Buick into GMC pickup

I just bought a 455 Buick engine for cheap and would like to put it in a 1951 GMC pickup. Has anyone done this swap and what problems did you
have? It looks like it would be tight around the steering sector and exhaust manifold. Does anyone sell block hugger headers for the Buick?
Thanks for any info.

Bullwinkle

 

put a 455 buick in 50 chev car....piece of cake...rear dump manifolds cleared all...starter on RH simple install...truck should be no problem......also put one in a 48 Chevy but used a rack pinion strg.....WORD OF CAUTION...if you get a knocking noise don't junk the engine..it's just the crank hitting the pan because you set the damn thing on a block of wood and tweeked the pan...{ REAL CLOSE } ask me how I know...

 

RDR
Thanks for the GOOD news!
Bullwinkle

 

Not so fast kemosabe! I am putting a Buick 340 in my '54 GMC pickup and the 340 is a bit narrower than a 455 I believe. Anyway, while I am using a MMII front end with R&P steering, the column opening at the firewall was a bit too close to the left head.

Since I was using a u-jointed steering shaft, I moved the column opening outboard about an inch. With the engine centered in the ch***is, the stock right manifold barely clears the frame rail. In fact I will be bending the upper inner flange upward a small amount to improve clearance. I also test fitted a Buick 350 engine, to see if it fit any better in any place. In spite of the significant difference in 340 vs 350 heads, the clearances were all about the same.

If I were using the stock steering column/box, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that there would be interference at that juncture. A friend of mine has done several SBC installs with stock steering and the cure for that is offsetting the engine to the right about 1" to 1 1/2" and using the correct exhaust manifold. I am quite certain a Buick 455 is wider than a SBC.

So, I am not attempting to discourage you from installing the Buick, I think that's GREAT, I am a Buick fan, but if you keep the stock front end and steering, be prepared to make some mods to the steering box/column mounting for clearance and offsetting the engine to the right may cause further problems with the exhaust on that side. I feel confident it can be done...........and perhaps I am in error on the clearances............so best wishes with the swap. It should be a fun truck.

Ray

 

Bullwinkle/Ray, can't say for sure on a pickup....maybe the column is higher (steeper)than the car and that's where the problem would lie??...455 went in the car easily,no offset with stock steering clearing fine...