58 Buick Century

Have chance at 58 Buick Century. Is engine 364 Or 401? What year did they go to 401? Car is pink with white interior. Two door hardtop. Bernie Steffen

 

58 would be a 364. Brain not working as to when they switched to 401, long day.

 

I have a 58 special it had the 364 2 barrel carb. I belive the 401 may have been an option in 59 or 60. I found parts are kinda hard to come by for the 364 and expensive. Mine wasnt running when bought it and I didnt like the torque tube. I have pulled it and currently putting a 70 buick 350 4 barrel and th 350 trans havent decided on a rear end yet. I love my car and when people see it they say they have never seen one before and that it looks so much better than the bel aire. Good luck.

 

The 401 was available in 1959 in the Invicta and Electra. The LeSabre had a 364 through 1961. In 1962 all the big cars had 401s and the other engines available in the small Buicks were the 196CI V6 and the alumnium 215CI V8

 

1958 Special came standard with the 364 CI 2 barrel and 9.5:1 compression ratio.

All other series had the 4 barrel 364 CI with 10.0:1 compression ratio.

 

I read in the chassis manual the 2 brl has 250 hp and the 4 brl has 300.

 

That's right Gary,

But the 2 barrel engine had a 9.5:1 compression ratio, where the 4 barel had 10.0:1.
2 Barrel had 250 HP @ 4400 rpm, 380 Lbs-ft @ 2400 rpm.

4 barrel had 300 HP @ 4600 rpm, 400 Lbs-ft @ 3200 rpm.

Look at section 2-2 in your manual, it's all there.... :Smarty: