Used a 350 Pontiac in a 55.2 and it is a better fit than a sbc mainly due to the exhaust manifolds giving more steering clearence. The Poncho's manifolds aim down from the head while the sbc ones are straight out to the side. 350 Chevy is 300hp/280 torque while the Pontiac is 330hp/280. A virtual wash but of course the Chevy is much easier and cheaper to make big ponies with but for ones just wanting a more modern engine and power increase they might consider the Pontiac.
Evan, that is really slick. Question, did you have to modify to steering box to get sufficient clearance? Could this setup be used in AD trucks without having to modify the steering set up?
Pontiac V8 starter is on the driver's side of the engine. It should clear the stock steering box OK, but now way a power steering box will fit in that space.
Bop 350 For those who don't know , the Buick Olds Pontiac 350 is a vastly improved version of the SBC ~ it displaces the same CID but few parts interchange and there's much less Hot Rod stuff made for it . Similar to the differences between a Chevy 235 and a GMC L O N G motor , these sturdy well designed and built engines were fitted to GMC Trucks , there's no real need to Hot Rod one , you just install it and tune it right and enjoy the power & longer life .
This one is a 1969 so it's the same as the 400/455 except for deck height. Some of the later 350 offerings were sbc chevies whether it was in a Pontiac, Buick, or Olds. GM started calling it a "GM Corporate Engine" after some Cadillac owners sued for having a Chevy in a Cad.
