Pontiac 350 vs Chevy 350: Not All 350s Are Developed Equal
If you're looking at a well used GM project car plus trying to shape out the pontiac 350 vs chevy 350 argument, the first point you need to know is that these two engines talk about almost nothing besides their name. In the day, General Motors let its divisions—Chevy, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick—pretty much do their own factor. This resulted within a bunch associated with different V8 motors that all happened to displace around 350 cubic inches yet were built with completely different philosophies.
A great deal of people engaging in the hobby today assume a "350" is a "350, " but if you try to bolt a Chevy drinking water pump onto the Pontiac block, you're going to possess a frustrating afternoon. Let's break down what actually makes these types of two legends different and why this matters for the build.
The Displacement Secret
Here's a fun bit of trivia to start with: the Pontiac 350 isn't even a 350. As the Chevrolet 350 is a true 350 cubic inch engine (actually 349. 85 when we're being pedantic), the Pontiac version is actually a 354 cubic inch engine. Pontiac just rounded straight down for marketing reasons because "350" seemed better and fit the corporate branding of the period.
The way they get in order to those numbers is totally different, too. The Chevy uses a 4. 00-inch bore and the 3. 48-inch heart stroke. It's a "square" engine that likes to rev upward. The Pontiac, upon the other hands, uses a smaller 3. 875-inch bore and a very much longer 3. 75-inch stroke. That long stroke is the magic formula sauce to the particular Pontiac's personality—it's built for grunt, not really necessarily for screaming at high Rpm.
Architecture plus Weight
In the Chevy globe, you have "Small Blocks" and "Big Blocks. " The particular Chevy 350 is definitely the definitive Little Block Chevy (SBC). It's compact, fairly light, and matches into just about anything through a Vega to a C10 truck.
Pontiac didn't do the "small block/big block" thing. Instead, they had the single V8 block out design that they used for almost almost everything. Whether it had been a 326, 350, 400, or 455, the external measurements of the wedge were almost identical. This means a Pontiac 350 is definitely physically much bigger and heavier than a Chevy 350.
Since the Pontiac 350 stocks the same footprint as the massive 455, it's built such as a tank. The downside? You're carrying around a lot of extra metal for a medium-displacement engine. The benefit? If you decide you want good luck later, a 400 or even 455 will fall right into the same spot without a person having to proceed engine mounts or even swap out your transmission set up.
Torque vs. Horsepower
If you've ever powered a stock Pontiac LeMans using a 350 plus then jumped straight into a Nova using a Chevy 350, you'll feel the difference immediately. The Chevy feels snappy. This really wants to go, proceed, go. The Chevy 350's shorter stroke allows it in order to climb the rev range quickly, which is why it became the beloved of the pull strip and circle tracks.
The Pontiac 350 comes across as being like a tractor in comparison—and I actually mean that as being a compliment. Thanks to that 3. 75-inch stroke, it can make substantial low-end torque . It'll pull a heavy car off the line with simplicity without you having to mash the pedal towards the floor. It's an excellent "cruiser" engine. It doesn't need 4. eleven gears in the back to feel fast; it just leans into that torque curve and goes.
Parts Accessibility and the "Poncho Tax"
This is where the Chevy 350 usually wins the popular vote. You may walk into any kind of auto parts store in the middle of nowhere, plus they'll probably possess a Chevy 350 alternator, water pump, and gasket set in stock. The automotive aftermarket support for the particular SBC is crazy. You can develop a 500-horsepower Chevy 350 using parts from a catalog for regarding the price of an used Honda Civic.
Pontiac parts are usually a different story. They aren't "rare, " but they are definitely more expensive. Enthusiasts call this the "Poncho Tax. " Because fewer of such engines were made compared to the millions of Chevys, the manufacturing expenses for performance parts like heads, content, and cams are higher.
Also, you have got to be careful when buying components. A lot of "universal" GM components are actually simply Chevy parts. When you're looking for a chrome dress up kit, the Chevy stuff won't suit the Pontiac. The particular oil pan is definitely different, the time cover is various, and also the way the cooling program flows is special to each brand.
How you can Tell Them Apart at a Glance
If you're at an exchange meet or searching beneath the hood of a dusty barn find, there are a few deceased giveaways to help you place a pontiac 350 vs chevy 350 .
First, appearance at the distributor . On a Chevy, the distributor is with the very back of the motor, right against the firewall. On the Pontiac, it's also from the back, yet it's angled somewhat and the hole it sits within is part of the block spreading, whereas the Chevy's sits through the intake manifold.
Second, check the particular energy pump . On a Chevy 350, the particular fuel pump is located within the reduced passenger side associated with the block. On a Pontiac 350, it's on the reduce driver's side.
Third, appearance at the exhaust slots . Chevy 350 heads have two exhaust ports in the middle that are correct close to each other (the "siamese" ports). Pontiac heads have got evenly spaced exhaust ports. These very little visual cues can save you the lot of headaches before you hands over cash for an engine you didn't actually desire.
The "Corporate Engine" Controversy
By the late 1970s, GM started getting lazy (or efficient, depending upon who you ask). They began placing Chevy engines directly into Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles. This actually directed to lawsuits since people bought a Pontiac expecting a "Wide Track" electric motor and found the Chevy orange engine underneath the hood.
If you have a 1977 or later Firebird, there's a very high chance this has a Chevy 350 from the particular factory. If it's an earlier car, it's more prone to have the particular "true" Pontiac 350. For the purists, keeping a Pontiac engine in a Pontiac car is a big deal for resale value. Putting the Chevy 350 in to a classic GTO or Firebird will be often seen because a "cheap" move, even if it is technically a more affordable way to get horsepower.
Which One Should You Choose?
So, what kind wins the pontiac 350 vs chevy 350 fight? It really is dependent on what you're doing with all the car.
In case you are developing a budget-friendly road machine or the dedicated race vehicle where you plan on breaking things plus needing cheap replacements, the Chevy 350 may be the california king. You just can't beat the price-to-performance ratio. It's probably the most documented engine of all time, and there's the YouTube video regarding every single bolt on that electric motor.
However, in case you're restoring a vintage Pontiac plus want that genuine, torquey feel, stick with the Pontiac 350 . It has an unique sound—a much deeper, throatier growl compared with how the Chevy—and this commands more respect at car displays from people who understand their history. As well as, there's something cool about being different. Every other person at the nearby meet has a Chevy 350. Not really everyone has the high-nickel, long-stroke Pontiac mill under the particular hood.
In the end associated with the day, each are legendary V8s that helped specify the muscle car era. Just create sure you understand which one you're working on before you start ordering parts, or your "350" project might turn into a 350-day nightmare.