TELL ME THE TRUTH !!    "YOU CAN"T STAND THE TRUTH"     (What movie)

 

If my 283 was long gone  "I"  would put in a Big Block orange Pontiac motor   not, never, no, no, never,   a 398   (there 2 cents for free)

Interesting project    

Since when is a 389 vintage? and a big block chev not?   lol  

 At least you would have hundreds of questions, such as  what kind of motor is that!!..  

I'm teasing..  

I would have thought a  Camaro/Nova clip would be easiest  

and of course Pontiac motors were in a lot Firebird/Camaro clips and Pontiac motors in 74 GTO/Nova clips 

73SC wrote:

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A Canadian Pontiac engine would be my choice, 348 tri power would be nice, 409 better. I think using that American Pontiac engine would be a nightmare for modifications.

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         YES YES   Rat boy is Smart Boy     348/409 would be WAY COOL

Bad57Pontiac wrote:

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I would love to put a 389 in my Laurentianbut I'm wondering how doable it will be without major modification. Since the original 283 is long gone from my car, the 389 was the first engine I thought of that screamed vintage poncho. Any thoughts?

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 Will i have a better idea. Do something that is not only the right thing to do but also the easiest thing and lowest cost thing to do. Get a 283 V-8 and put that in there where it belongs. Your car will not only look better with the hood up, it will also handle better with the lighter 283 as opposed to the heavy 389. You will have more coin in your pocket and your bank account to spend on other things for your 57 because it will be lower cost to build a 283 as opposed to the 389. When selling your car, you will have a bigger market and get more for your 57 if it looks original. Keep in mind that the 57 is a  four door and a four door is slightly more marketable with an original looking engine. Do not let Carl lead you astray because he is just having some fun on here anyway. In all seriousness a 283 Chev V-8 should be in your 57 Pontiac or at the very least another Chev small block V-8 like a 327 or a 350 or a 305 or a 267 and then you can always make them look original. If you plan on going the high performance route then the Chev V-8 small block again will be a better choice because it will cost you less to buy performance equipment, like intake manifold, headers, camshaft, valve train parts, ignition parts etc. are all lower cost and far easier to find if it is Chevrolet V-8 small block. The 389 will cost more and be a bigger head ache to actually install because you will have to make many changes to acomodate the Pontiac 389 big block. Just my thoughts and what ever you decide, good luck with the resto on your fine 1957 Pontiac. Cheers. George.

should be pretty easy installation mtr. mounts will have to be made up if using stock frt.frame. wiring will be moved side to side as starter is on the left side & a crossmember made for trans. D/shaft, exh.ETC. & "bob's your uncle" BUT remember this ,if you have to rebuild this 389 get ready to pay about 3 times the $$ of a SBC. When i did my 64 Catalina I had the machine shop do their thing on machining & heads then I got it back in a "basket" & assembled it myself!! Still ran over the $3500 without having to bore it out!! Parts are the killer & thats not including the 2x4 set up!! What trans are you going to run?? Nothing from a Chevy will bolt up, need Buick Olds,Pontiac [BOP] bolt pattern & flywheel or flexplate "HAS TO BE Pontiac"!!! What yr. 389 is it?? they are a torqer engine but you don't want to rev it over 5500 to 6 grand!! Mine will "spin em" in 2nd gear with 2:67 out back & a Turbo 350 transmission from a mid 70's Olds. Used to "chirp" in 3rd when I had 3:42's Dualquads & a Comp Cam H268?? 3700+ lb. tank!!!!

What George said x2. But it's your car do as you please.

Gotta research your swaps carefully. Check your oil pan sump dimensions, steering and exhaust for clearance before you commit to 389. Here's what happened when a guy asked me to install an 455 Olds engine in a 64 Wildcat and the vehicles showed up at my shop before I had studied.  Can't modify the firewall for clearance (fairly sure it's a sin) and needed the engine to sit down straight so gave the frame crossmember a shave. Oh and needed a Toronado left manifold.  Best if you could have a close look at a loose 389 for some dimensions and details and if it appears to fit....well........ 3 dueces and a 4speed and a ....... you get the picture.  I think it's a cool if not the most economical choice

CdnGMfan wrote:

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For the vintage look, a 283 (or at least any SBC masquerading as a 283) with a dual quad WCFB intake or an Edelbrock re-issue triple deuce intake with chrome army helmet air cleaners.

Any objections to a hopped-up 261 six?

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 Cam you know how i feel about that beautiful 261 engine but i get the general impression that the 261 inliner is not a consideration here. It sounds like Will needs the bigger ponies under the hood on his 57 Pontiac. Will if you are listening, how do you feel about a souped up six. 261 souped up six that is because it will drop right in with no work. No mucking around to get that 261 six in there because 57 Pontiacs came standard with the 261 inliner six. The only draw back is that speed equipment for the six is expensive compared to the Chev V-8 small block. Unless you can buy the speed equipment good used and low cost, it is still a better deal to drop in a Chevy bent eight of the small block variety. Will in case you are interested here are some photos of what an original 261 inliner six cylinder motor looks like for you 57 Pontiac. This is the motor in my 57. Again good luck in what ever you decide. Cheers. George.

George, you need a label made up for "under the Bonnet" that says "WOW!! I COULD"VE HAD A V 8" !!!!

dualquadpete wrote:

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George I can't remember what co. made the V8 drink, but that was their slogan back in the 70's Thought it 'might' apply here?? Like the "no V8's allowed too!!!!

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 I remember the veggie drink well and they still make it. I think it is Campbell soup that makes the V-8 drink. George.

Okay so you're putting a 409 in it right?