1977 Pontiac Catalina safari new to the forum

I just did a quick CL search for Pontiac 350's in the midwest. I forgot to add that you want to limit your search to 1970 and later engines for motor mount purposes, the earlier engines only have chassis specific motor mount holes in the block, and can cause issues when putting them in a different body style. And for gas reasons I would look for 71-78 engienswith lower compression, so running it on mederngas will beless of an issue.

Oh10

http://toledo.craigslist.org/pts/4825028666.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/pts/4838628262.html

Chicago running rebuilt 400 with 350 trans in a 76 Lemans. May be more than you want to spend at $1500 but atleast you could test drive it and scrap out the rest of the car.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/pts/4848015822.html

350 2bbl in IN

http://bloomington.craigslist.org/pts/4846249106.html

Or if you want to make it cheap and simple here is a 301 with trans in WI

http://appleton.craigslist.org/pts/4833883697.html

 

Little late getting going this A.M. Gotta walk the dog, then I'll take a look. Maybe an hour......

 

OK, here's some pics. I thought maybe I would be able to unscrew a few panels, but it looks like something that I better leave well-enough alone.

Right-side of 3rd seat latch area:



It looks like thee cables/torsion rods are secured to a bracket, which is then covered by a trim panel. The trim panel is attached to the bracket with rivets. Then the ribbed rubber weatherstrip gets glued down to a separate bracket that runs along the top of the trip panel.


I tried finding an exploded-view diagram - no luck.
You may have to get this:
http://www.amazon.com/PONTIAC-FACTORY-REPAIR-SERVICE-MANUAL/dp/B00HQSL3B4

 

Welcome aboard, Jakesteines!
Always glad to see more Ponchos here.
I would also recommend a 350 or 400 Pontiac engine for your swap.
Much simpler.

 

Thanks for the links cammerjeff. I have a couple local leads and junkyards to contact. I might need to wait until tax refunds since I went a little over on my budget for the car to begin with.

Thanks for the pics krash. That rubber piece just snaps into that rack, which screws to the chassis. I haven't tried to mess with that cable system yet, but I think I can figure that out. My issue is on the drivers side. The seat I'm trying to install has a rod sticking out of it and I don't know where it goes.

 

Jake,

I looked in the 78 Pontiac Fisher Body Assembly Manual, and there was not much help there, so after Igot home last night I looked at the 78 Impala it looks like the Torque rod attaches under the seat mounting bracket on that side.
I pulled the lower seat cushion out, and pulled back the trimon that side. Without dissassembling the seat this is the best picture I could get.

I hope it is of some use to you.

 

That's perfect. I'll be working on it tomorrow. I also have a lead on a motor. The guy can't remember if it's a 350 or a 400 but it was from a 73 sj so I'm thinking 400. Thanks for the picture. I was thinking that's how it went but I didn't want to force it.

 

Glad I could Help, and if the engine is the original engine from a 73 GP SJ it would be a 455, that would be a score!!!! A complete running 455 in my area would go for at least $700 in rebuildable shape. Good luck on the engine search!!!!

 

I ended up with a 73 Pontiac 350. It was pretty freshly rebuilt. The 2 bbl intake got swapped for an Edelbrock performer so I could bolt the Quadrajet down. This is a little sooner than I planned on, but the 2 jet I had was missing the choke and it wasn't worth spending the money on. I rebuilt the quadrajet but I'll have to do some tuning, since I don't know what car it came off of. It's a 79 and was on a 301 intake. Everything went pretty well. I have to do a little fine tuning on the timing and carb, then figure out why the dipstick doesn't touch oil even though there is a little more than 6 quarts in. It'll hit the crank before it reaches oil. I also need a longer kickdown cable. The intake is in the way of where I need to put this one.

 

Sounds like someone left off the lower dipstick tube in the block...

 

When you get it running well, could you calculate your MPG for a couple fillups for me please? I'd really like to eventually do a swap from my 307 to a 350, and I'm curious what the difference in MPG will end up being.
Thanks!

 

I bet you're right elB. Why didn't I think about that? I even had the oil pan off.

Will do zzzixz.

 

On the highway, I het the big engine will be better on fuel than the 301. I got better mileage from a Buick 350 without overdrive than I did from an Olds 307 with overdrive.

 

That wouldn't surprise me. I had it out for a little highway cruise last night. Even 70 is a real easy 2000 RPM.

 

Sorry I haven't had a chance to do this yet. I have a vacuum leak from the throttle shaft on the QJet. I'll have to get bushings. I did recently take a 106 mile trip and use 1/4 tank. That works out to about 19 mpg. Not too bad for an out of tune v8 with a vac leak.