Thread: '38 Pontiac....what type of engine?

Tweet

I've fairly new to this, and I recently bought a '38 Pontiac Sedan from a friend (see pic below). It still has the original engine in it, but I want something powerfull.....something with a floor shift (not 3 on the tree)... Obviously I'll have to put in a whole new tranny and engine, but are there any suggestions onto what type? I've got all the room in the world to work with, I just don't know if I should stay Pontiac/GM or go with something else... Thanks for the help...

The 350 Chevy is the obvious out, but If I had an early Pontiac, I'd put a Pontiac V8 in it. Anything with a 389 to 455 would be fun. You can tack a TH400 or 4-speed behind it and have heck of a cruiser. Of course, the rear end would have to be upgraded also.

Just so you know, the car pictured is a 1939. This is what a '38 looks like;

No question...........keep it all Pontiac. A sbc in there will look like you forgot to put any engine in there.


Nice looking Poncho, BTW. Might want to rethink that stickshift setup......Pontiac did make lots of them, but an automatic just goes in so much easier, and this isn't going to be a real hi performance kind of rod anyway. JMO.


Don

It would be cool to have a 389 or 421 or 455 with an automatic....buy a
complete car and use the entire drivetrain.... just dont use a 403
http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/pontiac...ds403infl.html
It's not really a Pontiac engine and it is the worst performer of the bunch.

mike in tucson

All I can say is it's a shame to cut the old lady up. There are too few originals left as it is. It's never going to be a fast car because it's too heavy, so why not just give it a good tune-up and drive it?

Don't really know if that 39 has a straight 8 or just a 6 but that eight cylinder probably has alot a torque for that period and with all that cylinder wall you can probably bore it out pretty large Don't know if you can find pistons or any sped equipment though. I keep it stock maybe update the suspension some.

I'd love to see the car with a Stage 3 or 4 455 and a super T-10 4 speed... Had the same setup in a '75 Grand Prix many moons ago, even made that overweight sled fly!!!

NOTTA sbc. I agree, keep it all Pontiac if anyway possible.

Jack