OK V-8 Buick People: I'm way outta my comfort zone here and need help. My 66 Le Sabre with it's 340-4 barrel is frozen and beyond repair. I decided to replace it with a Buick 350. I got a 68 (I think) block and 70 heads. In the rebuilding process the man doing the project got sick and moved with many components MIA. So....I'm trying to finish the project. My questions.... Will the engine fit in my 66 Le Sabre? Are the flywheels interchangeable? How about alternator and power steering brackets? Motor mounts? Can I use that Short Tail 400 transmission? Thanks, Mitch
With 340 mounts , 300,340,350 all bolt in. Flexplate on 65-80 engines should work with most automatic trans, if you have a 2 speed trans, I suggest a 350 trans, pretty much a direct replacement for the st300. 400 requires shorter driveshaft, yoke , electric switch for downshift, and moving transmission cross member, different length parking brake cables. . Pulleys and brackets for most of those engines will interchange, make sure you match correct year/length water pump to pulley. If you have the 340, pull heads if your mechanic, see how much rust in cylinders, if little to none, lube cylinders with wd40, or thin oil. Then pull oil pan and loosen number 7 rod bearing and see if engine will turn with a prybar on flexplate teeth , if it doesn’t turn try #8 . And so on until it spins or you can determine its not a rusted bearing. But 350 is probably the best choice to fund a running engine, or do as planed and do a 350 rebuild.
Hi Mitch My 65 Skylark came with a 300, I swapped in a v 6 then a 350, then back to 300.. accessories bolted from 300 to 350 pretty easily if I recall correctly. I’m not sure the flywheel is balance compatible. One tricky bit is the throttle connection as the 350’s are cable operated and 66 will have the rods. 350 will bolt right in with the 340 motor mounts, existing 66 trans. Then there is the fun of making switch pitch work with 350 carb. But build the 350 and get it in there, then it’s just plumbing and other connections.
I have freeded up many a so called frozen motor by getting my hands on 2 spray cans of PB blaster, yanking out all the plugs and loading up all the cylinders with PB. I had one ( a Toyota truck ) just 3 months ago that would not budge and 2 hours after the PB treatment it was up and running , in fact the darn thing ran great with no blowby to boot! Chrome face rings rust weld themselves to the walls very easy and once you bust them free they suffer little damage!
