Pontiac 400 for $250?

There's a Pontiac 400 for sale in the paper for only $250. And a 4-speed tranny for $50. Is it worth it? And where can I find a 455? Could I find one in a junkyard?

transam, There are more than two versions of the 400. The heads and era of block can have an effect on value. Any idea what year it is?
If the 4-speed is aluminum and has 7 bolts holding the side cover on, it's a Muncie, and for $50, should be grabbed, even if you don't need it! If it's aluminum (or cast iron case, aluminum tail housing) and has 10 bolts holding the side cover, it's a Borg Warner, and is still a screamin' deal. If it's cast iron (including the tail housing), it's a Saginaw. Pass on it. A 400 Pontiac will blow it apart in minutes...
What is your goal for this car? A 455 is a good engine, but core prices are sky-high. For a serious performance car, consider a 400 block and the Eagle "stroker" kit (makes it a 461). The internals are much better than stock, and a 400 block is physically stronger than a 455 block. Best of all possible "worlds".
There's a new book out on the Pontiac engine. "How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s" by Jim Hand, published by SA Designs. This is the first comnprehensive study of the "Injun Engine" since the HO Racing book in the mid-'70s. We've learned a bit since then...
Pontiacs are my "thing", so feel free to e-mail me with any specific questions. (cvms@cstone.net)

Well I have an '85 Trans Am with a 305 right now. And I was planning on putting a 455 in it but they're hard to fine and since this 400 is so cheap I think I'll get it. I want to have about 400hp or more. In my school auto tech class there's this Pontiac engine block and my teacher said it's either a 350 or a 400. But I don't think its for sale. How do I use the engine codes to find out about the engine and where are they? Are all Pontiac 400s easy to make fast?

you do know that if you get a 400 it's only gonna give you bout 220hp the 400 stands for cubic inches, cause it sounds like you think that number stands for the hp well ot dosen't

No sh**.

But I heard it was easy to get about 400 to 450 hp out of them.

It is easy. The 220 HP statement is from someone not familiar with older engines. They were rated in GBHP (Gross Brake Horse Power) until 1971. In 1970, the most powerful 400 was rated at 370 HP, and known as "Ram Air IV". The 350 horse version of the 400 was by far, the most popular. By simply adding headers, a good distributor and intake manifold, these 350 horse jobs easily passed 400.
In 1971, ratings changed from GBHP to SAE "Net" horsepower, where power was rated at the tailshaft of the transmission with all options and accessories operating. We've done some recent chassis dyno testing, where a couple of old stockers put out almost exactly, in RWHP (rear wheel horse power), the "Net" ratings they were assigned back in the day.
So I suppose we need to know which of these ratings are you looking to get to 400 with? 400 GBHP is a piece of cake. We get more than that from the stockers we redo with more modern approach to valve timing and compression. 400 RWHP is a bit more of a stretch. It can be done, but it will take some real high performance "goodies" (equals MONEY). You can generally add about 20% to the RWHP to get the GBHP. GBHP is the only one not subjected to outside influence, and is the most accurate measure of power output. It also must be measured on an engine dyno, which isn't cheap.
On boyleworks.com (muscle cars), there's a club known as the "1 to 1 Club", meaning the engine makes at least one horsepower per cubic inch of displacement. Many Pontiacs make the grade.
There's a two-letter code stamped into the front of the block, to tell you the application of the Pontiac.
Also, on the driver's side, under the head on the side of the block, if it's a '68-newer block, the displacement will be cast-in. If you can pull a head, just measure the bore and stroke. Your teacher should be able to give the correct formulas to arrive at the CID. If not, gimme a shout...

There also a great website you can go to, to get more information about the engine. They have horse power ratings, engine codes, head codes, intake casting number and a lot more.
http://www.pontiacpower.org

Well I have an '85 Trans Am with a 305 right now. And I was planning on putting a 455 in it but they're hard to fine and since this 400 is so cheap I think I'll get it. Are all Pontiac 400s easy to make fast?
I should point out that your car has a Chevy engine.
Swapping it for a Pontiac is like pissing in the wind.

Physically the engines are quite different. Extensive modification and a different transmission are required to get the Pontiac engine to work.

It makes no sense to do so when a Chevy engine could be built to meet your needs.

You can easily swap in a larger Chevy engine, like a built 350 or 383 stroker for much less money and effort than making a 400 Pontiac fit.

Also Chevy engines are cheaper to build, because parts are cheaper and more widely available.
I am not saying the Chevy engine is any better than the Pontiac, but if you are on a budget (aren't we all) it makes much more sense to build a Chevy

Well I have an '85 Trans Am with a 305 right now. And I was planning on putting a 455 in it but they're hard to fine and since this 400 is so cheap I think I'll get it. I want to have about 400hp or more. In my school auto tech class there's this Pontiac engine block and my teacher said it's either a 350 or a 400. But I don't think its for sale. How do I use the engine codes to find out about the engine and where are they? Are all Pontiac 400s easy to make fast?

One of the ways to determine which engine it is, is to look at the side of the block on the drivers side, near the front of the block. With the 350, 400, and 455, the displacement is actually cast into the block with raised letters.

I've heard that the 400 is better to build up than the 455 due to the thicker main caps. Don't bother to look for 4-bolt mains, though. Two bolt mains on PMD engines are as strong as 4-bolt mains on Chevy blocks. 4-bolt PMD engines are only found in SD and HO engines.

Some may ask "why a PMD V8?". Torque. Plain and simple, torque. Pontiacs always produced more torque than equal sized Chevy small blocks for the same years of production.

Money no object, there's even a company or two that are producing aluminum PMD blocks. THAT would be fun!

One word of warning, though. As a standard, Pontiac V8's use dual plane high rise intakes and may cause a clearance problem with the third gen hood. Be very careful that first time you try to close the hood after the installation.

The only (minor) complaint I have about the PMD engine is that they should have put the distributor in the front like Buick did.

Magicrat, I must interject here. A small block, while it may be a bit (not as much as you might think) cheaper to build, a 383 certainly is not. And a well built 400 Pontiac, with mostly factory pieces, and in a 3,000 lb.-plus car, will STOMP a 383 unless it has some pretty major work and high dollar parts in it. A Pontiac costs less to both buy AND build, than a big block Chevy of the same power output. Of course, once you pass the 700 horsepower level, this begins to level out, no matter what engine family you choose.
Gunstar1 has nailed it. Torque! It is said, horsepower sells engines. Torque MOVES cars. Which are you trying to do? There are those out there that view the '82-'92 Firebird as an abomination, as it HAS the Chevy engine. We call them "Cheviacs" here. There are also those that believe traditional Pontiac power can be more fun, and "different", while still maintaining a competitive posture. There are kits around to put the Pontiac in the later F-bodies, that include mounts and headers. Those of us "in the business", know what it takes to make the Poncho run with the Chevy. We also now what it takes to make the Chevy run. For certain applications, Pontiacs are superior, and vice versa. In heavy street cars, Pontiac has an overwhelming advantage. Understand, too, most negative stories about Pontiacs come from Chevy guys that tried their hand at building one, only to blow rods at a rediculous RPM level. When properly built, Pontiac makes more power at a lower a RPM level than any other American V8 for muscle cars.
Gunstar1 is also correct, in that the 400 is physically stronger than 455. The reason is simple. They are, for most intents and purposes, the same block casting. The 400 has a 3" main journal, and 455, a 3.25" one. This makes the "hole" (main bearing tunnel) larger in 455, thus making the block a tad weaker.
400s rarely NEED 4-bolt mains. 455s do, once they pass the 600 horsepower level. All the necessary aftermarket "stuff" to build a MONSTER Pontiac is out there, AND proven.