Buick experts???

340-4 What can you tell me about it? My father-in-law has one in the barn out of an old Wildcat. He says it has a forged crank but what that's the extent of info. Also, what's the "4" at the end, 4bl carb?
Indulge me, please. (PM me if you want)

 

Yup - 4 barrell carb. Dad bought a new 1966 leSabre with one in it, topped out at 92mph. I don't know what was lacking-cam? It had tall gears but wouldn't get much top end. He traded it for a 1967 leSabre with the same 340-4 and 2 speed auto. The 67 was much prettier (blue metallic) but still no top end. The ol' man went to Oldsmobile in 1968---much better performance.

I'm not much into Buicks--this is just personal observation.

overspray

 

Thanks overspray that helps. Anyone else know about these mills? 92mph isn't quite what I'd hope to hear but maybe it was a bit thrifty on gas. 1967? Yeah, right.

 

You might want to check out "How to Build Max Performance Buick Engines" from CarTechBooks.com That engine has a lot of potential, topping out at 92 is not the performance level of this engine. There is a lot of potential in the small-block Buick. My Buick 350 (which is the same as your 340, with a larger bore) makes 400hp, 414 ft lbs and will run a little faster than 92 mph.....If you decide you don't want it, I will buy it off you. Seriously. I am located in Stillwater, ok, 74074

 

My brother's first car was a '67 Skylark hardtop with a 340 4bbl engine, and it would go right past 92 and bury the 120mph speedometer if you had a long enough straight stretch. They're not a high winder, though, at 3.75 borex3.875 stroke.

 

My buddy has one in a '66 LeSabre as well. Very dependable. Decent fuel mileage for what it is, but I think he said it had 10.25 : 1 compession ratio. Detonates like hell on 87 octane, not much better on 89. He runs 93 octane and around here it's 4.11 a gallon. He has checked on speed equipment - slim to none made. Probably because it was a 2 or 3 year only engine.

 

The Buick 340 is the same as a 350 but with a larger 3.85 bore. All the speed parts are the same. that is to say the few that are out there. You need an intake and a cam, and porting the heads will really wake it up.

 

I don't know the particulars on that engine but I owned a 1967 GS340, bought it new in 67. That car was a mover. The two speed had switch the pitch low range. I could get the seconderies open on the line. what a hole shot. Use to love picking on 383's. beat them out of the hole and stayed ahead every time. Had no problem with top end at all. Perhaps the factory had more than one cam for that engine. Also had the inside of the header pipe collapse. (it's a double walled pipe) It turned it into a dog. This little car may have been one of the first Buicks with loud exaust system from the factory.