ive decided to convert my 1970 Skylark custom from its original 350 to a 455. are there any parts from my 350 that will fit and work with the 455? does anyone have a parts list pointers of this task? also...i could use suggestions on a where to buy a rebuilt crate motor, and any warnings, or past experience. thanks!
www.Buickperformance.com for the conversion. There are no crate engines meaning from the factory.( I am not counting some occasional pickled short blocks.) Builders are listed under the grey pages. My guess is 5 -12K depending on what you want on it. Greatscat has a slighly used 455 listed for 2K.
You need aftermarket motor mounts. Otherwise you need 455 fan shroud must use 455 pw steer pump bracket may need special high press hose made up for clearance. I would find an old electra or other big tank for 2 or 3 hundred and rebuild the engine.:TU:
I agree, although I hate to see a Riv or Electra cannibalised. On my swap, I bought a '73 Riv with a good motor and didn't touch the engine other than to swap it in for 7 years. The Riv's fan shroud bolted right in. As did the radiator core support top brace. For the type of money you'll be paying for someone else to do the work, I'd recommend considering building yourself an engine. It's not all that hard to do a stock rebuild. Pros who get the most hp out of an engine have a lot more work to do than somebody who wants to build a stock or slightly hotter than stock rebuild. To get the type of power and reliablity out of a Buick 455 that Jim W. does, you'd better be Jim W., but to rebuild a 455 and have a good engine, you can be as dumb as Chris B. and get away with it:TU: Plus, if it breaks, you'll know how to fix it every time, or at the least, you'll know how it comes apart and goes together. The real key ingredient in my opinion, and I think everyone will agree, is to get a quality machinist to do your prep work. A machinist who knows a Buick engine is a relatively high tolerance thing and who won't cut corners and treat it like a Chevy engine. No offence to Chevy-philes but the tolerances are closer on the 455 by a good deal, are they not? So you'd better keep those tolerances within spec to have the engine perform as designed, is all I'm saying. To do that, good machine work is key. Money spent on the block and crank is money well spent if you ask me. I cringed at the thought of 2500 bucks in prep work at first, but then I realised that I'd have the best starting point for the rebuild I could get and I'd be putting good money into a solid foundation that would last instead of half-bucking it and doing it all over again in 3 years. And I'll tell you, putting that thing together again after my machinist (Tommy at TC auto machine, Waltham Ma- thanks again Tom!:TU: ) did his thing was stooopid easy. It went to thermostat temp and stayed there, and started on the first turn of the key. I was scared to death to try it out after all the work but it was a breeeze with quality prep work. It's not a hard thing but does take a bit of time money and effort but our hobby isn't all a cake walk. There's nothing like firing up the engine you built for your muscle car It made me at least feel like I finally knew what I was doing.
I did not want to suggest to destroy a usable car. I got my 70 455 from an electra that was terminal. These cars are still out there and will save money over other ways of getting a motor. Also I was able to get all accesories like carb alt all brackets,basically everything you need. Also I agree with 462 on machine work.
