In a message dated 4/21/00 11:33:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
phippsj@camalott.com writes:
> Hi all! I haven't been working on my poor old 57 3600 in quite a while, but
> now that summer's back, I'm ready to start again. What I was hoping
someone
> could answer was, what would be the major downfalls to using a 78 Buick 350
> engine instead of a Chevy 350? I haven't found a good deal on a
rebuildable
> Chevy 350 (rodders all grabbing them up) locally, but have a chance to get
a
> good running Buick 350 from a 78 Century. The tranny's bad, so it'll have
> to be replaced. My guess is that the trans from my old 283 won't swap over
> to the Buick, and I'm afraid I'll get stuck having to pay too much to get a
> good Buick tranny. That's about the biggest problem I see for now. Should
> I keep looking for a rebuildable Chevy 350 or would the Buick engine be ok?
> I'm doing this on a budget, so costs count. Any suggestions or comments
> would be greatly appreciated.
> Also, I've been subscribed to this list for over a year now. Although I
> seldom have occasion to offer my own advice (so many of ya'll know so much
> more than me), I thoroughly enjoy reading all the advice, opinions, and
just
> about everything else. Ya'll are a great bunch! Thanks to all.
>
> Jim Phipps, 57 3600
Jim,
You won't have any problems so to speak of....but a '78 Buick motor isn't
one of Buick's best. Any mount could be fabricated, and the motor is just a
little wider than a SBC if I recall, I had a 350 "Wildcat" in a old Jeep
pickup once, it did run good.
You could get the Buick tranny rebuilt, cost should be the same as a Chevy
TH350.
Modifications such as headers, intake, heads, cams, etc., would most likely
cost more, and you'd have less of a selection.
It's not as if you're putting in a Fart, er, Ford motor :)
Mike
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
|