Hello All,

I have a friend who has a 81 Pontiac LeMans and is considering buying a Chevy 350 crate engine to replace the 265 in there now. Will this thing fit without a whole lot of modification, engine mounts, etc. Is there anything I should know about this, I've done plenty of engine swaps just never one into a non-chevy car.

Thanks Much

Corey

www.ChevelleSS.com (http://www.ChevelleSS.com)

Since you have a pontiac engine in there, swapping to a chevy small block, while easy enough, is going to take lot of parts replacement. The tranny will have to be changed to a chevy bolt pattern as well. If I remember right, these are the same as the early '80's chevy malibu's, right? The easiest thing to do would be to find a cheap, running chevrolet verison of the car, so you can get the engine, tranny, wiring harness, etc. You can also find good running stock 400 pontiac engines around, which is practically a direct bolt in (other than some accessory mounting brackets due to different deck heights), but chances are the car has a metric 200 tranny which would die in no time behind a torquey 400.

Thanks for the reply Travis. The tranny thats in there now is a 700r4 that got put in a few years ago. I think that should bolt right up to the 350. You mention alot of parts replacement, can you be more specific? I'm thinking this shouldn't be so hard, but I really don't know.

Thanks again

Corey

Corey,
If that 265 is a Pontiac motor, you will need frame brackets from a G-Body Monte Carlo or Malibu 82-87. You will also need all the PS, A/c, Alternator, etc bracket from the same donor car. Check if the starter and the fuel line are on the same side. Probably also a replacement fuel pump to carb line. If you have to deal with emmisions, then get all that stuff too. Exhaust may also be a problem. BTW, I've never heard of a Pontiac 265. I know they had a 301 back then. My 83 GP has a Chevy 305, so if you can find one of those, get the parts off of it. Doable, but a PITA job.

Tino is correct...lots of little things are different and will need replaced. If you have a dual bolt pattern tranny (BOP and chevy...did they make one?) then it will work. The easiest route to go would be to find a running 301 as they are exactly the same externally (low deck height and all) as the 265.

FYI, the 265 pontiac was a very short run motor...kinda like the 262 and 267 chevy V-8's. Smog motors with no power. A 301, with a few minor tweaks, might just suprise you on how well they can run for such a small motor.