what kind of buick engines were in 66 cars

[awhicker]

right now the '66 skylark i bought has a 350, if i was going to put a buick motor in instead what kind of engines were there for buicks at that time?

[Madcat455]

From what I can find 66's were the last year for a Buick engine called a "Nailhead".... 322, 364, 401, 425 (maybe some others, this is just what I found "quickly")

What type of 350 do you have in there??


you dead set on going specific to that year... 67's had the newer style blocks(350/400/430/455) that have more of an aftermarket following for performance parts. (although a Nailhead is no slouch)

[awhicker]

im not dead set on that particular year, im just think it would be neat to have real buick engine. The current 350 i have in the car doesn't really fit right, the radiator doesn't sit right, the starter cant be more that 60 thousandths of an inch from the headers and its just too ordinary of a powerplant. The guy who had it before me also put the motor together very cheaply and no of it really meshes well. The car doesn't really run right and the engine looks very cheap to me. If im going to put a lot of time into the car then im going to put in an engine thats atleast unique, so i was thinking of putting in a buick motor.

[Madcat455]

Do you want any performance out of it (far above stock)??? A nailhead is a good engine, with alot of Torque that can be made to "run". Problem is that performance parts are hard to find, and KNOWLEDGEABLE builders are even harder (Buicks can't be built like any chevy..lol).

If you want that thing to really run, then I'd throw in a 455.... Since you've already got an incorrect engine in there, you won't be out any more money for conversion differences. Performance parts for the 455 are easy to get (expensive but available), and a stock looking 455 can push that 66 deep into the 12's while sounding stock (as long as you set up the trans and rear to match it).

If you really don't care about performance, then I'd go the Nailhead route.... It'll be correct for the year, still give good performance, and will have that odd "cool" factor.


BTW.. what brand 350 does it have right now anyway???? It doesn't have the Dist. in the front does it???

[awhicker]

im not sure what kind of 350 it has in other than the fact that is a crate engine, the distributor is in the rear.

[Madcat455]

Typically a "Crate" engine = chevy...lol. Which means that you can go either way, and it'll probably be real close in the amount of work invlolved.

Try this site for Parts/Info on either setup... Alot of info there:

Http://www.v8buick.com


Maybe a better explanation for whats involved with the swap then I can give.

Good Luck.