The time has come, unfortunately my Buick got low oil pressure started to make a ticking sound and then it seized. It wasn’t under load when it seized and I haven’t tried to start it up since. This weekend I plan on pulling the plugs , putting some marvel mystery oil down each cylinder let to sit for a few days then do an oil change and see if it will start with out making that tick. Here is the dilemma, if the motor or a bearing is damaged I will need to have a rebuilt. I unfortunately don’t have the space to do the rebuild myself (no garage or flat yard). The cost for a rebuilt of my 350 would be the same as a rebuilt LS(that’s with original iron heads, aluminum adds a lot more $$) . Should I just get the LS @ 400hp. What has been some of your experiences? Any input is welcome. Just want to get my car back up a running. She has a brand new extreme automatics 200-4r I have barely put 200 miles on.
Running Buick 350s are not that hard to come by and usually pretty cheap. I’d look for that. I think the ls is a great engine in a Chevy. Stock one in a Buick not so much. Patrick
These 2 are getting picked up tomorrow for $400 total. I know the 71 is a runner. When factoring the cost of the LS swap you need to take into consideration brackets, a new tank if running fuel injection, etc.
Put a 350 in it and put a 120 shot of nitrous on it. I put that on in 2005 and motor still rocks and I got all the old sh** from 1995, yeah 25+ years on this motor. Running faster than ever on motor, have not tried my 75 shot of nitrous yet with new cam, which always knocked off a second and a half with old cam . 13.80 to 12.30 with a 75 shot. I went 11.81@114 with the 120 shot. The oil mods need to be done on the 350 same as the 455
I wouldn't LS anything that has other options. I just rebuilt a GS 350 4-speed last year and I enjoy it. Mild cam, headers and aluminum intake make for a nice package.
I have a few running 350's here. Unfortunately on the other side of the country. Probably not the best site to ask your question. Most/all here will say to stick w/the Buick 350.
As I said to a flash in the pan member a decade or go, this IS V8Buick. We are biased and we broadcast it in the name. Patrick
You're looking at an additional 3k MINIMUM to get the LS in there.....lots more upsides with the LS...no way around it
Being the era of our Buicks in that all GM brand cars came with their divisions engines, Chevy with Chevy engines, Pontiac with Pontiac, Olds with Olds, and Buick with Buick engines, its bastardizing to put a "generic" LS in. You say you want to get it "back up and running" Well, your going to spend WAAAAY more time and money monkeying around getting the LS in there changing mounts, adapters, exhaust, wiring, fuel system, would you stay fuel injection or go carb? Fuel injection you have to change the fuel system, tank, pump, lines. Carb? Change intake, buy a carb. How you going to run the ignition system?
You can use manifolds..truck drive brackets and clipped stock harness.....but still be into for a couple grand
Can go carb with an MSD LS box but...they are $800 for the kit now iirc To get it back up and running....a used 350 is the best option
You may look at cost. Just seeing the swap parts you are looking almost 5k. Then the cost of the motor. Plus fuel system updates. You can look at over 8K minimum.
Those upsides are the ability to build big power cheap. That’s where the savings of not buying Buick parts and not building a high power Buick cover the time, money and hassle of adapting everything. If what you want is smooth running, smooth driving and aqequate power, a stockish Buick 350 (especially if you buy a used runner) will be much cheaper and easier than the ls, and a stock ls is no better (and in torque production, worse-gotta spin it to get it) than the Buick. Patrick
Yep! Plus the coolness factor when you open the hood! People EXPECT to see an LS, when they see a V8 with the distributor up front, it will leave the younger than us crowd scratching their heads. Yep again! The LS does not make any torque till 3000 rpm, they’re TURDS down low Plus the LS issues just like any other engine, first and most importantly THE OIL SYSTEM! The pick up tube “O” ring, and it oils just like a Buick, pulls oil from the back up to the front mounted pump and oils lifters first. I’m tired of hearing how great and “without fault” the LS platform is. What IS great about the LS are what you get for factory heads, THATS IT!
Seriously think putting in Mystery oil will work? Save your money. It seized up with no oil pressure, pull it and replace or rebuild are your only options. I hope you go back with a Buick.
All this is because everyone thinks you stick a cam in a LS motor and you get 600 hp this is what I hear and read all the time. By the time you put that 8k to get to that point you might as well just rebuilt the 350. The entire fuel system will need upgraded too. I got 25+ years on this motor and you can ask Demko I don't baby this engine when we went to track together this summer I was spinning mine to 6300 Rebuild the 350 get the oil mods done, and get those Iron heads ported it will run like a freight train, Put in a roller cam and the lightweight pistons and rods and it will last damn near forever. I am actually surprised it failed on you, back in 83 I put a Comp Cam 268 in and that was it at the time had 0-5 lbs oil pressure at idle and never got above 35-40 at anytime, ran till 94 when it got flooded and I broke the crank. I ran the crap out of that motor too. If you do this good luck if you do the right stuff it will run great too but it will be like everything else, another Car with a LS motor in it. This won't be a Buick no more might as well stick a a chevy emblem on it To each his own in this performance world today.
