Howdy, I am a 20-year-old college student, a year away from earning my Bachelors Degree in Automotive Restoration. I'm currently building a Cadillac-powered rat rod, but my next project will have a Buick powerplant Last summer I was given a 1967 Buick 430 and its accompanying Switch Pitch trans. It looks to be in extremely good condition, and I would be willing to wager that with a carb rebuild and some fresh fluids, she would fire right up. I'll be looking to all of you for advice, tips, and tricks to wring every ounce of power from this big Buick engine - on a college kid budget, of course. Looking forward to getting to know you all!
Hi Lane, and welcome to V8 Buick! Post any questions you have about your 430 Buick in the Street, Strip 400 430 455 big block forum on here. You'll find a wealth of friendly, knowledgeable guys on there A bit of advice, don't judge an engines condition by a clean external appearance, look at it as a core for rebuilding. When you get to the point of tearing it down, post pics of your findings, pics are a HUGE help!
Welcome from North Carolina! What EVER you do make sure that nylon coated timing gear has been replaced as a number 1 priority. Was supposed to make things quieter but once it degrades it grenades apart in your engine and it is rebuild time. Lost my favorite tire fryin Wildcar due to that . John Chamberlain and I rebuilt it with blocked heat risers,B4B intake,copper head gaskets, modified carb and distributor,70 Stage 1 heads, Kenne Bell "window rattler cam (yes! It made them shake! Especially in my convertible!) 3000 rpm stall torque converter, and boyyyyyyy did that Big 4000lb beast haul a$$!!!! Two piece drive shaft would bark all 3 gears with 5 people in it! Car HATED MY WIFE so had to let it go but that 430 is a damn good motor : ) Welcome to the club bub!
Welcome. If you're broke now, just wait till you start a restoration project. But it's worth every penny.
Don't have a build page going on it yet, will eventually. Here's a photo of it. It's a 1949 Crosley station wagon body, on a '91 Dodge D350 chassis that I shortened three feet. Caddy 472. Currently working on suspension, going with airbags on all four corners and a triangulated four link in the back.
Good information, sounds like that was a fun car! The nylon-coated timing chain will be the first thing to go - my Caddy engine had the exact same thing, check it out
Thanks! Using that Crosley station wagon body sitting on sawhorses next to the chassis. It's comically small - 47" wide at its widest point, and about 12 feet long.
