Well its nice to be back again at least for a few days. Unfortnatly the Centurion blew up last week on the interstate. Cruising down I-40 back to Sevierville, TN at 80 miles an hour the crank decided to break in half taking out the timing cover, timing chain and brand new harmonic balancer. I haven't tore into the bottom end so I hope the block is alright. The only problem is the lack of funds to rebuild it now. What is my other options a 350 chevy :shock: . I know where there is a 500 cadillac at I could get cheap but will it work with my tranny. I know this is sacrelig but the car is a company vehicle and a short block is around $1000. I can't afford to rebuild this one currently because when I do it will have a few goodies from TA :grin: But I need a cheap and temporary solution. any ideas will help.
WOW! Man I didn't think those cranks broke! ANY idea what may have led to it's death? I would think that by the time you went and did all the work needed to swap in the Caddy engine, or do the 350 Chev, you would be better off trying to find a know good or at least fair 430 or 455. The Caddy will bolt to the bellhousing but everything else like mounts will be different I would think?? The Chev wouldn't bolt to the tranny so you would need to solve that with another trans or an adapter. You said you had a new balancer on it??? Think that could have been the problem? I have heard if you run an engine without a balancer it can and will break the crank! Maybe tho old one was bad enough to have already put a crack in the crank just waiting to let go?? I do know that sprint cars don't run a balancer but I would guess they put way more twist on a crank than a balancer could help with anyway?? It may be cheaper to go non Buick but I think the problem factor at $2 an hour could run the cost up to about the same! Ken
Thanks for your input Ken. I know where theres a 401 at now that i think of it in a 62 model? but i hate to because its a complete car. But I agree that the balancer caused a premature failure. I didn't know that it was out until I replaced my front seal. And when it broke there was no warnings it just broke.
If you launched half the crank through the front of the motor, it's a safe bet the block is now toast. I say the cheapest and easiest way to repair this is another 455, even if you have to re-use your heads........and I'd have them re-done first if you do. Why would you want to put a Caddy into a Buick? Just buy a Caddy if you're gonna do that........I can only imagine the modifications you would have to do making that thing fit in there.........as for the 350 chebby option, you'd really be sorry. Your car is too heavy for a motor with so little torque. Again, may as well buy a chebby. :bglasses:
I have no idea where North Cakalakie is, but if it's anywhere near Macungie, PA, you'll want to check out this thread: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=60435
It all comes down to cost and availability. the engine only has 88,253 miles on it so the heads should be fine for now. Out of 7 boneyards in the area there is one 62 Electra w/ 401, 2 early 70 caddys, and a million chevys. I don't want to go chevy route because of trany and the fact its a chevy. The caddys are the other options because (assuming) that the fisher bodies, chassis, trany, rear end is the same and shared by B-O-P it will bolt in and I can get the engine for $150 w/ 72k on it. And like I said before a rebuild or rebuilt shortblock is not a viable cost option at this point. $1000-1500.
It'd take some work, but go with the Nailhead!........only nailhead I ever heard of that broke a crank was the one at the Buick testing plant in the late 50's where they were testing a supercharger on one.......over 700 HP :shock: They left it running wide open for a few days until it exploded........they said it was not "reliable" I think it fared pretty well. (try doing that to today's new "hemi".......I'd give it a few hours) Stuffed hat bigshots ruined that one :spank: :bglasses:
Because of your tranny situation, I'm going to buck the trend with a little realism here. I think you should swap in the caddy monster.... if you don't have to make any new holes in your frame to bolt it right in. Take the 455 out and put it on a stand and start sorting through the pieces and see whats good to keep and what's toast. Drive the car with the caddy monster till you can put the 455 back together and return it to it's home. If you are going to have to start drilling holes, I'd probably go 350 Chevy and either put a $50 adapter plate to run the stock tranny or pick up the matching tranny to the motor. In either case I'd plan on putting the 455 back in as soon as it's ready to keep the crap you catch over it to a min. The reason I'd stayaway from that 401 is that prior to 64 the only tranny that would bolt right up would be the Dynaflow or what ever sticks came in those cars due to the differences in crank flanges. One final option is to watch eBay and check www.car-part.com and see if there are any junkyard's holding onto a 455 near you for your price range.
Cheapest thing is to find a running 455 and drop it in. Isn't there someone on here that sells running, compression tested motors? I seem to remember the name being BOP connection or something like that. ________ Lamborghini Jalpa Specifications
yeah, jason hise, he posts in here and over at buicks.net every so often. from central indiana. googled BOP Connection buick and got one of his contact info posts: http://www.buickcafe.com/read.php?f=14&i=4108&t=4108
I got it out and tore it down today. 2 bent rods, 2 shattered pistons, 1 cracked cylinder and one broke crank. The engine is toasted. It will be a long while now before it gets back on the road. Unless someone near Statesville, NC. has a nice 455 for $150 or less....yeah right. oh well, now I'll have plenty of time to detail the engine compartment.
Long story short. I replaced the dried up front seal and noticed the balancer was seperating at the iso ring. The crank I believed suffered stress from the faulty harmonic balancer.
:Comp: Another option would be to go with the Buick 350. The accessories would be on the same side of the engine and most would swap over from the 455. That would satisfy the purests, but it's your car, do what works for you! The Caddy is a neat idea, but they never put it in a "B" body like your LeSabre, so most mounts and brackets would have to be fabricated. Tons of torque and reasonable fuel economy from a stock set up. Tim
too bad you're so far away,i got a 75 455 block that had 12,000 miles before it was dismantled,i have a 73 crank,and a 76 complete short block i am in kansas,by the way
Glenn, Any updates on the engine? Would you consider registering your Centurion in my registry? www.buickcenturion.com Thanks:beer
