I always suggest the easy way, not the hard way....

I was talking to some guys who had mid-80's GM "G" bodies. One was an '85 Pontiac Grand Prix and the other was an '86 Buick Regal. They asked my opinion on what I would do for more power. I told the GP owner to swap in a 350 or a 350-based 383 stroker Chevy and the Regal owner to swap in a 350 or 403 Olds. The reason for this is the GP had a 305 Chevy under the hood and the Buick had a 307 Olds. Both of these would be literally bolt-ins. Of course, they had to ask the questions of why didn't I recommend a 400 Pontiac or a 455 Buick. Because returning these cars to "real" Pontiac and Buick power would be more trouble and time than it would be worth. 1st off-Chevy and BOP engines have a different bellhousing bolt-pattern, so the GP owner would need a new transmission as well. Secondly-none of the accessories would interchange-a Pontiac engine uses a different starter,fuel pump, and water pump. The brackets for the alternator, power steering pump and a/c compressor are totally different. So is the oil pan, timing cover, valve covers, etc. Trying to chase all that stuff down through junkyards or parts stores would be expensive and almost impossible. Remember-the last 400 Pontiac was built in November 1977-40 years ago. ( They were stockpiled for use in 1978-79 Trans-Ams ) If he was dead set on "Real" Pontiac power-he'd have to find a car with a running Pontiac engine and get EVERYTHING. Except any decent '60's or '70's Pontiac is going to be fairly pricey. And I'm not just talking about GTO's and Firebirds. Anything from Say-a '67 Catalina to a '77 Gran Prix-is going to be fairly pricey if it's in any kind of drivable condition. So your going to spend anywhere from 5 to 10 grand on up so you can remove the engine and tranny and stuff it your '84 Gran Prix that's worth maybe 3 grand if it's nice??  Wouldn't it be a lot easier and cheaper to just buy a 350 Chevy crate motor and bolt it in in like 4 hrs and use all the accesories that are already on the 305 that's in the car?  As for the Buick guy-he wouldn't need a different tranny-the car already has a BOP bolt-pattern  trans. But otherwise he's in the same boat. A 455 Buick's accesories-the fuel pump, starter, water pump oil pan, valve covers, power steering and alternator brakcets, etc are completely different from the 307 Olds. However-the 350 / 403 Olds engines, are externally identical-and can use everything off their little brother.      And again-he's going to do what-buy a '60's or '70's Century or Riviera or LeSabre for major bucks-and then dump the motor into your worthless '80's Regal?  I mean seriously-who want's a non-Grand National '80s Regal?  I was simply telling them to take the path of least resistance, both financially and in terms of mechanical grief.  It's funny-people who come up with these ideas are never mechanics by trade. An experienced mechanic would know not to attempt it!  Another one is people see something in a magazine and want to copy it. Yes it's possible to put a 460 into a Fox-Bodied Mustang. But why? I know guys that are running 11s with 302s!! Besides being horribly expensive-again nothing from a 302 interchanges with anything on a 460, including the transmission-it's not going to run any faster than you could with a hot 302 / 347, and it's going to be nose-heavy and ill-handling. So why do it?  I don't mean to be cynical all the time-but I do try save people from taking on projects that are much beyond their mechanical abilities-stuff that would be hard for a professional mechanic in a state of the art shop-you definitely don't want to attempt in your home garage or driveway. Casino Magnate Bill Harrah once put a Ferarri engine in a Jeep Wagonneer. Yes, anything is possible-but it's almost never cheap or easy!!  I try to always recommend the path of least resistance in terms of both money and grief. I'm trying to help. Really. Mastermind