is it possible to use the same motor mount from a 350 for a 455? i pulled the engine out of my 68 bird this weekend and going to get started on the front suspension. abnd was just curious if i could use the same mounts? also will i need stronger or stiffer coils for the front if i drop a 455 in? any or all info will help me alot as this is the first time i am doing this. tanks
Actually, a 455 is lighter than a 350 because more of the engine is filled with hot air .... right? Since all Pontiac V-8s (should we count the 301?) have the same external dimensions, there is essentially no difference in weight. The crank with its bigger journals and longer stroke will be slightly heavier, the pistons being shorter are lighter, the block with the bigger bores is... only .030" bigger so it doesn't matter. You can put a later (70-79) block into an early car (67-69) but not the other way around. The later blocks have both sets of motor mount holes (early and late) while the earlier blocks only have the early set. Since 455's are from 70-76 you can bolt one of these into your bird with no mods.
What year 455 are you installing? The 76 T/A 400 engine block that I installed did not have the same bolt holes, it had the 3 bolt and not the 2. If your block is that style you can either buy adaptor plates (Year One sells them for around $42) or just make them. It was not that hard for me to make them, but then again I have access to a metal fabrication shop.
not sure what year block or anything yet. i am looking to see if i can buy a crate 455 engine from a perfromance shop or what not. what would be the best thing to do? buying a 455 block taking it in and having them build it up orbuying 1 already built up? i am 18 years old and i am new at this. i am going to need a lot of help and here i think i can get it here. any help would be great.
1) Do you want to learn how to do most of this stuff yourself?
2) Are you mechanically inclined?
3) What are you waiting for?
I assume you answer "Yes" to 1 & 2.
I'm a huge advocate of finding the parts and getting everything together yourself. First step is deciding what you want, then learning what you are looking for to do that, and finally discovering how to find it. Then you build it! This is probably the most economical solution - though not always. We'll help you all the way.
Buying a built motor from a reputable source is not a bad idea, but being able to get help to solve problems that always come up might not be so easy. It just takes a lot of the fun and satisfaction out of scrounging your parts, and the ultimate satisfaction of firing that sucker up the first time.
Last, but certainly not least: Build that first one mild - save yourself a lot of money and grief.
