Pontiac IO drive Setup?

[joezek]

Just wondering if there's any IO drive setups designed to use any other GM engines besides Chevy. Buick, Olds, Pontiac, and Cadillac all have the same transmission/bellhousing bolt pattern and Chevy is in it's own class. The reason I'm asking is because I'm looking for a project boat to install my old Pontiac 400 engine into. It's a great engine, puts out around 375 HP, 425 torque, and has a nice rough idle to it. I don't know how strong out drives are or if it's even a possibility to make this idea work.

Any thoughts??

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pontiac IO drive Setup?

Ayuh,... The problem is cooled exhaust manifolds....

455 Olds were used in Jetboats, but not I/Os...
Never seen a Pontiac in Any boat...

Lumpy idle, 'n Boats don't mix so well either...

 

[Tahorover]

Re: Pontiac IO drive Setup?

Glenwood Marine makes exhaust manifolds,motor mounts and Velvet drive bellhousing for your engine. So I think you could use a mercruiser TRS drive if your set on a I/O. Personally I would go with an inboard set up in straight drive or V-drive.

As far as your cam goes, do you know your grind specs? Marine cams must have little or no overlap.When I built my 500hp marine engine and had to go with a solid roller. A roller cam will give you a fast ramp speed and high lift for big power with little overlap.

http://www.boatstoreonline.com/Konrad.html
http://www.glenwoodmarine.com/Catalog/MOTOR MOUNTS.pdf

 

[joezek]

Re: Pontiac IO drive Setup?

Great info- thanks!

As far as my cam goes, it's a factory Pontiac cam from a 1967 GTO. It's .469 lift, 230 duration at .050, and I have it advanced 4 degrees, I think the LC was 110 if I remember. It's got a noticeable idle but has plenty of torque from idle speed and up, much more than compared to a typical stock small block. My wife and I spend our weekends at the local sandbar with friends, and the waterway has a lot of extremely shallow areas that are impossible to reach with an inboard setup. That's the main reason I want an I/O. We'll never go in the ocean either, just cruise around in the waterways.

Thanks for those website links, it'll help me determine whether I can make this work. I've had this engine in my old Grand Am since high school, and recently had to scrap the car because it was so rotted out. Keeping the engine alive would be really great.

 

[thompy]

Re: Pontiac IO drive Setup?

with the sandbars, a jet may be the way to go, and the ? about a cam is to much valve overlap can cause water reversion, where water can be sucked back into the cylinders at idle through the water cooled exhaust

 

[mkast]

Re: Pontiac IO drive Setup?

It's got a noticeable idle

This may be a problem.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: Pontiac IO drive Setup?

You could go this way:
Buy this or something like it to get the BOP I/O setup:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/2404003326.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/2380705272.html