Hey everyone, I have a 1981 Trans Am that I'm workin on to make my daily driver. The motor it came with originally was the turbo 301, but it took a dump a long time ago and I didn't want it with the car. Recently I've come across a non-turbo 301 for a really good deal and I was going to stick it in the T/A for now. I know, I know, the 301 is only good for a paperweight, but I need a motor and this is a running, rebuilt motor out of a 79 T/A for $50, so I can't complain. What I was wondering, are there any headers or a cam I can put in it? I'm not looking for a monster, the 301 can't reallly do that.... but I would like it to have a nice choppy idle and make some noise! Anyone know of any aftermarket parts for the 301?

 

Header? I Think I heard Hooker made one at one time (not sure if they are the same header as usual Pontiacs though). I am pretty sure that the usual Pontiac V8 cams will fit, but you might want to research first and find out. Keep in mind though, that because these were Turbo cars, and from a very performance limited era, they have very low compression engines. Putting in a big cam shaft might just be hurting you more.
As far as heads go, you can put regular Pontiac V8 heads on a 301 but you will not be able to put a intake on.... the heads will not be the same distance apart and you will need to have the intake milled to accomodate the heads. On top of that, most bigger engine heads will have too big of valves for clearance and will drop your compression even more.

Best thing to do? Hit it with some nitrous... probably the most cost effective way of getting it to to.

 

I thought that the Pontiac line of engines (301, 350?, 400, 455) were all "big-block" configuration, and like SBC's, most of the parts were interchangable? I may be way wrong though!?

 

Yah, pretty close... the 265 and 301 were only out for a couple of years at the very end of the 2nd gen era... so most people don't even consider them when they talk about Pontiac V8's.
But yah, a traditional Pontiac V8 block can be from 326 to 455 cubic inches without any external difference.

 

I think the 301 was different in that it has a lower deck height, so standard Pontiac headers might not fit.

 

Yea, I've heard that the 301 was more unique than the 326-455 as well. I checked out summit and jegs, but didn't see anything for the 301. The heads were ported and polished with the car, and I don't even really want to have this thing scream on the track with NX, I just want a nice rumble under the hood while I take her to work and back. My friend has an original 73? 455 he wants to sell me, but I don't have the $$ right now. So this isn't something I want to take and win races with, just something to give my T/A some grunt while she waits for her new motor. I really don't want it to feel and sound like some Honda when she should at least be given the sound and fractional performance she deserves like the classic, generational icon she is. Help me rescue this bird from the junk heap!

 

If I were you, I wouldn't put any money into a 301. If it's running for $50 bucks and you really want to get the TA on the road, I'd buy it, put it in and live with it as is for now and save your dough to buy your friend's 455. Performance parts for the 301 are few and far between and the money that you'd put into headers and a cam for a 301 are money you save for that 455, which will REALLY wake that car up. Any parts you'd put on a 301 won't work with a 455 and there's not a whole lot of market for 301s so money you put into the 301 is just money you're not going to get back.

 

I would not spend any $$$ on the 301. Just put it in and drive it. The 301 is a pretty weak engine. The engineers really took a lot of meat of it to make it lighter. It will not hold up to spray. The 301 deck height is 1" shorter than other Pontiacs. Down the road a 400 or 455 Pontiac is a bolt in.

 

Well, if you dont want to do nitrous, this is what I would do to the car;

First, I'd instal an after-market dual exhaust, a 2.5" system, that way when you can swap down the road to a 455 it'll switch right over.

Second, I'd change out the gears, if your 'bird is like mine, the gears are hurting you... and again those can be used with the bigger engine in the future.

I might also think of a shift-kit (assuming it's an auto), chances are the 455 will blow your tranny in the future though... so investing in it is probably not too good of an idea.

For cam choice, GM Restorations apparently issued a high-po cam specifically for the 301 in 1977... GM #547868. Also I've heard that the Summit 2800 works good in 301's.