I read an article the other day about how the Range rover alum 215 block is based on the buick 215. Afterwards I had some questions: 1. Are there any interchangeable parts? ie alum heads or blocks. 2. If so can an all alum 350 be made? How fast do you think an all alum 350 powered car would be? Our this could be another one of my pipe dreams.
The 350 is related to the 215, they even have some parts that will interchange. I don't think it's possible to get a 215 block out to 350 cid. There just isnt enough material to bore and I doubt a 215 block could fit the 3.85" stroke of the 350 crank. The 350 block is pretty light weight especially compared to other engines of similar displacement. An aluminum block would be sweet, but I doubt we'll see one any time soon.
I've read that pretty much any Rover head will bolt to the AL motor. I also seem to remember reading that there is no "right" and "left" head because they were designed to be symmetrical and interchangeable. The Brits made cars using that motor for many more years than Buick did, so your best bet for High-perf parts for it is to look in the UK. There is a company that makes an aftermarket aluminum block based on the aluminum Buick v-8, and that can be bored and stroked out to a max of 302CI. If you have a Buick with the Aluminum v8, I would swap it out for a 350 or a 455 because they are just easier and cheaper to find parts for. On the other hand, if you just have an Aluminum V8 sitting around and are looking for something to put it in, I would throw it into an MG. I read that the MGB and MGC were made at a time where their high-end engines were essentially the same as the low-end engines in other larger cars that also had the aluminum v8 as an option. Hence, it is pretty easy to bolt that Buick V8 into an MG and double the horsepower and torque. - Freed
I've read that pretty much any Rover head will bolt to the AL motor. I also seem to remember reading that there is no "right" and "left" head because they were designed to be symmetrical and interchangeable. The Brits made cars using that motor for many more years than Buick did, so your best bet for High-perf parts for it is to look in the UK. There is a company that makes an aftermarket aluminum block based on the aluminum Buick v-8, and that can be bored and stroked out to a max of 302CI. If you have a Buick with the Aluminum v8, I would swap it out for a 350 or a 455 because they are just easier and cheaper to find parts for. On the other hand, if you just have an Aluminum V8 sitting around and are looking for something to put it in, I would throw it into an MG. I read that the MGB and MGC were made at a time where their high-end engines were essentially the same as the low-end engines in other larger cars that also had the aluminum v8 as an option. Hence, it is pretty easy to bolt that Buick V8 into an MG and double the horsepower and torque. - Freed
I have an old "hot rod," issue that talks about the buick 215 / olds 215 blocks. It lists many of the parts that interchange and how to build these engines for greater CID. When i get home i'll scan and post the info with a link to it here. It's a pretty cool article...it even shows how to save money by buying four chrysler sleeves and cutting them in half to press into the 215 block. Ok, 305 is as large as it goes...but heres a link to a very interesting build article out of an 85 issue of hot rod. (for educational purposes only). http://www.sendpix.com/albums/04020323/2323000000000a5926d90a2db6093b2d568586198f1a1b/
For a number of years now Corvette has used an all aluminum 350. It has also been installed in the Camaro and Firebird. Ted
Beginning about '67 or so, the MGB l had an optional 6 cylinder called the MGC (it used essentially the same motor as the Healy 3000). They were very nose heavy and not much faster than a B. About 1970 , a British tuner by the name of Ken Costello started dropping the Rover/Buick aluminum V8 into MGBs, Buick having sold the motor to Rover in the mid-sixties, and the motor was already being used in Rover sedans, Range Rovers, and Morgan Plus8s. Costello was selling enough cars that in 1973 British Leyland began producing a factory version of the MG V8 (obtaining motors from Rover), although they were only available in the GT body. I don't think any were officially imported to the US, primarily b/c of emissions, but some may have been snuck in. The motor also was later used in the TR8 and TVR sportscars, plus several other low volume production sports cars. Also, it was widely used in Australia sportscar racing, and there were quite a few speed parts available for it down there. I once saw a fuel injection setup, with velocity stacks and everything, that had been imported from Australia. A Rover/Buick motor will fit right in an MGB, but the guys that have done it before have had to deal with low torsional rigidity in the body (why the factory only did GTs), and marginal drive train strength. Anyone doing the swap will need to address those same issues. A 350 could be bolted right in an early Special or Skylark in place of the 215, but I would consider carefully before doing it. The 215 can be made to run pretty strong, and it has a uniqueness that would be lost if replaced with a mass produced iron block V8. If you already have the motor, and were looking for a car to put it in, I wouldn't recommend putting it in a previously 4 cyl car b/c of the lack of strength in the transmission and rear end. Even a stock 215 has about double the HP and torque of an 4cyl MG . I would consider going the kit-car route - either a Cobra or Healy. I would install a T-5 and a narrowed late 10-bolt. The car would be wicked light, and handle very well. It'd make a great autocross car. An early ChevyII might be cool, too - and I'd love to see the Chebby guys' jaws drop when they see a Buick motor in one of their Icons....
The Rover (Buick) V8 gets dropped in about every kind fo car over here because you just about are tripping over used cores to rebuild. I've seen them in Ford Escorts, Ford Capri, Ford Cortina, Ford Anglia, etc. (any old RWD Ford really) plus Vauxhalls, Opels, MGs, Triumphs, etc. They are a good compact engine so will fit a lot of places a iron V8 won't go and also less work to get the suspension right as it weighs about the same as most old generation 4 cyl engines do. Do a search on this site as there was a lot of good info discussed here not so long back.
There's even a British company (can't find the link right now) that makes a kit to drop one in a Miata. That could be one angry little car! - Freed
If you send me your email Peter ...i will email the scans to you in a better resolution....sorry about the ones on send-pix. That was only my second "try," at putting photo's out there and chopped the quality down too much.
