Has anyone out there ever swapped a 301 turbo out of a '80-81 Trans Am? I know they were kind of mutts from the factory, but are they the same block as the pontiac 326/350/400/455? As I recall, most of the Pontiacs used the same blocks w/ different bores for all the engines, unlike the Olds's. I don't know what the 301 interchanges with, but if the intake & stuff would fit any other Pontiac engines, it would be easy to build it up with common, inexpensive performance parts. I would imagine the 301 would be a bit wider than a small-block chevy, but otherwise it would have a regular BOP bellhousing & driver's side starter(I think).
So if anyone out there has monkeyed with these rare 301's, please let me know b/c I think it would be really cool to put a strong Pontiac v-8 in a little Fiero.
Thanks!
------------------ Jason Kamrud
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01:49 AM
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Oreif Member
Posts: 16460 From: Schaumburg, IL Registered: Jan 2000
The 301/326's were small block engines. The 350/389/400/428/455's were big block engines. Finding parts (Hi-perf) for the old Poncho small blocks is difficult. I use to have a 79 Grand Prix with the 301 many, many moons ago and back when they were making the engines, the parts were far and few. The 301 was only available for a few years (1978 thru 1981) The 326 block was the same size but machined very differently so you could not swap parts between the blocks. If you got ahold of a 301 or a 301 Turbo, It would probably be pretty neat in a Fiero. I have actually thought about it but finding a 301 and the parts to rebuild it might prove hard if not difficult these days.
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02:29 AM
Philphine Member
Posts: 6136 From: louisville,ky. usa Registered: Feb 2000
seems like the turbo would be just the right size for a 4.5-9 caddy engine or a 302 or 305chevy engine. guess you'd need to work out the new plumbing though.
I thought about doing it, I even found a trans am turbo to rob th eengine out of. But I decided not to for the reasons Orief stated. The only parts I could find were a gasket set, some bearings, and some aftermarket pistons, and those weren't even for the turbo motors. (I guess it wouldn't matter for most of the parts, but they weren't designated as parts for the turbo motors).
I thought that the 326 was a big block too (it would have been a smaller version of a 350 like a 389 was before they increased the displacement in '67 to 400 cubes) I'm probably mistaken though.
The turbo may be the right size, but it's a pretty outdated system, basically the reason I was going for the 301 turbo was because of the updated block and the turbo manifolds and crossover pipe. (I would have commented on this in my last reply but you must have posted it while I was still typing)
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10:31 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Originally posted by Oreif: The 301/326's were small block engines. The 350/389/400/428/455's were big block engines.
Actually, not entirely correct. The 326, 350, and 400 were small journal engines with 3 inch main bearings. The 389, 421, 428, and 455 are large journal engines with 3.25 inch main bearings. Now, the 301 is a different beast altogether. It's based on the small journal block, but has a lower deck height for the heads, so no heads, intake or other parts will interchange. Crank and connecting rods might physically fit the block, but they won't work with the low deck height of the heads.
As far as a 301 swap goes, it's engine mount and bellhousing is Pontiac standard (all Pontiac V8 blocks have the same bellhousing bolt pattern) so if a 301 will fit, any other Pontiac V8 will bolt in as well, so you're better off going with a larger engine. This is especially true since the 301 is a very low performance engine and not suited to hi performance use. It's basically a V8 Iron Duke - the Iron Duke was designed as one bank of the 301. The only thing to watch out for when swapping Pontiac V8's is the number of bolt holes on the engine mounts. Some years used 2 while others used 3. Many blocks have 5 holes and can take either mount, but it's something you need to be aware of. No one makes a conversion kit to put a Pontiac V8 in a Fiero, to my knowledge.
No flames intended but before you make the biggest mistake of your life: dump the 301!! Most people with a T/A and a 301 are getting rid of it and there's a reason for it, it's the worst engine that Pontiac ever made! I do mean ever made! If you want a Pontiac engine get a 389-455. The 326-350's don't have as much going for them either, mods wise that is.
------------------ Dave Gunsul N.I.F.E. member 86 GT modified 85 SE daily driver
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09:44 PM
qwikgta Member
Posts: 4670 From: Virginia Beach, VA Registered: Jan 2001
I had a 79 Grand Am, and I yanked the 301/AT200 and put in a 67 400/400 turbo trani. It rocked, I used a Nunzi engine relocate kit and a set of RAIII aftermarket manifolds. Had to shorten the drive shaft and fab up a trani mount for it. It had 16" TA rims, lowered suspention, TA hood scoop, Fiero buckets....lots more. Thanks for bringing back the memories, I lost lots of skin and sweat on that car. Rob
------------------ qwikgta@yahoo.com 88 T-Top coupe, 65K, Header no Cat, 16" GTZ rims, short shifter, swaybar, open element air cleaner, hood vents. http://robsfieroproject.homestead.com/index.html http://vafiero.com
