon Industries Ltd on the block.
-- Edited by Oracle on Saturday 11th of September 2010 04:17:44 AM
Hi there! I just picked up a 1958 Pontiac Laurentian with an inline 6. The Engine code is W9128473 and the serial number is 8774932208. I just want to pick up a cap/rotor and plugs/wires but want to be sure that I have the correct engine.
Thanks a million for the help and I'll post pics as the resto gets going! Eric
Fabulous engine, the 261 is. As you well know by, you have a 261. This motor well tweaked, can keep up with no trouble at all. As long as you do not over rev them too often. You have a powerglide i assume, so you obviously do not have to worry about over reving the 261. The 261 is wonderful work horse and i would not trade my 261 in my 57 Pontiac for any V-8 ever made. I can only hope that you retain that 261 in your 58 Poncho and never swap in a V-8. Keeping it stock is great but there are numerous high performance parts that you can get new for the 261 inline six. Intake manifolds, exhaust headers and camshafts are avalable. There is a company called PATRICKS that specialize in these old six engines. You can also get a electronic ignition conversion that goes in the original distributer and know one would ever know. This conversion is worth its weight in gold. Please keep in mind that even though the 261 looks just like a 235, it is not. The 261 had steam holes surrounding every bore and corresponding holes in the head. Because of this it needs a 261 not a 235 head gasket and you can not use a 235 head on a 261, it would over heat and bake. Happy to hear another 261 has been saved and will be appreciated. Good luck with your fine 58 Pontiac. A great automobile. Cheers. George.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I love the starter on that motor .....manual engagement for starter-drive ( your heel on the gas pedal ----Toe on a plunger ) cool !!! had one in a 57 chev pickup
Hi there! I just picked up a 1958 Pontiac Laurentian with an inline 6. The Engine code is W9128473 and the serial number is 8774932208. I just want to pick up a cap/rotor and plugs/wires but want to be sure that I have the correct engine.
Thanks a million for the help and I'll post pics as the resto gets going! Eric
Fabulous engine, the 261 is. As you well know by, you have a 261. This motor well tweaked, can keep up with no trouble at all. As long as you do not over rev them too often. You have a powerglide i assume, so you obviously do not have to worry about over reving the 261. The 261 is wonderful work horse and i would not trade my 261 in my 57 Pontiac for any V-8 ever made. I can only hope that you retain that 261 in your 58 Poncho and never swap in a V-8. Keeping it stock is great but there are numerous high performance parts that you can get new for the 261 inline six. Intake manifolds, exhaust headers and camshafts are avalable. There is a company called PATRICKS that specialize in these old six engines. You can also get a electronic ignition conversion that goes in the original distributer and know one would ever know. This conversion is worth its weight in gold. Please keep in mind that even though the 261 looks just like a 235, it is not. The 261 had steam holes surrounding every bore and corresponding holes in the head. Because of this it needs a 261 not a 235 head gasket and you can not use a 235 head on a 261, it would over heat and bake. Happy to hear another 261 has been saved and will be appreciated. Good luck with your fine 58 Pontiac. A great automobile. Cheers. George.
Agree, it's a great engine. Lots of power & torque. I kept the one from my 62 Pontiac. All I need is a saginaw 4 speed and a car to put it in.
