What's wrong with this ?
[img]http://photo.starblvd.net/~Jamie/5-3-5.jpg?i=1066507057&pw=*1D043F75F288[/img]
This is '67 bird. The engine you see is a 400 mounted the way it was when I got the car. The engine is about 2 inches off centerline to the pass. side. This can't be right can it ? The Frame mounts are different also. See how the driver side sticks inward and the pass. side is more flat. Do yours do this ? Something smells like fish and it ain't tuna. Also to swap in a 455 would the 400 mounts for the 'bird be the correct ones ? Thanks !

What's wrong with this ? It's yellow j/k. Mine is the same way, they are shifted over to the side to clear the steering and brake booster. With headers, mine still barely clears.

So I can stop sweaten it a say it's normal ? I knew I was gettin a yard dog when I bought this car but I don't have a clue what the proper parts are for the mounts. Anybody know about the 400 to 455 swap as far as what mounts to use ? I'm assuming the 400 should work. Thanks 69 350

It's normal. The engine is offset to clear the steering box.

The 455 and 400 blocks are extrnally identical as far as size and fit are concerned. As long as the 455 has the right two motor mount holes drilled and tapped - or all 5 for that matter - you will have no problems setting either the 400 or 455 in there. It will look just like that, either way. Use the right mounts for a 400 Firebird from 67-69. Don't use the later 455 mounts from a Firebird. They won't work.

Bjorn knows how to cure that yellow problem, too.

Q

Thanks guys. This is my first complete car resto. I'm discovering things I never dealt with in my younger rodding days.

"Bjorn knows how to cure that yellow problem, too.

Oh, by the way I got the yellow licked ! The 455 will be the proper color !!

I was eyeballing a 69 Camaro a couple days ago at a cruise-in and looked at the engine location. The engine looked dead nuts in the middle and straight. I guess Pontiac engines are a lot wider than even big block Chevy's. So you probably don't want to try to put a Pontiac engine in a first gen Camaro.

A lot of people seem to freak about the crooked engine when they first get their car, including myself. Maybe Geoff should put a statement on the main page of this site that says "Don't worry. The engine is supposed to be crooked!"

We have Firebirds, 'cause we LIKE to be different.

I like to tell my Camaro-loving brother that Pontiac lined up the motor toward the passenger side to offest the weight of the driver, something Chevy NEVER would have thought of...

Q

I was going to say : " How the heck did you manage to get my motor out without me noticing!" LOL

Looks like some other owner decided to noit add a under hood light!! LOL

Well, you aare betrter off painting it out anyway! It wa backbreaking painting the top of the engine w a 'willow twig', 3 hrs leaning over...then 1 ./5 hrs from underneath....
almost quicker to take engine out...lol

and yes, mine is also about 1.5" over to pass. side....I remember having to measure that for Brett almost two years ago....cant even reme,mber now how many guys 'discover' this and freak out!

its not a big deal...but for the Aussie guys with the steering etc on the right...there its a problem...

looks like you dont have a problem at all...engine will be blue and it supposed to be over 1.5 - 2 " to pass side (in US )

You would think being offset would do hell to the driveline. Anybody notice the slop in the timing chain? Anyway out with the old and in with the new (455 stump puller) !!!!!!!!!!!!

Quenton, was that you that has the dual-quad setup ?

I have 3 (yes, three - don't ask why) dual quad set-ups, but none are for sale at the moment. I have already promised one, and the other two are slated for use on two of my cars.

I'm willing to offer free advice on setting up a 2x4, but remember - you get what you pay for!

Also, about that offset ... the pinion angle is already set by the design of the driveline. Offsetting the engine another 1/2 degree will not affect the performance or the longevity of the drive line. The U-joints don't really care where the angle comes from - they just allow it to happen.

Q

Ya, I was curious on the 2x4 what intake and carbs are working the best for you and do you have large valve heads with that setup ?

Here are my set-up(s) for my 455 and 428:

Manifold: Offy 360 Dual Quad (P/N:5708), high-rise version, cut down 1-1/4 inches.

Carbs: Two Holley #9776, 450 CFM, manual secondary NOT double-pumper. (These use a secondary metering plate with manual butterflies, not a vacuum dashpot.)

Heads: Large valves, open chambers, Ram Air IV intake ports, ported, gasket matched, 3-angle valve job. (455 = #7K3 & 428 = #64)

Presently on my 455, I run the two carbs BACKWARDS. Sounds strange, but it works great - and it was the only way to clear the waterneck with a pair of Holley cabs. I made my own custom linkage that moved the throttle action to the passenger side of the engine and operated the carbs in reverse. They are not progressive from carb to carb. As soon as I put my foot into it, I am running on 4 Barrels. No wonder I only get 8 MPG.

A duplicate of this 455 set-up will go onto my 428.

My "new" 455 set-up will be two of the same Holley 9776 carbs, converted to double-pumpers, oriented face-to-face. To accomplish this, I have moved the two carbs to the rear by about 1/4 inch and come up with another set of custom linkage that operates the two carbs in synch. I also shaved about 1/8 inch from the fuel bowls of each carb. Half of that shave was the "Holley" logo!

I have been toying with the idea of trying out an Edelbrock P-65, but more than one source have mentioned that the Offy is a superior manifold. I would like to try Dual Q-Jets on the P-65, as I have already set up my 3rd Offy to run this way. (Dual Chevy Q-Jets face to face, slightly skewed so that the fuel inlets don't bump ...)

The performance from my 455 with the dual Holleys is incredible. I recently switched from #670 heads to #7K3 heads. After getting the jetting almost right (I still have some tweaking to do on the secondary side), I can hardly feel a difference, even though I dropped the compression by 2 points. There is so much throttle response with this set-up.

I have never tried Carter or Edelbrock-style AFB carbs. I owned a Mopar once, and that was enough to keep me in the GM family forever.

Q