1987 Buick Regal Build

[joesregalproject]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

Well last week I stumbled upon an ad for 2 350 Buicks, so I gave the guy a call. He said one had smoke problems and was disassembled, the other was complete from carb to pan and ran excellent as of a year ago and needs only a battery. They have both been sitting inside. They are both '68 blocks. He said he wanted $50 for the smoking motor and $100 for the complete good motor. I'm gonna call him tomorrow and buy the running motor. I will probably pick it up Monday or Tuesday next week. I will probably have it honed. Do they make a bore kit for the 350 Buick?

OR.... My metal shop teacher has a 350 buick sitting in his shop. It's all there, but disassembled and needs hot tanked and honed. He'd probably take $100, or $150 for it.

What is the better deal here?

 

[olds307 and 403]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

Buy the running one. Do gaskets and maybe a timing chain. You could also get either of the torn down ones for a more complete overhaul. TA performance has pistons for the Buick 350.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

sh*t for $150 I would get both. Or go there to buy the running one and offer him $25-#30 for the smoking one. I doubt he would turn that down since you're already there. Use the bad one for parts, rebuild it later on, or make a badass coffee table, or mailbox out of it 8)

 

[307 Regal]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

Buy the running one. Do gaskets and maybe a timing chain. You could also get either of the torn down ones for a more complete overhaul. TA performance has pistons for the Buick 350.

(sorry if I get a little long winded)
x2 on that. That's pretty cheap. I paid just under 2k for mine, except mine was a "fresh" rebuild that the owner never came back for. Hot tanked, bored, Comp Cams camshaft, starter, flywheel, hei, new fuel pump, etc. Complete engine and I got to hear the break-in. That's why mine was so expensive. Only thing is, it's someone else's build (and a pretty mild one at that). That's why I think it'd be cool if you got both. One running and another to build up the way you want it. (For example building it for boost or nitrous with strong internals, or doing oiling mods. Mine's just low compression with cast internals.) Heck, even if you changed your mind on the project engine you wouldn't be losing much if you decided you wanted a 455.
There's plenty of good info for the swap on here. Just keep in mind that you might need to service the trans too. Pull your converter off after you get the engine out and at least take a look at your input shaft. But hey, that's pretty far down the road anyway, right? Don't forget to plan out an exhaust too. Maybe keep an eye out for used A-body headers while you're doing your paint job.

If you're interested, I caught a late '60s 350 in action. After talking to the guy, his build is nearly identical to my '76 (aside from maybe compression and a higher CFM carb) including the same advertised stall I bought my torque converter with. (2500rpm) He was running regular exhaust manifolds and a T/A intake though. He was running mid/high-14s. His Skylark is a tad heavier than my Regal but I'd still probably run slower than him because of my tires. He was running drag radials with a 3.42 ring and pinion and he still had a hard time hooking up totally. I'm just running street tires with 3.73s. Anyway, enough with the armchair racing; here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3eKwn_ZtKw

Check out the rest of the vids on that channel if you wanna see more Buick engines.

 

[joesregalproject]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

Honestly I'm just glad I'm gonna have it. .030 over pistons are a main concern, just in case the guy is lying and it smokes anyways, but I'm not counting on that. Exhaust- probably headers, cheap mufflers, I don't know. Transmission- TH350. I don't want to hook up my 200. Anyways, I don't know when I'll get it in the car, but it is a great start point.

 

[307 Regal]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

I'm pretty sure these are the pistons in mine:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/slp-3 ... make/buick
Summit seems to have a few:
http://www.summitracing.com/search/make ... ston-rings

Here are the headers that work:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hok-1 ... make/buick
I was able to find a very similar used set for 140 shipped on craigslist.

 

[Longroof79]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

I would opt for the complete running engine, but I think I'd make a deal for both of them if the price is right.
I'm glad to see that you're actually considering a Buick V-8 over a Chevy small block. I like the Buick 350 V-8. they're lighter than a SBC, and are quite underrated.
I would also recommend going with a higher volume/ higher pressure oil pump. If I recall, these engines have had dry start problems. Oil pumps are easy to do on these engines. No dropping of pans, etc.

 

[joesregalproject]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

It's mine! I'll be picking it up Monday or Tuesday. I bought the '68 complete running motor. $100. It will be a while before it goes in my car, but it will go in eventually. As for now, I want to do plugs, wires, distributor cap, coil probably, whatever gaskets need done, oil pump upgrade, maybe a carb clean/mild rebuild, and timing chain. Then once I get a TH350 trans and driveshaft, I'll put it in the car. The 2.41 rear gear won't last long after that. I don't want to start dreaming too much, but this is a generalized plan for now. I'm kinda getting excitied here, lol.

 

[Longroof79]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

Good for you man. I think you did well. Depending on the condition internally. You might be able to get by with a hone and ring job and a set of new bearings. But again you'll have to investigate the condition further.
Come to think of, once you pull an engine apart to do an overall observation, it generally snowballs from there. You'll want to do a valve job, new guides and valve seals, etc.etc.
I think you'll be able to build a nice Buick 350 and not break the bank.

 

[joesregalproject]

Re: 1987 Buick Regal Build- Buick 350!

Good for you man. I think you did well. Depending on the condition internally. You might be able to get by with a hone and ring job and a set of new bearings. But again you'll have to investigate the condition further.
Come to think of, once you pull an engine apart to do an overall observation, it generally snowballs from there. You'll want to do a valve job, new guides and valve seals, etc.etc.
I think you'll be able to build a nice Buick 350 and not break the bank.

Thanks. My first V8! I can't wait to rip into it. And the 'not break the bank' is the part I gotta watch. Hopefully it will just be a hone and rings and not need a .030 bore. The guy said it ran fine, and I have no reason not to trust him, but I also have no reason to trust him. Anyways, I'm gonna play it by ear and see how things go.