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79 Trans am Engine swap

  
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79 Trans am Engine swap

 
at420 at420
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 09/09
Posted: 09/13/09
12:34 AM

Have a 79 TA with the 403 olds that I finally blow up.  I have a 69 Pontiac 350 from a 69 lemans that I am trying to put in (at least till I get the 400 or 455).  I already have the engine clamshell Brackets to put the 350 in from Classic Industries.  I am just wondering if I can use the original 79 engine mounts to work with the brackets, or if I have to get the ones for a diff year.  and if so what ones.  

 
creepyracing creepyracing
User | Posts: 154 | Joined: 06/08
Posted: 09/13/09
01:49 AM

I've made this swap from a 403 to a 455. The olds engine cradle mounts didn't work with the pontiac motor. The mounts on the 74 engine I tranplanted were fine but I had to change out the front cradle mounts. The 74 engine did come from a trans am.The tranny,aTH350, bolted right up although I have since replaced it with a better TH400.Thats a seperate headache I won't go into now.Hopefully you have all the pulleys and brackets for the pontiac motor as none of the olds stuff will work there either.Their were some other minor glitches as well but it's been awhile since I made the swap and I can't remember what they were.All I know is the swap was well worth it as the olds was quite lathargic compared to the pontiac motor. Sounds like you will have a cool ride thats all pontiac. One of the other glitches I do remember was the ignition system.I found a donor motor pontiac 301 that had a HEI distributor assembly and this bolted right into the 455 eliminating the old coil wire/points system it had.The olds distributor won't work in the pontiac motor.It was then  completely compatable with the 79's wiring system.  good luck.  

 
barneyformula barneyformula
Guru | Posts: 1112 | Joined: 01/07
Posted: 09/13/09
02:57 PM

You will require the frame mounts from any late 70's Pontiac powered Firebird/TA. For ease of ordering, get the ones for a 79 TA with a 400. They will bolt in to different holes on the crossmember than the 403 mounts so have a look at a Pontiac powered car to see what holes to use.
Steve  
A little help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

 

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