I've been looking for a decent engine for my '55. Is this 455 a good buy? I've mostly been looking at Nailheads, so I don't have a feel for the price of big blocks. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33615&item=2467678999 I have emailed the owner, and he seems like a reasonable guy who just lost interest in his project when someone ripped off parts from his car. Thanks
motor Hi Jim the motor has smog heads from 75-76 (low compression) so it depends on what you want out of the engine. The carb seems a little small (650 cfm) most would like at least 800 cfm. My concern would be how long the replacement motor has been sitting around. I see you are in Devils Lake. There is a nice custom rod shop up there that has a WILD 64 RIV.
What year's of heads would be the best on the 455? I really don't want any more than 9.5:1 as I want to run the thing on pump gas. I sold a '70 Electra Convertible that wouldn't run very well on regular (pinged), but ran great on high end premium and I don't want that in my '55. The guy tells me that the engine is still full of cosmoline, so it shouldn't be rusty. Even so, is 2 grand too much for essentially a '455 shortblock with some parts . . . especially if you don't want the heads? By the way, I see that you are running a 455. Is a decent 400hp engine with reasonable gas mileage (for those long summer vacation trips) out of the question?
Jim, please excuse me from butting in here, but if you aren't worried about tearing up the streets with that car, why don't you just use a Nailhead? The car you have is very cool, and you can't beat a Nailhead for the cool factor.........it'll go just about as well as any stock 455, especially if you get some dual quads for it. For what you will have to spend on that 455, you could built a nice 401. I'll bet it would be a little easier on gas, as well. just my .02, that's all.:bglasses:
455 Jim, I have my engine at Tri-shield Performance and will be a level 2 iron head or aluminum head with the TA head sale. It should have around 530hp to 560 hp. It will not be a daily driver just a fun car. The seller said its a 72 block and with the 75 heads the CR (and this is just a guess) around 8.0 to 8.5 at the very most. Any of the 70 to 74 heads would be better. Here are some engine that have been listed for sale in the past http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34827&highlight=rebuilt+455 http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32873&highlight=rebuilt+455 http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25645&highlight=rebuilt+455 I think a nailhead would be cool also but its your car and you need be happy with motor.:TU:
Isn't it standard to clean the cosmoline out??? That being said, cosmoline may not be a guarantee. The reason I say that is that John Chamberlain was planning on putting the 1970 pistons I bought from Jim W into an NOS block (that came with the later model, lower compression pistons). But the last I heard is that even though there was cosmoline, some of the cylinder walls have a bit of rust. He may have to bore it and wouldn't be able to use the pistons that I have.
Thanks eveyone . . . looking at the englines listed by Topless64-455, the one on eBay IS priced a bit high, especially for a stock engine. And yes 75GS455, I would normally clean up the shortblock before assembly. And to Nailhead67 . . . I agree that the Nailhead has very high "cool" value. If I could find a 401 or 425 and a ST400 at a reasonable price, I would snap it up. The problem that I'm finding, is that they cost significantly more to re-build, especially the machining, than other engines. Specialty parts, like a dual-quad intake are selling very high. I've priced it out every-which-way, and a rebuilt 401 or 425 dual quad will end up costing at least 5000.00. I would like to get the car at least on the road for 10-12K and that includes new engine, tranny, rear suspension and rear-end, and all around disk brakes, a re-choming of most of the pot-metal on the car and a little paint touch-up. From that point, I have more plans, but if it costs more than 12K just to get it on the street, I'll be sleeping in the car.:laugh: Now I'm getting way off topic, but does anyone close to North Dakota know where I can pick up a 9" Lincoln Versailles rear-end? Thanks Again
I know where there is a nailhead and a tranny locally in a 62 Electra. Whole car for 2- 4 hundred but you are a long way from here. I saw a wonderful 57 Super at Daytona with a 455. He set the body right on to a 72 Sport Wagon chassis.
Heck no, it t'aint worth it. Way too much money for a smog motor, actually way too much money for any 455 with the limited pieces he has. They are still available. In fact there is a web site that sells short blocks, completely rebuilt, for 1500 bucks. Your heads, carb and intake and it goes.
i have a nice running 425 and 400 out of 65 66 riv 47000 miles car got teboned i got engin trans for 56 buick i was buying deal fell through im in ohio through i interested www.buickgnw@yahoo.com hank
