1957 GMC Truck with a Buick 455 (Topic is no longer about value/see last post)

Hey Guys,
Wanted to get an opinion on something. Would a 1957 GMC truck be less valuable if it had a 1970 Buick 455 motor in it versus a 454 Chevy. It currently has a 350 Chevy in it, but I've been tossing this other idea around in my head. Just want to know what the majority consensus is. Is it more advisable to keep Chevy/GMC together? Do guys hate it when other brand motors get put in different cars/trucks. Just curious because I don't want to ruin or bring down the value of my truck. Thanks.


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personally i'd rather have the buick in it. but i like buick power.

 

GMCs used Pontiac engines originally so it doesn't matter if you use a Buick or Chevy motor if you were to keep the truck but if you want to flip the truck, a Chevy motor would be the way to go because they are cheaper and more people are familiar with them. Don't forget that the market is down. Vintage cars and trucks are not commanding the price they did 5 years ago.

 

If i was a buyer i would definetly prefer the 455 Buick over any. Chevy engine. Well, except the 348-409.

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a nice 400 Pontiac would be the ticket . and lean more toward the correct side

 

Just to be able to pop the hood and see something different than a SBC would be worth the work IMHO. Besides, those 455 Buick's are torque monsters and the old Chevy would be a fun ride.

 

for resale to the m***es, and the easiest chance of making the most money, the Chevy engine is the ticket. The 350 is probably the best bet, with the price of gas how it is. -Common=m*** appeal. I'd rather have the Buick, but to most people, its just weird, and many younger people don't even know about the Buick performance history.

 

I would keep the 350.

 

May as well paint it silver and put a gray interior in it and have it look like the millions of other belly ****on cars on the road today.

 

Put a Ford engine in it.

 

Diffrent isnt always better, A ford engine like the 455 or 454 would be diffrent if you are just lookin for diffrent but ???

 

My take is get a pontiac 400 and dress it up like this GMC 347:

or because the Pontiac 347 was the first year of tri-power, make it like this:

 

If you're gonna keep the truck put the buick in. I'm guessing you already have the buick engine? If you don't, get a 500 cadillac. If you're selling it just keep the sbc. How 'bout some pics of the truck?

 

Yes. I do already have the Buick motor, but that being said, things can always be sold & purchased. I don't know why but it seems to me that most guys are scared of Buicks. I think the Buick 455 sure would be fun but the point about fuel definitely makes a lot of sense. Especially since it's daily driver.


In Need Of:
1950 Buick Front & Rear Bumper Guards.
1955 Buick Headlight Bezels w/out lower marker lights.

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Is the Pontiac 400 similar in appearance to the original motor?


In Need Of:
1950 Buick Front & Rear Bumper Guards.
1955 Buick Headlight Bezels w/out lower marker lights.

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the 455 and a 200-4r and a decent ratio rear end in that truck should get mid teens. with the torque monster 455 and overdrive i'd think something low to mid 3s rear wise with a 29-30" tire should still be a puller, get decent mileage(for a truck with a 455), and cruise the highway pretty good. thats actually what i'd like to run in my unibody. and if i can run across a 455 and 200-4r for a decent price it'll probably happen. i've got a rebuilt AOD and a core 302 that would probably make more sense for resale but i'm building a truck how I like. if a future buyer wants a different drivetrain that bridge can be crossed at that time.

 

^^what he said^^
The 455 Buick is a torque monster. I am a Mopar guy but the Buick 455 and the Cad 472/500 are tops in my book for cheap grunt in gm form. Gear that thing as tall as you please and the 455 won't care.
As an added benefit, the Buick is nearly the same weight as the 350...

 

Sweet. Well it looks like the 455 is the way to go because I don't really plan on selling it. This will happen later down the road. I've got the motor. Now I need to get a ******. Thanks.




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De-rail, de-rail, de-rail the OP question w/OTHER motor options. Screw them and the herd mentality and put that torque monster between the frame rail's. One good hard launch of that motor and it's STFU for the lemming's.

 

Ok if your going to sell it . it will bring just about as much without any engine as with the buick mill. without a engine you only have to find a fan of GMC,s . install a non original uncommon mill like a buick olds ect. then you have to find a potential buyer who is a both GMC fan and likes buick engines. And in not just talking out of my hat. Ive bought and sold over a 1,000 cars & trucks. It would sell better with a non running original six or Pontiac V8 than with some odd ball engine. having stated my opinion its your truck do what you want.

 

That's what I'm talkin' about... the wow factor. Do a real nice and neat install and be done with it.

 

so the buick 455 is an "oddball" but then you say put a pontiac v8 in? i've got tons of respect for the whole BOP line of mills for the most part so i'm not gonna say poncho is a worse choice. But will say that i've seen tons of hot rods and customs in my 42 years with big block buick. and as said above somewhere caddy 472 and 500s have long been common also. at least here in the south.only car i ever owned i was a little scared of was a 69 camaro wit a hot caddy 500 in it. i was young dumb and full of ***m and could still see it only had potential to get me in trouble and sold it within 30 days. the kid i sold it to wrapped it around a light pole about 6 weeks later.....

 

if I were in the market for any old Chevrolet with a Buick 455 in it the price I'd be willing to pay would have to take into consideration the fact that it needs a new motor.

I always get a kick out of people who say things like this: ""May as well paint it silver and put a gray interior in it and have it look like the millions of other belly ****on cars on the road today.""

guess I'm just a ****, I will never be one of the cool SBC haters.

 

I've seen some really nice Buick, Olds, Caddy, etc. swaps in old Chevy/GMC trucks before. If they're done neatly, it almost looks natural. But if its cobbled together, it looks like ***.

 

Yes if your going to sell it Ill stand by my statement it would be worth more and a easier sale without an engine or better yet a non running original six or V8 Pontiac engine than a oddball buick. A nail head would have more appeal than the 455. For your info every factory V8 equipped GMC PK truck from 1955 thru 1959 came from the factory with a Pontiac engine. I own a 55 GMC with a factory installed 287. the 56 trucks had 317.s the 57 had 347,s and they made a truck only Pontiac design. v8 of it think about 335 cu in 58 & 59. Customs are built to suit a individual and are harder to sell. If you didn't want opinions why did you even bother to ask? I was just giving you the benefit of my 50 years of car trading experience. I also stated its your truck do whatever you want.

 

my bad I didn't realize Lucky stiff wasn't the original poster

 

Point is, the non-Chev GMCs were optional with was Pontiac. That is the point.
Most 'knowledgeable' buyers would be hesitant with "Buick", because it sounds unfamiliar.
(imagine being of limited intellect, gazing at a 455 Buick with 'conventional' canted valve covers, and just 'knowing' it wasn't really a Buick, or any kind of Buick you were familiar with?)
I would get real interested in the Buick power, but can't think of 2 acquaintances that would.
Even stock, that Buick puts out more lb. ft. of torque than it numbers in cubic inch displacement!

 

Ok my son has this OT 1970 chevelle HTP. it originally came with a 402 big block 400 automatic. just reciently he installed a late model 307 oldsmobile engine & overdrive auto trans. He want,s to be able to drive it and not use so much gas. We know the car would be easier to sell without the olds engine. or the best would be the original engine & trans . I gave him the engine & trans. there was also a 500 caddy engine & trans he could have used and several 350 chevys. but he wanted a unleaded compatable engine that wouldn't be a gas hog.

 

^Yep! I will admit the Buick swap might limit the market a little, but if I were looking to buy I wouldn't hesitate if it were done right.

I have to ask the OP, are you building the truck to drive or sell? My advice is if you just want to sell it, leave it the way it is. It you want to keep it and drive it put the Buick in there. Personally, I can't imagine investing the time and money into something just to sell it. There'd be no p***ion in it for me...but maybe that's just me. In any case, good luck with it.

 

Dude, just build what you want.