Flatee Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I'm in search of solid places to find accurate, detailed information (parts interchangeability, rebuilding, performance tips, etc.) on the Pontiac 389. A search of this forum didn't gain me many hits. Specifically, I have the opportunity to buy a complete 1959 389. I've been able to piece together a decent understanding from multiple websites (reverse-flow cooling, bellhousing options, etc.), but I haven't found a website or forum dedicated to the 389 or at least with a large population of members discussing the 389. Any resources are appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Welcome to another Pontiac fan! Here are a few ideas: Reach out to Rocky Rotella and ask him for contacts. He wrote the latest edition of "How to Build Pontiac V-8s" and "Max Performance Pontiac V-8s". Great guy and always happy to help, in my experience. If he doesn't know the answer, he probably knows someone who does. Here's a link to the contact form at his website: https://www.pontiacv8.com/contact The Ames Performance forums is all about Pontiac everything: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/ Pontiac Street Performance forum has a lot of great tech help and there is a lot of great info that has been archived and is searchable. https://psp.pontiacstreetperformance.com/index.php There are some very knowledgeable folks on hotrodders.com forum. MouseFink, LATech and colbalt327 are usually quick to respond to anything Pontiac and, in my experience, they know what they're talking about. Register here: https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/ Excellent reference information here: http://www.wallaceracing.com/ Scroll down the main page and look for the topic areas on the left side of the page. You can search for compatibility and interchange info, original specs, etc. There are a few knowledgeable Pontiac engine folks on the H.A.M.B., but be forewarned; discussions are limited to traditional hot rods and customs, with nothing newer than 1964. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/ Hope that helps. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GARY F Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 If you want all Pontiac join the Pontiac/ Oakland club International club. I belong to it for 23 years. It is all pontiac, all years with help from specialist. Go to the POCI website and look. I have a 63 Bonne. and 63 GP that I restored. What are you working on? Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatee Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 2 hours ago, 95Cardinal said: Welcome to another Pontiac fan! Excellent response, Joe. Thanks. This is exactly what I was hoping for. I registered on Ames and have already found a treasure trove of information; I'll be up to 4 a.m. reading threads! Already got a lot of my questions answered, so I think this weekend I'll pull the trigger and buy the 389. Joe, Are you on Ames? What's your user ID? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatee Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 5 minutes ago, GARY F said: If you want all Pontiac join the Pontiac/ Oakland club International club. I belong to it for 23 years. It is all pontiac, all years with help from specialist. Go to the POCI website and look. I have a 63 Bonne. and 63 GP that I restored. What are you working on? Good luck. I'll check it out. Thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Flatee said: Excellent response, Joe. Thanks. This is exactly what I was hoping for. I registered on Ames and have already found a treasure trove of information; I'll be up to 4 a.m. reading threads! Already got a lot of my questions answered, so I think this weekend I'll pull the trigger and buy the 389. Joe, Are you on Ames? What's your user ID? Yep; I'm jmt455 on the Ames/Maxperformance forum. Happy to help. And, I want to add my recommendation to join POCI, too. What is this 389 going into? Joe Edited July 25, 2020 by 95Cardinal added content (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 hi flatee, i have a 1959 389 V8 i bought about two years ago, it's going to be installed in my 1953 chieftain custom catalina after i freshen it up with a 886 cam, rhoades lifters, a 57 four barrel intake and rochester 4 jet carburetor, and bolt up a 1955 B&M hydro-stick hydra-matic trans. i have a 1955 287 V8 in my car, and i'm going to make the 389 look on the outside that it's just a 287, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) What you want is this book. Pontiac High Performance Engine Design & Blueprint Assembly by Craig Hendrickson and Kern Osterstock of H-O Racing Specialties inc. It's not only a high performance book , but it will tell you exactly what is interchangeable throughout the years of the Real Pontiac V-8. Edited August 18, 2020 by Pfeil (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatee Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 21 hours ago, Pfeil said: What you want is this book. Pontiac High Performance Engine Design & Blueprint Assembly by Craig Hendrickson and Kern Osterstock of H-O Racing Specialties inc. It's not only a high performance book , but it will tell you exactly what is interchangeable throughout the years of the Real Pontiac V-8. Looks like a rare book. From the few page photos I've found, I'd like to find a copy. I couldn't talk you into scanning yours into a PDF, could I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 1 hour ago, Flatee said: Looks like a rare book. From the few page photos I've found, I'd like to find a copy. I couldn't talk you into scanning yours into a PDF, could I? Sure if I had a scanner. The book is on sale at Amazon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatee Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 I don't find any active listing on Amazon. I find one listing, but the printing is discontinued with no used copies being sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluegoat Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 I have a copy but trying to scan 96 pages would suck at my age... Looks like Pontiac High Performance Engine Design & Blueprint Assembly is for sale here https://books4cars.com/viewcart.php? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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