Need help with a swap!!!

Discussion in 'High Tech for Old Iron' started by Brian Cox, Sep 4, 2018.

  1. Brian Cox

    Brian Cox Member

    I have a 1961 buick Skylark. It has/had the Aluminum 215 in it. Motor is shot and looking to replace it with something else. Any suggestions what may fit into this car without chopping it up. I know theres not much room between the shock towers. I would like to stick with a V8 if possible. TY
     
  2. woody1640

    woody1640 Well-Known Member

    Good luck! Its not the amount of room between shock towers thats a problem, its many other obstacles. The steering sits behind the cross frame, making it a tough fit for oil pans. The tranny tunnels are very very small, almost any newer tranny will require a tunnel enlargement.

    I know 2 people that have done LS1 swaps in these cars, both have bum steer. It took both of them many many more hours of work and $$$ than planned. If you ask either of them if they would do it over again they'll say NO.


    Keith
     
  3. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    A sbb 300 would bolt right in only around 5/8" more deck height than a 215 but there is the issue of the trans tunnel like mentioned.

    There is a lot you can do with a sbb 300 if that's the way you want to go?
     
  4. Brian Cox

    Brian Cox Member

    Im thinking about going with an olds rocket 350 and a 700R4 transmission
     
  5. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    My point was that the sbb 300 would use same motor mounts as the 215 and bolt right in so would the sbb 340/350 as well but those have an even taller deck height than the sbb 300 so hood clearance might start becoming an issue.

    Plus all the other hookups will be the same as the 215, like the wiring, radiator hoses. fuel line hookups and so on.
     
  6. Brian Cox

    Brian Cox Member

    300sbb............What about a transmission for the sbb300? Is it gonna fit or does the tranny hump half to go?
    Are you saying that a buick 350 will bolt right in?
    TY
     
  7. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    In the bold, see post #3. Pretty much will have to do the same work for trans tunnel if you stuff a Olds 350 in it or any more modern trans in it.

    The sbb 215 is the first sbb produced by Buick and the ones that followed had the same basic construction except the later ones are cast iron and have taller deck heights AND a different trans mounting bolt pattern(the BOPC trans pattern)as the 215.
     
  8. Brian Cox

    Brian Cox Member

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