1980 turbo stock turbo, 455 or 454?

[bleeze]

I have a 1980 turbo black and gold car. Has orig motor and runs fine.  IM going to be restoringthe car.  car has 65k on the dash.  I would like to put a big hp motor in.  My questions are 1. is the car worth significantly moer wit hthe orig motor?  If not

2. I have good deal on two motors.  I know little about both motors.  BUt the 455 seems to be reabuilt with alot of new stuff on it.  headers wires ect... or a 454 that seems to be out of a 90 ss truck.I belive th hp is low on the motor but Im assuing wit ha few mods it can be brought up easily. 

[jjr]

 Sell the turbo car and use the money for a pre-molested TA of which there are plenty.

 Joe

[80TAPaceCar]

 Sell the turbo car and use the money for a molested TA of which there are plenty.

 Joe

X2

[bleeze]

not following why.   First are you saying sell as is or restore leave orig and sell?

Is there anything major diff from earlier years besides the motor and hood?

The car is half decent the interior is all there and in great shape.  Has 4 wheel disc, power locks and windows and has t tops.

[TATA in england]

KEEP IT STOCK !!!!!!!! OR SELL IT BEFORE ANOTHER 301 TURBO GETS DESTROYED.

[80TAPaceCar]

If all u are going to do is pull the motor out and molest another original car, sell it to somebody that will appreciate it as an original car and go find one that already has the motor yanked out and customize it to ur liking.  There are already so many out there in pieces, why create another one!

[bleeze]

Ok. I guess it has some extra value staying orig.   Fyi wasn't planing on making major customizations. Just pulling out motor and trans and saving them so that it could always go back in.

[1blk1]

the purists here always freak when someone talks about changing an orig. car. (specially the turbos, cause they got swapped the most) swap the motor if you want, and keep orig. parts like you said

[80TAPaceCar]

the purists here always freak when someone talks about changing an orig. car. (specially the turbos, cause they got swapped the most).

Most were swapped out for a 400, an illusion and failed vision of actually thinking you were gaining something.

[bleeze]

I got the car on a whim, not knowing much about them. but always liked them.  Figuring its trubo!!  I can change theturbo to some real large turbo and increase the boost and get a ton of hp.  even rebuilding the motor to handle some large boost.  only learning the motor is junk and cant handle it.  The car is half decent car.  is complete car just needs some rust removed bodywork paint ect...  It would be tough for me to sell this and go find antoperh one with compklete interior, has power locks windows and rear disc breaks. I dont want to swtich the motor for a few more hp.  I want 400-500 hp atleast.  Also I asked os the car worth alot more with orig motor?  I got a few guys yelling at me, but never really answering the question.  Id hate to rebuild the car and then find out in later its worth alot more wit hteh orig motor.  BUt eitehr way I would keep the motor incase somone wanted the orig motor with the car.  Plans are not to rebuild to sell but just want to keep the value in mind.

 Thanks
 for help

[DEIVIONCRX]

Its your car, swap whatever you want.  But like ^^^^ said, unless you probably will be loosing a few HP and some torque unless you're installing a warmed up 400-455 or a early model pre-73.  The Turbo cars at least in '80 made 210hp and 345tq, but that's when everything is working perfectly, take a old worn turbo, a broken PERV, a worn quadrajet and a non functioning ESC, and whats it making who knows.  Now find replacement parts for those 1 year only parts.  My car didnt even come with a turbo distributor, it had a normal 301 Distributor.

I like the turbo cars its funky and not the normal.  But will i be putting the 301T back in my 80 Pace car, NOPE.  I already have a 75 400 ready to go in with a manual trans.  Its my car it will be a weekend driver i want to enjoy my car, for me the only way will be a manual and a built 455.

Lots of the guys will yell at you, most of these forums are full of people that only want to see 100% original concurs style restorations.  I could care less if they have the factory grease pen markings and factory overspray, i want to see a good looking car thats not overdone with chrome and spinners etc.

[1blk1]

I got the car on a whim, not knowing much about them. but always liked them.  Figuring its trubo!!  I can change theturbo to some real large turbo and increase the boost and get a ton of hp.  even rebuilding the motor to handle some large boost.  only learning the motor is junk and cant handle it.  The car is half decent car.  is complete car just needs some rust removed bodywork paint ect...  It would be tough for me to sell this and go find antoperh one with compklete interior, has power locks windows and rear disc breaks. I dont want to swtich the motor for a few more hp.  I want 400-500 hp atleast.  Also I asked os the car worth alot more with orig motor?  I got a few guys yelling at me, but never really answering the question.  Id hate to rebuild the car and then find out in later its worth alot more wit hteh orig motor.  BUt eitehr way I would keep the motor incase somone wanted the orig motor with the car.  Plans are not to rebuild to sell but just want to keep the value in mind.

 Thanks
 for help

ignore the "yelling" some here get excited easily. the short answer is YES the car is worth more w/ orig. drive train. but, if you want some big HP rebuild the 455 and have fun.

[ryeguy2006a]

Its your car, swap whatever you want.  But like ^^^^ said, unless you probably will be loosing a few HP and some torque unless you're installing a warmed up 400-455 or a early model pre-73.  The Turbo cars at least in '80 made 210hp and 345tq, but that's when everything is working perfectly, take a old worn turbo, a broken PERV, a worn quadrajet and a non functioning ESC, and whats it making who knows.  Now find replacement parts for those 1 year only parts.  My car didnt even come with a turbo distributor, it had a normal 301 Distributor.

I like the turbo cars its funky and not the normal.  But will i be putting the 301T back in my 80 Pace car, NOPE.  I already have a 75 400 ready to go in with a manual trans.  Its my car it will be a weekend driver i want to enjoy my car, for me the only way will be a manual and a built 455.

Lots of the guys will yell at you, most of these forums are full of people that only want to see 100% original concurs style restorations.  I could care less if they have the factory grease pen markings and factory overspray, i want to see a good looking car thats not overdone with chrome and spinners etc.

Do what he said man, It is your car enjoy it. But if you do take the original motor out, don't scrap it or let it sit outside under a tarp. Just take care of the motor, and if you ever want to sell, you will get more if the original motor is installed or comes with the sale.

[richduty455]

I'd go with the pontiac 455 if not the 301.....I can appreciate where you're coming from with wanting the extra hp......but i'd keep it all pontiac.....putting a chebby in there will KILL the value IMHO....unless you're doing a concours 100% perfect correct resto the car prob won't loose much if any value with the 455 in it....as long as that 455 is a pontiac 455!

[fiream773]

I sure don't think there's anything wrong with swapping any 301 for a larger engine - isn't that the backbone of hot-rodding culture?  The advantage we Pontiac folks enjoy over just about all other makes is that our biggest engine will bolt right in place of our smallest.  As far as Turbo T/A's go, I will spend more time at a show studying the original 301 in the engine bay of a well maintained or restored turbo T/A, but if dropping a greasy boneyard 400 or 455 in there means the car is on the road instead of behind the barn on four flat tires, I'll be the first one there with my cherry picker.

You say the cars runs fine, so it boils down to what makes you happy.  If you do the swap, pay attention to what you've done, save everything you don't put back and don't cut or torch anything if you can help it.  Most importantly, store the 301 properly.  I sure don't think you'd hurt the value much that way plus you could offer the crated 301 to the buyer if originality were an important factor.

Good luck!