Buick/Oldsmobile Engines

I recently purchased a 1968 Buick Skylark minus its motor and transmission. I have noticed that there are not a lot of after market performance parts for Buick engines and was wondering if I should put an Oldsmobile engine in the car instead of a Buick. From my research it appears that Buick and Olds engines have many interchangable parts or are even possibly the same engines. How much are these motors interchangable? How difficult would it be to put in an Olds engine? Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Steve

I recently purchased a 1968 Buick Skylark minus its motor and transmission. I have noticed that there are not a lot of after market performance parts for Buick engines and was wondering if I should put an Oldsmobile engine in the car instead of a Buick. From my research it appears that Buick and Olds engines have many interchangable parts or are even possibly the same engines. How much are these motors interchangable? How difficult would it be to put in an Olds engine? Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Steve
For performance, I would go with the Buick 455. There are parts available from Poston, Kenne-Bell and T/A. I know a guy who put a stock Buick into a 1978 Electra and proceded to run low 14's with no performance parts. He's in the low 12's now after porting, etc. Since it was his daily driver, he didn't want to go too wild. His car weighs over 4400 lbs with him in it.
Jeff

It would be easy to swap an Olds or Pontiac engine in your car, as the trans has the Buick - Olds - Pontiac bolt pattern and that chassis was used for all GM makes except Cadillac. Just get the right engine and trans mounts and you are good to go.
Generally, I would not recommend anything other than a Buick engine as you would reduce the value of the car.
If you must mess with it, the Pontiac engine probably has more performance parts available and a lower cost.
The Olds engines are great but tend to have a smaller bore and longer stroke than Buicks or Pontiac, with, generally speaking smaller valves.
However, the power of any one of the engines depends on the combination of parts and the set up and tuning, rather than the manufacturer.

by the way none of the parts are interchangeable between the 2 engines buick and olds, besides the carb they are completely different engines

Thanks for the responses guys. I think I will go with a Buick 455.

Thanks for the responses guys. I think I will go with a Buick 455.

Dallas, I just dropped a 454 Chevy in my 1969 GS California and it was a susprisingly easy swap. There was a 455 Olds in there but I like to go to the track occasionally and after spinning the bearings twice I decided to get away from that headache. I have a Buick 455, but it would cost over twice the money to build it like I want than it was for the chevy. The only problem that I have is the wiring to the starter, but I will get it figured out sooner or later.

Dallas, I just dropped a 454 Chevy in my 1969 GS California and it was a susprisingly easy swap. There was a 455 Olds in there but I like to go to the track occasionally and after spinning the bearings twice I decided to get away from that headache. I have a Buick 455, but it would cost over twice the money to build it like I want than it was for the chevy. The only problem that I have is the wiring to the starter, but I will get it figured out sooner or later.


Hey that sounds like a great swap. Any info you could pass my way would be great. I was kinda dreading going with a buick engine due to the costs that you mentioned. But if its that easy to put a Chevey motor in there then I might do that.

Hey that sounds like a great swap. Any info you could pass my way would be great. I was kinda dreading going with a buick engine due to the costs that you mentioned. But if its that easy to put a Chevey motor in there then I might do that.
If cost is a big concern, go with a small block Chevy. They are cheapest to build. The car will not be worth as much, all other things being equal. Just use the engine mounts from a Chevy Chevelle of the same year. That car came with both a small block or a big block, depending on the option. Everything else should be straight forward.

If cost is a big concern, go with a small block Chevy. They are cheapest to build. The car will not be worth as much, all other things being equal. Just use the engine mounts from a Chevy Chevelle of the same year. That car came with both a small block or a big block, depending on the option. Everything else should be straight forward.
Whoa here! If cost is a big concern drop a freakin' VW engine in it! What you have to look at is your final goals. The 455 Buick block weighs about 125 lbs less than a BBC and only 75 lbs more than an SBC. They put out 510 ft/lbs of torque in the normal mode (read that Electra) and 360 lbs/ft in Stage 1 trim. Now, you cannot and should not build a Buick engine like a Chevy. Chevies tend to rev higher and make their power there. Buicks give low end grunt. Therefore, you don't have to use the expensive lighter weight reciprocating parts in a Buick like you would in a Chevy. Chevy PARTS are much cheaper than Buick parts, BUT with a Buick you need fewer of them.

That friend of mine that I mentioned in the previous post took a 4400 lbs Buick with a JUNK YARD ENGINE and pulled low 14's. Take 500 lbs off that for a Skylark and you're talking high 13's. This is with NO performance parts. Put another $1000 in head work and an intake and you're probably in the 12's. How much would it cost to put a SBC into the 12's in a 3900 lb car without N2O? If your goal is under 10 seconds in the quarter, you probably will want to look at Chevy, because at that power range, you'll need short block strength.
Jeff

I would go with a Buick 455 from any junkyard fullsize Buick. There are plenty of performance parts available - if you know where to look.

A different idea ... as the step child of any forum this is the first one I have found where anyone has actually swapped a Chevy into a Buick (454 in a GS). I am in the middle of a swap for a 66 Riviera daily driver that has finally worn out the nailhead 425 - TH400 combo. I have a ZZ4 and 700R4 that is on it way into the Riviera. Can't find anyone else yet that has done it, so I must be crazy. Great car but it really needs some technology so to speak if it is to stay a daily driver in this centruy. See www.v8buick.com forum @ <http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41436>; to follow the support or lack thereof for this idea.
.02 cents anyone ?

Drake

Dallas, I just dropped a 454 Chevy in my 1969 GS California and it was a susprisingly easy swap. There was a 455 Olds in there but I like to go to the track occasionally and after spinning the bearings twice I decided to get away from that headache. I have a Buick 455, but it would cost over twice the money to build it like I want than it was for the chevy. The only problem that I have is the wiring to the starter, but I will get it figured out sooner or later.


The only wiring difference I know of is maybe an extra "R" terminal on the original starter, which is made for cars with a "point" type distributer. I have built several 455 Olds engines, and love them all. I don't know if it was a rod or main bearing you spun, but some people have a problem spinning mains at high RPM. The reason is, the oil holes are huge and at high revs the mains get flooded. I have put oil restrictors in the mains for the motors that were destined to be fogged, to relieve this problem. I personally never had to run mine over 6000, for anything, so it wasn't an issue.