Hi everyone. I have a 1966 Buick Special with a 300 v8 2 barrel in it. The engine runs good now but has 139,000 miles on it. It smokes a little and starts hard so I'm thinking piston rings are going. It has the original 2 speed pwrglide tranny. My question(s) is what engine can I swap into this without doing any cutting or welding? Basically I'm looking for something I can just bolt right up without to much down time as this is my daily and I can't be without it to long. I would like something with more horse as I would eventually like to take it drag racing. So whats your thoughts? Also I'm family rich but cash poor so the budget isn't huge. You know the story. Thanks.
takes different mounts, exhaust, all the front brackets are different, you'll want a stronger trans (th400 would be good), etc. Might be less work to find all the parts to put a Chevy engine/trans in it, pretend it's a 66 chevelle The smaller Buick engines that will just bolt in, like the 300 and 340, are kind of hard to find these days.
A chevy in a buick, that's blasphemy! Squirrel, I thought you would be the first person to say throw a big block in it! If you can find a complete buick 350, that could be an option also. In 66 did they still have st300's, or do you have the th350?
NO, NO CHEVY !! Remember that the GS had a 401 nailhead and ST400 in it, so all the parts are designed to put it in - mounting holes are even in the front crossmember! Just have to do some digging to find parts, and is probably not the cheap way to go. 455 with THM 400 would work good, although 455s are getting a little scarce these days also. Just rebuilding your 300 and adding a THM350 is the low bucks approach - is a good little engine, but not much speed equipment available and not the hot ticket for a drag career! I guess I personally wouldn't go to the later Buick small blocks - doesn't get you that much for the work involved.
it's fun to get you guys riled up The car should have a ST300 trans in it, the TH350 is pretty much a bolt in, but you have to add a kickdown cable. Find a Pontiac OHC straight 6, that would make it interesting
I have a 66 Buick Skylark convertible. Though I like the sbc, I would vote to keep it all Buick. I bought a core Buick 300 several years ago, rebuilt it and then swapped it out over a weekend. I was a poor college kid at the time and that was my daily driver. I would definately do it all over again the same way, as in keeping the Buick all Buick. The only thing I might've changed is doing a 340 instead of a 300, which is a bolt in. The 455 is another option, but as you said you are family rich and cash poor. With a hotter cam and 4bbl it will wake the car up. Another thing that really helped was pulling the ST300 and putting in a TH350, the 1st gear is alot deeper. I also changed the gear to 3.55 instead of the airplane 2.73's it originally came with. I have a 200R ready to go sometime, which will bring the mileage up alittle and the RPM down on the highway. It may not be a race car, but chances are you aren't taking the family racing anyways...
Thanks, guys for the advice. I'm thinking a Buick 350 may be the way to go with a planned upgrade to the tranny in the future. The research I did leads me to think I have the weaker of the 2 pwrglides. And, yea, I don't really have an allegiance to any specific brand BOP/Chevy wise but I do like to keep it all the same to.
A 350 /th350, is a straight up bolt in. use the 300 mounts and all. You will prolly have to change the exhaust. You will like the power increase and their are performance parts avail. for it. I'd change to a th200 4r my self and have the drive shaft shortened.
To avoid any confusion I shoulda said BUICK 350. The st300 in your car is a weird 2sp, if I remember right a th350 converter fits but will kill the switch pitch feature.
Many years ago,I did one like yours for my kid brother. I found a wrecked 66 GTO w/4-speed and we transferred everything into his Buick. It surprised a lot of stop light hotshots.
If you are on a tight budget the 350 Buick and 350 trans combo is the way to go. I have had 300s, 340s and 350s over the years, all great engines! I am building a 30 over, cammed up 455 Buick for my 65 Gran Sport. Should have lots of guts!
350 Buick. I swapped a high comp., factory 4v '68 350 into a car with a 300. It woke the car RIGHT up. I had to use the 300 oil pan and get new exhaust. Pretty much a bolt-in deal for gobs more power. Look on CL for a four-door Skylark for cheap or parting out.
Sweet, thanks guys! I'm definately looking for a 350 then. It seems to be just what I'm after. Now, are there any blocks that are more desirable than others? Obviously, I want to stay away from the smog era, right? Any other things I should watch out for?
Basically there are no better buick castings. The stage 1 heads and stuff are just standard production pieces lightly modified.
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