I was just wondering if there are performance parts out there for Buick 8's? I know they were popular in racing but have never seen performance type parts for them. I have a 320c.i. that i want to put in my Model A project if i can find some performance stuff for it. If there is such a thing. All your help would be greatly appreciated. if i can't find anything i always got the ol' faithful 223c.i. Ford Six with an *** load of Offy goodies.
well if there's any i'm not to attached to, and i'd most likely have to try out on my engine first to see if it's o.k.
I thing Edmunds was the only one who made intakes for them, but hey, build your own, as I have seen them done with many, many carbs.Also factory made 2x2 intakes for some of them.
Edmunds made intakes, but they're both rare and expensive. The '41-'42 factory dual intakes are more prevalent, but make sure you don't end up with one from the smaller 248 engine. Factory units also came with two separate exhaust manifolds, but the front one will have to be modified to clear the side mount on later Buicks. A Mallory ZC 189 distributor will fit your engine, so keep an eye out at swap meets when you see an old crusty dual point.
Do a search man. I know we've covered this in great detail - and it's all really good stuff. I know it's out there....and it's cool reading.
also there is a site on the net....I think it www.teambuick.net.They have a section of message board just for straight eight motors.There is a guy on there who is verry knowledgable about these motors,I think his screen name is AlleyKat.I hope that helps. EVIL
A 320 Buick str8 is a really heavy lump of iron to put in a model A. At some point you reach a point of diminishing returns as the power out put of an old str8 is'nt enough to justify the work, expense, and time involved in making it work. It would be unusual for sure, but there is a reason why you just don't see many done, even years ago when str8 engines and speed equipment were cheaper and more plentiful. All that weight on an already flexible A frame was not feasable, to say nothing about torquetube differences and the fact that there were other, better choices.
I'll echo that. The number that I remember reading out of the Buick manual was in the #750+ lb. range - heavier than a Hemi.... It's like having all of the m*** of a hemi with none of that annoying horsepower. Mine would run forever though - and never need a thing. Good solid motor. Just a little gutless.
This is a picture of a fuel injection unit that I make, or you could make. This one is on a four cylinder motor, but I have made them for a 261 Chevy 6 and could make a straight 8 unit. As could you. It's really a race part, but with smaller throttle bodies who knows? You could do the thing for under $100. Plus the nozzles, pump and whatnot from Hilborn.
Not to be an *** to Broman or Seldom Scene,but the question was not if he should use a I8,just where to get some parts.I dont want to come off like a ****,but I have posted a similar question on another forum and got quite a few "why dont you put a sbc in it" replys.I personaly like I8 of all kinds and have several buick and pontiac versions.The parts are out there,but not many of them....lol. Anyway...sorry for the rant.Back to your local broadcast channel. EVIL
Edmunds, for sure! A friend has a dual carb intake on his 40 Buick Super coupe. He said he had $1,800 in it, it also had repo Edmunds Air cleaners. Saw it touched it. The 52 Buick, 320 had a 4 barrel on it stock. There Buick Straight 8 Lovers & Flathead Lovers which go faster. HEI Dist. & MSD box , Brings more life out them. Good fresh air to breath helps & Modern Automatic. Fuel pressure is important Rebuilt carbs won't hurt. FIRES ARE UGLY. A fire ext. in any car helps on Bad Day. There was a Howard Multi carb log intake on ebay. The word was it may of been built by Charles S. Howard, he was into auto racing. He was the largest Buick dealer in California and some western states in the early years around 1910 era or earlier. The Owner of Seabiscuit. The Famous Race Horse.
Best thing to do is rebuild it, put in insert bearing style rods, shave the head .062 or .125 (because hi comp. pistons are too much $$) get a nice cam from me or find an old Isky, Maybe go with the dual carb setup from a '41 or attempt to find a 4 bbl intake from a 52 or 53.... recipie for torque and some nice reliable power. Stock rating was 140hp or so and 275 lbs/ft already much better than a fathead ford.... BUT a complete 320 and its matching trans weighs in right around 1000lbs. I'd say with the minor mods above you'd be able to pump it up around 200hp and 300+lbs/ft
Mine does have the 4 barrell intake on it all ready, i'm just not a fan of it. and yes it is a heavy engine but i like 'em. I figure right now i'm gonna build 4 single barrel intake, or maybe an injection set up, which would be bad ***, throw a cam in it, make a split header, and save my money for the edmunds intake. Right now it's just sittin' pretty next to my 223 six, and my opel four banger. I love old not so mainstream engines, that's why got the 8 it's a damn big chunk of iron but it's damn ***y. thanks for all the input. Bobby
An old Rod & Custom I had featured one and the guy had built his own manifold to run side-draft carbs, Webers maybe, off a Jaguar. Had three of them on it. This was like 1969, probably made it with a stick welder... can't be that hard to design one that would work well enough. They're good motors, but I'd want to run an OD with one, since from what I understand you get much over 4400 RPM the odds are good you'll start putting rods through the block. In an A, I'd do a custom frame and stretch the front out so the back of the block doesn't rub on my nuts while I'm driving it.
I can't help with speed parts beyond what's been mentioned, but, if you like to read... this should keep you busy... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25465 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81619 http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12146 http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9365&highlight=alleycat
See the post above this one.... That's what I was talking about. We've covered the entire topic - from why to use a I8 to how to built it right and where to find the parts. Those links point to posts that have covered this - and inside those posts are even more links to OTHER posts that have covered this. And BTW, I didn't take that as a rant at all. I hate the SBC excuses and I am glad to point people to alternative power plants. I am a Buick - Olds - Poncho lover - and I really enjoy seeing these engines used in place of the Chevy, not because I hate the Chevys - but just because seeing something different is nice and I don't buy the reasoning behind going with a Chevy. . People want to act like if you dont' get a Chevy you'll have nothing but trouble. BS!!! I put 120k on a Pontiac motor without fault. I also put a BUNCH of miles on an I8 without h***le....(besides running a generator that was failing and constantly replacing the points on a 50+ year old distributor). I don't know how many miles I put on her - the odometer was broke - but I drove her to work every day so you know I trusted her....
Broman and Chub Chub kick ***. You'll see lots of my stuff in the other threads Chub CHub looked up and linked to for you. I've gone over this topic SO many times, I was too lazy to do so. That being said, if you've got specific S-8 performance questions, I'll do what I can to help out. FWIW, I just got a complete set of gaskets from Fel-Pro (nice they're making them again) and bearings from Egge (who you WILL be contacting if you want to make an S-8 sing). What this means is that mine is close to firing...and being dyno'ed, which is something I'm anxious about. Naturally, results will be posted here on the HAMB. ~Scotch~
Oh, man....I just got goose-bumps and ****erflys in my stomache. I can't wait to see what that baby does Scotch. You ever get that thing out of the body shop yet?
Scotch knows better then me but. heres some photos from my last straighteight buick twin with 94s powering it. Its not as easy as just bolting on an intake the motor mount on the driver side has to be sliced and lowered and re-enginered, the front ram of the exhaust is in the same place as the mount if i remember right i had to drop it i think 4" i used the 94s since i the direction of the pull of the throttle. a stock buick twin comes with carter WCD carbs the push not pull with the 94s i was able to link them together and use a cable type throttle to pull them back. I tried to stick with the k.i.s.s. rule..
I have all ready gotten bearings from Egge for my S8 and my 223 6cyl, i got a Offy Valve Cover and 3 Carb Intake from them for the 6 too. Oh and a cam and **** load of other stuff. I want to get the cam in the S8 ground and shave the head down, get some forged pistons and a bunch of other stuff, just need some money, and i have to finish the 223 first and then a 4cyl Opel (Yuck). But thank you every one for all the info, i've spent hours looking over all the links and everything.
ifn ya can avoid the intake /exhaust as one unit i believe your headed in the right direction ... separate intake and same goes for exhaust ... my ol 52 riv was in need of such setup but al*** it was pre internet and after 10 years i never ever saw any .. would have had to make um to get em older 8"s (smaller cu in )had twin carbs and could be used but the exhaust was built right with them put 50grand miles on mine(140grand) before the body, window regs and frame started to come apart
Hey guys here's a few shots of my junk. She's a 1941 super coupe with the dual carb straight 8. I would love to eventually get to the performance part of this build, right now I am going for reliability. So far with the help of Blue Collar Customs we have replaced the water pump, the starter, the timing chain, the radiator, the thermostat and housing, all the gaskets and now waiting on the generator to be rebuilt. while the tin pieces were off for cleaning we sent everything to Sherms for chrome. Hopefully with the generator done Ill get more use out of her. I have been intermittently scouring the interwebs for performance parts and traditionally customized versions of the 41 Buicks while I plan my next moves. I have been wondering if switching to an automatic would help with performance? has anyone on here done that conversion? how do you like it?
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