Originally Posted by KeithP
If I am reading the VIN code correctly, it was originally a 301 engine.
Which is a Pontiac V-8, and that means that any Pontiac V-8 will bolt in place of it.
Honestly, replacing a Pontiac engine with an Olds, or vice-versa, isn't hard at all. The transmissions are the same. You just get the correct motor mounts and exhaust, and bolt it in. Might need to fiddle with radiator hoses and fuel lines, but pretty much it's a very easy swap.
I prefer the Pontiac engines, though. Just more of an aftermarket available.
I believe there was also a Chevy 305 available, too, and it could be ordered with a manual. That's a sweet combo, because obviously any Chevy engine, small OR Big block, will bolt right in.
The Pontiac 400's they used in 79 were actually leftovers, produced in 78. That's when they stopped making them. Why they only used them for the stick cars, I don't know.
80-81 T/A's were also awesome, looked basically the same, (other than the turbo cars, which had a different hood) and still used the Pontiac 301's and Chevy 305's, which makes swapping in more cubes easy.