Engine Swap for 1983 Cutlass Supreme

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MrSony

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Nov 15, 2014
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Dont cut or rip put any wires. You can use them on a Buick 350 easily. :D electric choke, temp, oil pressure, all of em.
 

86Prix

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Sep 9, 2019
36
42
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State College, PA
Huge SBC fan here, parts are cheap and readily available and if you want to really have some fun step up to a 383 stroker! You can build or crate engines with warranties are a great bargain in the long run. Of course it took me 4-5 builds to figure that out.
 

DoctorSwain

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 4, 2020
19
14
3
Bozeman, Montana
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Drops right in. Literally. Only easier swap would be another 231.
That's a clean looking engine. Where would I even find a buick 350? It seems they're even harder to find than the 231. The salvage yard in our area has a chevy 350 but neither a buick 350 or 231. A forum member said he has a buick v6 he's wants to sell for $200. Speed is great, but I like the idea of getting 18mpg. Even with the v6 in it I was able to hit 0-60 in 7 seconds and top out at 100 mph, which is as fast as I would want to go in a car that old anyway.
 

pagrunt

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Sep 14, 2014
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Elderton, Pa
That's a clean looking engine. Where would I even find a buick 350? It seems they're even harder to find than the 231. The salvage yard in our area has a chevy 350 but neither a buick 350 or 231. A forum member said he has a buick v6 he's wants to sell for $200. Speed is great, but I like the idea of getting 18mpg. Even with the v6 in it I was able to hit 0-60 in 7 seconds and top out at 100 mph, which is as fast as I would want to go in a car that old anyway.
There is more than just the 350. Believe any '67 up Buick V8 should work (455, 400)
 
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Wageslave

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Jan 25, 2017
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That's a clean looking engine. Where would I even find a buick 350? It seems they're even harder to find than the 231. The salvage yard in our area has a chevy 350 but neither a buick 350 or 231. A forum member said he has a buick v6 he's wants to sell for $200. Speed is great, but I like the idea of getting 18mpg. Even with the v6 in it I was able to hit 0-60 in 7 seconds and top out at 100 mph, which is as fast as I would want to go in a car that old anyway.
My Bonneville will get a little over 18 mpg with a 350 SBC and a TH200. Smaller displacement doesn't necessarily mean better fuel economy. If you have more torque to work with, you will spend less time with the motor under high load trying to get up to speed.

The 3.8 is a good motor, but a reasonably fresh V8 can get good mileage too if you stay out of the go pedal.
 
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MrSony

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The 3.8 wont get 18mpg without fuel injection.
Buick 350s are in basically every Buick from 1968-1980. And some jeeps from 68-71. The 68 and 69 oil through the rocker shafts (like a mopar 360, among others), and use solid pushrods so they need converted to 70+ pushrod oiling. 75-80 had HEI and stronger rods. Look around on Craigslist, facebook marketplace, etc for people parting out 70s Buicks. Demo guys use em a lot. Afaik a 455 Buick would require moving and welding the frame side mounts. Not hard if you can weld.
The 350 Buick uses all the same hookups, warer pump, timing cover (depending on year, older 3.8 covers have the pan bolt holes in right location), front end gaskets, starter, oil pump (same cover setup), etc. A 3.8 is literally a 350 minus cylinders 3 and 4, with a shorter stroke and deck height.
 

MrSony

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Nov 15, 2014
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I was getting a steady 18-19mpg for several years out of my 3.8.
Rlly? All the ones I've seen or driven (including mine) got around 15. Maybe they all had leaky lines. :unsure:
 

Wageslave

Royal Smart Person
Jan 25, 2017
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Rlly? All the ones I've seen or driven (including mine) got around 15. Maybe they all had leaky lines. :unsure:
Rear gear choice may be a big factor in the difference.
 
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