How much horsepower can you get out of a Pontiac 389?

You can say what you will about the 400 Ram Air IIIs, Ram Air IVs, 455 H.O.s, and Super-Dutys, but they owe their very existence to the tried-and-true 389. Introduced in the ’59 model year, this versatile V-8 boasted horsepower from 215 in economy trim up to 345 in Tri-Power form.

Are rebuild kits worth it?

The biggest advantage of buying an OEM rebuild kit is that it contains the same parts your engine was built with, so you know they’re all good quality parts. You can buy parts for a repair and know that they will fit correctly. This gives you peace of mind, since rebuilds can easily get expensive.

How much does a rebuild kit cost?

Typically, you can expect to pay between $50-$500 for the full rebuild kit. Some are even edging up to the $1000 mark when electric components are involved. So how does upgrading the overhaul kit factor into your total rebuild costs?

What does a rebuild kit do?

Most rebuild kits will include things like gaskets and seals, bearings, freeze plugs, and piston rings. More comprehensive kits may add in pistons, oil pumps, and even a camshaft and valvetrain parts.

Is the Pontiac 400 a good engine?

The Pontiac 400 engine was used as a high performance engine in sports cars, and it was used in large cars as a workhorse type engine, strong on power, though not as speedy as the higher performance engines. This was accomplished to a large extent by the use of carburetors.

Is it cheaper to rebuild an engine or replace it?

A scheduled overhaul is almost always less expensive than a new engine. Rebuilding to repair is usually cheaper than buying a new engine, too. You may save up to half of the cost of a new engine by rebuilding. However, sometimes rebuilding is not a good option.

Is a rebuilt engine as good as new?

Just what is a rebuilt engine? It has been declared that rebuilt engines are better than the engines originally installed at the factory, dependable, reliable and backed by warranties. Your most reliable and cost-effective choice for engine repair is to choose to replace your current engine with a rebuilt engine.

When did the Pontiac 389 engine come out?

389 Pontiac Engine Build The modern Pontiac V8 was introduced in 1955, displacing 287 cubic-inches. Over the years, displacement increased several times, but external dimensions remained about the same. The Pontiac 389 engine was produced from 1959 to 1966, and has a 4.06″ bore and 3.75″ stroke.

Can a 389 block be used on a Pontiac 400?

They fit on the 389 block with no problems and will work fine, providing you use push rods, rocker arms, and valve covers for the 1967-up Pontiac 400 motor. Pontiac V8 blocks have just ten head bolts, so correct torquing is critical.

What kind of engine does a Pontiac V-8 have?

Besides a variety of displacements, the Pontiac V-8 block saw a number of other changes over the years, including starter locations, main-journal diameters, engine-mounting points, and transmission bell-housing bolt patterns. Parts interchange is still pretty good, but do your homework before swapping parts.

What are the head bolts on a Pontiac V8?

Pontiac V8 blocks have just ten head bolts, so correct torquing is critical. On hydraulic cam-equipped motors, rocker arms are adjusted by tightening them to 20 lb/ft. Intake manifold bolts get tightened to 40 lb/ft. After the manifold and carbs were rebuilt and reinstalled, the GTO engine looked, sounded and ran great.