I have a chance to pick up a aluminum engine out of a boat. I"m wondering about rotation, if it"s worth fiddlin with, where to get parts, etc.+ I"m looking for info. Thank you.
Ive got the Olds version with a factory 4BBL complete starter, aircleaner,generator etc, I was going to build a roadster around it, I would take 450 for mine
I had the Olds version (Same block, but different heads) in my 37 Ford for several years. Pretty good little motor. About 10 years ago, I decided to "upgrade" the entire car and sold the 215 for $800.00 to a guy who was going to put it in a Mazda Miata (I guess kind of a modern day Sunbeam tiger set-up). There's a guy in SW Michigan who specializes in the 215 (D&D Fabrications. http://www.aluminumv8.com/).
Check rotation on boat engine,if single engine boat should be same as car. But if duel engine boat one will be counter rotation. Olds 215 engine is better than Buick 215 , but easier to get Buick parts as engine stayed in production much longer. Used in UK well into the 1990's.
Same (essentially) as the Rover 3.5 as fitted to sedans, Land Rovers and Range Rovers. Good little engine, but parts (particularly performance parts) are way more expensive than Chev/Ford/Mopar, so if it needs a rebuild it may be more economical to pass and go with a more 'mainstream' motor.
Wonder if you could polish one? I really like that engine. My dad had a '63 Olds F85 with the turbo'd 215 when I was in high school and the thing would scoot.
Same motor as in the HSE Range rover up to 1995. Put one in my Model A roadster and total weight was on 2200 pounds.
If you pick up the boat engine and its reverse rotation please let me know, looking for a cam and dist gear for reverse rotation, thanks
A friend has a 215 in a '32 four door, had me build the headers. I know 5 & 7 shouldn't be Y'd together, but I didn't have much room. I have a 215 Buick for a Topolino/Simca project someday.
Be careful about corrosion. Alot of boat engines due to water, sea water is worse will ruin an Engine. The 215 being all alluminiun has an even worse chance surviving in the water. Pull the intake and look at the valley to make sure she's good. Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'm looking forward to taking over this project soon -- '58 AH Bugeye Sprite with upgraded suspension, steering. and disc brakes. Should be a decent performer; stock curb weight is under 1500 pounds, friend who built it says it's gained no more than a couple hundred pounds.
We built a 34 Vicky at Masterpiece in the late 80's for a customer.Holley 350,headers,with a turbo 350,3.20 gears,2800 stall torque converter.The car was a dream to drive.Surprised us all.
Yes. it's tidy and very clever. The pal who built it built a number of successful sports racers in the wayback as well as a kick-ass BBC-powered CAN-AM racer. He opted to use the original exhaust manifolds and route the headpipes down through the frame boxes to keep everything tidy. My thought is to port-match the exhaust manifolds and then open them up as much as possible and polish them internally. The engine is fresh from the machine shop with all the essential bits clean and certified. There's also an extra set of perfect heads and the entire rebuild package, less the intake manifold gasket. There are some interesting cams available, plus a bit of head porting is in order. I think it looks to be a rather lively little "hot rod" in spite of not being entirely HAMB correct.
I lost oil pressure on my last Olds engine. The spare also came out of a boot. Just swapped them last week.
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