Swapping a 77 400 4 speed into a 71 Lemans.......

[pontiac monger]

Hello,
I have a 71 Lemans project car. I recently got a 77 pontiac 400 and saginaw(?) 4 speed transmission for $100. It is complete from carb to drive shaft yoke.

I have already found that the 77 Z bar is too long so I'll have to get a 71 Lemans z bar. Now I'm wondering what else I may have to change.

Any tips would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Randy

[Bandwagon Man]

most likely you will need the motor mount kit to go from the late model motor-to the early model, the early i believe had 2 bolt mounts, up to 73?
my 68 block has them ,and i need the oposit ones you will need
the mounts will keep the motor in the right place - not to far back,or forward

check ames,and classic industries for them

[A.X.]

Or, just see if anyone has some cheap in the classifieds. If I had any, I'd just give 'em to ya, but I don't. lol!

[pontiac monger]

Thanks guys,

I looked at the brackets online and was able to make my own. Pretty simple actually. Of coarse having the original 71 350 right here to measure from made it much easier than it would have been.

Now that I have the engine mounting figured out, I need to figure out the 4 speed clutch linkage situation. I have the Z bar from the 77 400 car but it is way too long/wide and the wrong shape for the A body so I know I'll need an A body Z bar and clutch push rod. Any reading this got one????
I also have a 70 Olds 442 and was kinda surprised to see that the Z was different between it and the 71 Lemans. The Olds uses a ball stud on both ends of the Z bar while the Lemans uses a cylindrical stud on the block side which requires the Z bar to have a pivoting mechansism. Unless I can find it used all together, this pivoting assembly will make the Lemans Z bar twice as expensive as the Olds Z bar. Like over $80 as compared to $35 for the Olds Z bar.
Anyone know if the pivoting arms are in the same locations on both? In other words, can I use and Olds A body Z bar?
Thank again.....again,
Randy

[mrpontiac65]

You might be able to make the Olds Z-bar work, check the arms on it to make sure . I used a '65 GTO Z-bar on a '68 GTO once and had to change the top bar(wrong angle) and did away withe the u-joint style that wears out. They made it that way to alow for motor flexing under torque and will not come apart if you brake a motor mount as compared to the older style like the GTO's.

"70-'71 was the change over on the motor mounts, all '71's I've seen have the big long mounts like GTO style(long bolt thru mount I can come up with pictures if you need) and I've seen one '70 GTO with the long style also.( the rubber part bolts to the engine) The TA style have the steel engine brackets and the (caged mount on frame). There are different steel engine brackets that look similar but are for Full-size.