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russ
Sitting Bull
USA
167 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Mar 2010 : 9:57:28 PM
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| i found a 75 400 catalina for 300 bucks. 103,000 mile original engine. is this engine worth freshening up and using for a 71 t-37 with 4 speed? or are the heads total trash?? |
Edited by - russ on 11 Mar 2010 12:02:29 AM |
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RayK
Cochise
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 06:21:06 AM
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| What is the casting # on the heads? I had a 1971 400 and the heads were 96's which are decent heads just lower compression but you can get a cam to accomodate. |
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mike mcarthur
Pony that Jumps
USA
1303 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 09:41:36 AM
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| Sounds like a good deal to me. |
It's the stuff you learn after you know it all that's important |
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Phil
Great White Buffalo
3181 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 11:53:51 AM
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| Russ, where are you located? |
Bowties are for Peewee Herman |
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Vid
Cochise
USA
581 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 12:15:54 PM
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| For $300, he should be located behind the wheel of a '71 Grandville. |
""I'll get around to that NEXT weekend..."
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russ
Sitting Bull
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 1:32:56 PM
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i'm from massachusetts
i ended up getting it for $200 after it was at the boneyard, it will be getting pulled soon
does somebody have a better deal for me? |
Edited by - russ on 08 Mar 2010 1:36:53 PM |
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Brian R
Cochise
USA
862 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 9:00:17 PM
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In Mass - you bast#$d..... Good for you, I am jealous.
I am in Mass and would have grabbed it in a heart beat and taken it out of there like a bag lady running from a liquor store with a bottle of Boone's Farm.....
Know of any more?
Good luck |
Edited by - Brian R on 08 Mar 2010 9:02:28 PM |
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Vid
Cochise
USA
581 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 10:16:04 PM
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...like a bag lady running from a liquor store with a bottle of Boone's Farm.....
Like a WHAT?! LOL |
""I'll get around to that NEXT weekend..."
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russ
Sitting Bull
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 10:37:46 PM
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let me tell you brian, up here in mass you know 99.9% of old pontiacs are in the crusher long ago. it was a find. i wish the heads were worth using because of the compression.
does anyone here think 71 350 heads would buy some time? on the 350 they were the same low compression but i would imagine it would be higher on a 400. can you put the larger intake valve on the 94's? |
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Vid
Cochise
USA
581 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2010 : 12:10:17 AM
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| Russ, it's all about measuring the chambers to see what you've got. Many of us here have been surprised with what our heads cc'd versus what we thought we had. |
""I'll get around to that NEXT weekend..."
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russ
Sitting Bull
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2010 : 06:29:11 AM
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| i understand. this is a virgin motor, 7.5 cr is the norm on both motors, i'd think it might go up with the 94's |
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Phil
Great White Buffalo
3181 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2010 : 07:10:32 AM
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| Russ, what is the condition of the rest of the car? Or should I say "rust" of the car since you are in Mass? |
Bowties are for Peewee Herman |
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russ
Sitting Bull
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2010 : 10:20:40 AM
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| full of rust and dents , hood seems ok |
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Phil
Great White Buffalo
3181 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2010 : 1:54:04 PM
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| OK thanks for posting. |
Bowties are for Peewee Herman |
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russ
Sitting Bull
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 12:04:34 AM
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| i saw somwhere that some 75 400's should be avoided. less metal an can crack down the middle. can someone help me here? |
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Kiwi Mal
Cochise
New Zealand
551 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 12:47:34 AM
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quote:
i saw somwhere that some 75 400's should be avoided. less metal an can crack down the middle. can someone help me here?
From 75 they were a lighter castings (557 blocks) around the mains. I have seen pic's on other boards of cracked blocks. My last engine was a 75 557 and it saw 7000rpm at times. It had E heads, eagle rods, TRW forged pistons. It ran the bearings, but the block is still good.
The new engine is a 78 XX block. The same as the earlier castings. I think a 557 block is fine for mild to moderate builds that are built well. High performance I would rather have the security of the earlier design blocks. |
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Phil
Great White Buffalo
3181 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 07:04:56 AM
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| The 75-up 400 block issue is not untrue however is overplayed on the net. Mal makes a good point about them being fine for most street builds. But for an all out race effort it just makes good business sense to use a known, sturdier block. |
Bowties are for Peewee Herman |
Edited by - Phil on 11 Mar 2010 09:16:07 AM |
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Mr. P-Body
Running Bear
USA
1507 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 08:48:46 AM
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Ditto Mal and Phil. The term "weaker" is "relative". If you keep your power level under 550-600, it will be fine.
Jim |
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Steve C.
Cochise
387 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 10:12:44 AM
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| The weaker main 400 block number 500557 was mid to late 1975. The stronger 481988 400 block was still used in 1975. This according to Pete McCarthy book. |
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JVAKVA
Tribal Scout
2 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 8:23:04 PM
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| If you just want a fun driver, it will be fine. Pbody did ours and it runs like a top. He knows of what he speaks. |
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JVAKVA
Tribal Scout
2 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 8:38:49 PM
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We should clarify, we don't have have a late block like that that is in question, be we would totally agree with Mr Pbody regarding the use of said block. |
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Taman
Cochise
USA
583 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 9:15:00 PM
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| My 557 block lasted 10 years of serious abuse. I made 475 hp. The engine expired when I had got some bad gas and detonated the engine and pushed a main dowel pin out of one of the main caps.Did have 20k miles on the engine. The way I drive my TA, I am surprised it lasted that long. |
Everything Under The Sun Is Intune |
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PontiacMatt
Cochise
USA
659 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 11:55:40 PM
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I acquired a complete 400 a few months ago in a package deal of Pontiac Parts, it's a 75 block, but NOT the "557" casting... (it's the 481988 casting)
just reinsuring that these thicker webbed castings were still available up into part of 75'...
FWIW
-Matt |
*72' Pontiac Lemans* - Work in Progress |
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1975 400 engine
