Buick Motor question

I have an opportunity to get a 71 buick 2 door skylark for next to nothing off a buddy that wants it out of his yard. I was considering using the motor and tranny in my A Tudor. This car has a 350 w/ an automatic that will run fairly decent but the roof, window openings and decks are gone from rust, hence the donor idea.

What I know about Buick motors I can put in a bottle top. Is this motor considered a NailHead and would it be too heavy to use for my Model A Tudor? Is this thing worth the time to mess with?

I want to use something other than the 262 SBC that is collecting dust in the shop. Are there lakes headers available for this?

Thanks Brian

 

The 350 is not a nailhead.

Not a whole lot is available for the Buick 350's, but there is some stuff.
Cam & headers for a couple and I think Edelbrock may make an intake for it.
After that, you're pretty much on your own.

If you want something different, why not use and/or build a 455 Buick?
Some of the 455 stuff can be expensive as it's a low volume deal on speed parts, but there are several companies making stuff for them.
Most of the cam mfg.
Several intakes available, Performer for one, dual quad medium rise for another as well as you can adapt a Chryco wedge 383-426 type tunnel ram to the Buicks utilizing a spacer plate.
Buicks come with the sturdy T-400.
The stock 10/1 CR engine has 510# torque stock.

Here's a not too clear or light pic of a 350 in a home brewed roadster pickup.
It has a big cam, too big really, but it runs good.
That and the headers along with the stock 4 bbl are it and it'll fry the tires all the way the freeway onramp.

 

The 350 Buick is NOT a nailhead, it's the 'modern' Buick V8 design used up until 1980 (1979 by the books, but some 1980 model Buicks had them, too.)

The engine is very light...one of the lightest cast iron V8s available, and would make a KILLER COOL rod motor for somebody seeking an alternative powerplant! B-O-P pattern transmissions will bolt right up to it, meaning that a TH-350 or TH-400 can be used...but the TH-400 would be massive overkill behind the Buick 350, so I'd go with the TH-350 myself.

Perforamnce parts availability is tricky, however. Poston, Kenne Belle and Crane Cams can help you out, though. I built a mild 350 Buick for my ex-wife's cruiser, and used a Crane hydraulic cam with the factory 4v intake, a Carter AFB, recurved HEI distributor, and dual exhaust. Made for a strong running motor and it was ultra reliable to boot!

One thing to consider is the front crank seal. Catalogs will indicate that a rope-type seal is required, but a far better choice is to install a neoprene seal from a trbo V6 Buick engine. It fits the stock front cover perfectly and works FAR better than the old rope seal!

Consider a hi-performance rebuild kit for the oil pump if you get a s far as pulling the front cover off. TRW offers a standard rebuild kit, and a hi-volume kit...I used the hi-volume kit on advice from my old boss who was a Buick V8 guru and it worked out well.

Other than that...don't break the vibration dampner pulling it off...can be tricky to find a replacement! (Yeah, I did that...but by a weird stroke of luck, the local machine shop just happened to have a good one laying around!).

Buick 350 engines also found their way into Jeeps back in the 70s...so you can hunt for them there! Manual trannys were available, as I drove a Cherokee with a Buick 350 and a four speed once...but it was a 4x4 and I don't know what tranny it was. Overall, they're a great engine that slips well under the goldchainer's radar...nobody wants them, so they're dirt cheap. Few people know just how light and reliable they are, though...so take advantage of those traits!

 

C9 & Fat Hack thanks for the good information!!!

I wish it was 455 but for almost free sounds like this will work

Thanks again Brian

 

TA Performance in Phoenix AZ is the killer connection for the later small-block Buick. The owner started the company when he got frustrated looking for hot rod parts for his own 350 Buick. Now he's got everything for all the later (post-nailhead) Buicks, but the 350 stuff he makes is unique to him. It's worth a call to see if what he's got is what you want.480-922-6807

 

Yes, TA Performance is the place to look for SBB parts.

Also look at www.V8Buick.com, lots of info there for all Buick engines.