Well been working on my 81 4x4 Silverado, for a few days now and wanted to let you all know my progress. This is the truck: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v732/seanbuick76/81 Chevy Silverado 4x4/ When I got it it had a Chevy 350 that had NO low end torque due to a HUGE cam and was WAY too noisey with a gear drive. Add to that about 5 mpg with a holley double pumper, then the trans started slipping... So I got the SBC out, sold it for enought to fund the swap to a SBB and things are coming allong well but a few unexpected hang ups. Thought I'd let you all know how this was going, will get more pics tmrw. So I yanked the engine out of the 73 Century that had 35,000 miles and ran great, changed a few gaskets and then started looking at the mounts and that was the first hang up. The Buick 350 mounts are about 6" further back on the engine then the SBC mounts and they are completely different so this left me looking at way more custom work then I had anticipated... Then knowing that the Bucik v6 mounts are the same location as the Buick 350 I tracked down this mount kit which I will be tacking in place on the frame after mock up then removing the engine again and having it welded on completely to the frame: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/V6-Buick-Motor-Mount,3272.html As well the trans boltpattern was different between the chevy boltpattern Th400 I am using (had one rebuilt with all the good stuff). So I had to get a TCI: Chevrolet transmission to Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac engine part number: 230001 http://www.tciauto.com/Products/Specialty/adapter_kits.asp Other than that it should be straight forward, but my vacation is pretty much over so I'm not sure when I'll get to finish this but there is no doubt I will be able to get it done without issue at this point. Waiting for the mounts kit in the mail now, bummer but will be sweet when its done!
I definatly want to see/hear about this. I had a similar idea for my '74. I thought about using the BBB that I already have but I like the advancements in the small block market. I figured since I nolonger have my Skylark this would be a nice compromise to stay in the Buick world. So I for one would like to see pictures and updates.
I promise to post pics tmrw, and as for an update I have the rebuilt trans preped and ready to go in with the bellhousing conversion plate to go from chevy to Buick Olds Pontiac pattern for the trans to engine bolts. I am just waiting on the mounting kit to get here and I'll get the engine in for mock up then place the engine mount kit on the frame and mark placement, then remove engine and weld the mount kit to the frame and drop the engine back in and get it running. I thought I was going to be able to just modify the mounts a bit and make it work but after getting the SBC out and making measurements I realized that the mounts needed to be WAY further back with the SBB vs the SBC so i went with the kit that is basically an extra cross-member with the frame mounts built in and just needs to be located on the frame where the engine sits and eliminates the trial and error with building mounts.
I had to go back to work, and having a freind finish the job. I'll keep you all updated, we will get this done.
very easy swap. i had my 350bsb in my 76 gmc 1/2 ton pickup. i have had a 340bsb, and now have a 350bsb in my 63 chevy pickup. odie
Let me the odd ball that asks why? (Someone had to ask 350 Chevy's are cheap, very well supported, and decent engines. Why replace it with a SBB? There has to be a better reason than, I just had one sitting here doing nothing Or, I was tired of reaching way back there to work on the distributor. In my many years of car playing, I've seen many 472 and 500 inch Cadillac engines in Chevy cars and trucks. Must be an easy swap. Time to get in the rusty starter shelter. I sense them coming.... Al >We have a BB Ford in a Camaro.
Why a SBB? I have a friend in Florence Ore who is an excellent fabricator and welder so engine conversions are no big deal to him. He is a little strange some times for example he hates Chevy engines but loves Buick and Ford engines. He bought a 73 Chevy pickup with an excellent running 350 SBC engine. he drove it for about a month and pulled the engine out and put in a SBB that I had. He went from around 12mpg to 16 mpg and said it had more power. He said it also handled better. 4 mpg is a good reason. More power is a good reason. Better handling is a good reason and besides the distributor is easier to reach.:grin: Works for me.:TU: Bob H.
I bought a 68 C10 Pickup and am planning on putting my 76 455 innfront of the 400 tranny. My friend who's all about the bowtie asked me the same question: Why? He went on about it lowering the value of the truck and stuff. There's 454's and 396's out there, etc, etc. I tried to inform him about the BBB's being lighter than chevrolet big block, making more torque, but he dismissed all of it as fast as I could say it out loud. I'm strill going to do it, because it's what I want to do. I love Buicks. They're different, and I'm different, and I want to make him cry the blues when I spank his ass in my Buick powered C10 pickup. -Josh
It's one thing to stuff a BBB in a Chevy pickup. But add the complexity of the 4X4 transfer case, and the BSB. Hate to be the fly in the ointment, but it's not going to be a win-win situation. Don't know where you guy's live, but here we have smog checks. No way would that pass even if it was the cleanest engine on the planet. It's a bag of worms, waiting to be opened Did a old Blazer once. Found out all about swapping the output shaft so it would fit the transfer case. BOP case with 4X4 innards is not something you're going to get easily. About the front distributor. Made me think of something only an old guy would know. In 57 Ford had their Y-Block 292 and 312 inch V8's. Rear distributor, hood opened from the front. Next year, they came out with the FE 332 and 352. Front distributor, and they changed the hood to open from the rear! Of course anyone who ever worked on a Ford knows they do everything backasswards. If I were doing the truck, I'd opt for a late model SBC, like a lean burn 350. Do the work to convert it to the new truck's computer system. Trans would bolt right up. Exhaust would be a snap. If you wanted to add headers later, they're off the shelf items. They get great fuel mileage, run great and are low cost and well supported. The computer would be the only problem and even that would be easy. One last thing. The big Chevy can make a hell of a lot of torque. Don't sell them short. And Aluminum heads are about a cheap as a good rebuild job on stock cast heads. Okay, I exaggerate too Al
I'm swaping a Buick 350/TH400/Dana 20 into this..... To old to worry about smog, BOP transmission case came out of a caddy (tailshaft swap with rebuild..no big deal) I think I'm going to like it!
