Swapped: Buick 231 V6 >Buick 350

[brrian]

It's alive:

1981 Grand Prix - 231 Buick V6 out, Buick 350 in. It's bone stock except for a booster plate to help with oil pressure. As advertised, it was an easy swap. I used all of the accessories & brackets off the front of the V6. Used new V6 motor/transmission mounts. The V6 fan sat perfectly (half in/half out) in a stock V8 shroud. A few minor modifications:

-shorten the alternator support rod
-shave the corner off the passenger valve cover at the AC box (rather than cut the heater box as some others have done).
-trim the radiator hoses

Big things left to do are finishing the exhaust and setting timing & advance (great post on that in the V8Buick group). I swapped in factory gauges also & I have the oil, temp & tach gauges working. I converted the check engine light to an oil idiot light, and I recreated the factory choke circuit so even the choke light works.

I'll post back after driving & let you know what I think of it. It should be a lot more fun to drive than the lifeless V6, and it'll sound great.

 

[78Delta88]

Yes, but why the Blue Oval fender cover. As Charlie Brown would say.... Arrrgggghhhhh!

 

[brrian]

I know 😐. My buddy's shop, his cover. He has a cool LS-swapped 01 Mustang.

 

[78Regal350]

Congrats!

 

[MrSony]

This makes me tingly in all the right areas.
Congrats. For a daily driver even a mild SBB is enough fun to scoot around in. Plenty of passing torque.
Factory manifolds fit like a glove, TA Performance has g body downpipes, unless you want to find a factory y pipe and do a cat back dual setup or something.

 

[brrian]

I used factory manifolds & TA downpipes & it worked out perfectly. Tailpipes from Mandrel Bending Solutions, Thrush welded mufflers & my buddy's Pypes x-pipe. The exhaust will be done this weekend.
Thanks MrSony for the advice & answers to my questions along the way.

 

[85442/86buick]

congrats !!!!!!!

love it when a plan comes together !

 

[MrSony]

I used factory manifolds & TA downpipes & it worked out perfectly. Tailpipes from Mandrel Bending Solutions, Thrush welded mufflers & my buddy's Pypes x-pipe. The exhaust will be done this weekend.
Thanks MrSony for the advice & answers to my questions along the way.

View attachment 235392

no problem
always willing to help another sbb swap happen.

 

[MrSony]

I used factory manifolds & TA downpipes & it worked out perfectly. Tailpipes from Mandrel Bending Solutions, Thrush welded mufflers & my buddy's Pypes x-pipe. The exhaust will be done this weekend.
Thanks MrSony for the advice & answers to my questions along the way.

View attachment 235392

I've got hooker headers, and 2.5 duals with thrush welded and MBS tails too. I've got a TA_310 cam so it's quite choppy. Excited to hear yours.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Those are nice looking down pipes, what diameter? I am also for any different motor swaps in cars. Haven't had much to do with the small bore Buick and Pontiac 350's. I have only driven one Buick 350 car, a Lesabre from 1980, the last year offered. I remember my old boss saying they were shitty engines when it came in the shop. My other boss had issues with his rebuilt Buick 455 and low oil pressure. Pretty sure a new TA front cover and oil pump would have fixed it.