Aluminum 215 Olds, info requested. Speed parts, Who makes or made them?

Well sometimes shit happens, I've got some issues with my flathead and put up a classified for an running 8BA or anything cool that will hook up to my tranny, and got a hit for a 215 olds, did a little research and foundout they went into production in the early 60's. My question is did or does anyone make/made speed equipment for these engines i.e. intake, cams, lifters.....
Any help would be appreciated. I've also learned that this is a popular hot rod engine that is still in production in England. Is that true, and what do you guys do to hotrod them.
Thanks. Drew

 

Olds/Buick/Rover, I think they were all pretty much the same, Offy did some stuff for em and there have bbeen some pretty serious stuff done by all manner of Pommy outfits including Tom Walkinshaw over the years, should be a ton of stuff in the UK , local hero Roger Freeth had a early 80's Toyota Starlet running a big TWR modiffied one in a all commers style tarseal racing class years ago, great car to watch, neat little engine for a small/light car, bet you could dress em up real well too.

 

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/ Or put in a Google search for "Rover V8 UK" and you will find a lot of good info on tuning the rover lump.
They can be taken out to 300ci or just use an inlet manifold, carb, cam and headers to help it breathe and you will see quite a bit of improvement.
john

 

Hydromotive Eng. in Chesterland,Ohio is a Buick 215 specialist.
I talked with him for a while when I was planning to put a Buick/Rover 215 in my Jasag Clubmans Racer ( look for my post "Eurotrash" from 6Months or so ago ).
The guy in charge is Ron Hopwood, very knowledgeble...

 

I am building an Olds 215 for my next project.

D&D Fabrications has a lot of stuff. I am using one of their Olds/Buick 215 to 700R4 adapters (picture). http://www.aluminumv8.com

Edelbrock makes a Performer intake. It is listed for the Rover version but it will work on Olds and Buick 215s.

Crower grinds cams. You can get the specs on the D&D web site. But order through Summit if you have time. It took them 6 weeks to get mine but I saved $50.

Buick 300 cranks can be used to stroke the motors out to about 266 CI. This conversion required extensive work on the crank and aftermarket flywheels and an oil seal conversion kit.

I am sticking with the stock displacement. My motor was in very good internal condition and I am simply adding a cam, Edelbrock intake, headers, fresh bearings, and new rings.

Everything for these puppies costs more than you are most likely used to paying.

Lots of sutff for sale on EBay. Search "Buick Olds 215".

The Olds and Buick are very similar. The Olds has one additional head bolt per cylinder wich provided better sealing in turbo applications. This extra bolt is also used to secure the rocker stands. You can run Buick heads on an Olds blockbut you can not run Olds heads on a Buick block. Cranks, cams, front covers and rods are the same. Water pumps interchange but the one from the Buick 300 is recommended.

Four barrel Olds motors have more compression than two barrel versions. The four barrel intakes are highly desired by european rover owners. They use them to make stock appearing four barrel conversions on their Rovers.

A little history. These engines were produced in 61, 62 and 63. You can find the Olds version in some Pontiacs. In 65 GM sold the tooling for the Buick version to Rover of England. The early Rover versions were Buick clones. But over the years the moter was enlarged. The 215s have a 3.5" bore. The later Rovers have a 3.7. With a Buick 300 crank a late Rover block will top out at 300+ cubic inches.

If you want a really screaming motor you start with a readily available Rover crossbolted 4.0/4.6 block with a Buick 300 crank. An alternative to the Buick crank is one from an Australian P76. Just a tad more stroke. Use aluminum 64 Buick 300 heads. Note, you do not want to use Buick 300 heads on a 215. The combustion chambers are to big and compression goes out the window. They should only be used on stroked late Rover based motors.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the info and the links, I thing I'm gonna try to get this one. If anyone has anymore info, I'm still listening.
Thanks.
Drew

 

There was a REALLY good article on these in HRM about tenyears ago--hope someone here has a better memory on that. This article is a must read; it gives info on what parts from 300, 340, and V6 Buicks can be adapted, parts availability, and so on.

 

"You can run Buick heads on an Olds block but you can not run Olds heads on a Buick block.
Note, you do not want to use Buick 300 heads on a 215. "

So what head do you want to run on the Buick (215) block?

r

 

Buick 215 heads. They have the characteristic flat top nailhead style valve covers. If you had an Olds block and Buick heads they will work together. Some builders think the Buick heads are superior to the Olds. When you talk about 215s the subject of Buick 300 heads frequently come up. They are bolt ons and some folks assume they are an upgrade. But the answer is just because they fit doesn't make them better. You need 300 cubes to make them work.

 

And the oiling on all of them is dismal !A piddling small pump housing that is part of the front cover ,so when its worn ,its $$$$$ Time or you will idle at zero oil pressure on a good bearing motor .Also ,get some anti pump up lifters .when the oil pump is ok ,the valves hold open and its no good .Speeking from experience !