Hey I need some help with my V8 Swap, I did start a thread way back in the day but the Project got Put on hold. What I have: 1987 Buick Regal chassis, 1971 buick 350 and TH350,Poston buick Headers, and a lot of other parts, I'm getting closer to Trail installation, I need to know what I need to make this work please help, I want it Right.
1974 Buick Apollo 3 core radiator, V6 Buick Motor mounts and trim the fan shroud back a couple inches. Viola.....done.
If you're running an aftermarket intake, I think you'll need a drop base air cleaner. A dual hump trans crossmember makes life easier, I bought mine from G-Force. You may need a different crossmember anyway if you have a TH200 trans instead of a TH350. If you put a V6 water pump on the 350, you can keep the V6 pulleys to keep AC if you want. I'll try and think of some more stuff.
I modified the air box for more clearance at the valve covers. ditto on the water pump,headers can be a struggle of mods. I got my cross member from jegs and the 2 1/2 mandrel bent exhaust shipping was less than 4 days at x-mas time.cost 75 to install at a local exhaust he had to make pcs from the header to the pipes8 inches long and bent to go through the crossmember,v8 chevy must line up different. I had to mod the throttle cable and kick down cable. I mod. the alternator bracket that braces back to the intake[alum. intake] I didn't think the hood would close but I took the insul out and it closes fine. used the v6 radiator for a while with the cut down shroud I used universal hoses ,then I got a v8 rad and electric fan then I could use the moulded hoses from the gs. I maintained the points dist. with resistormounted where the smog pump was I cut part of the bracket off. I have the coil mounted there vertical.:TU:
Look for some G-body cars at the salvage to score a V-8 shroud. New radiator, 3 core out of a Malibu or Monte SS was like 80-90$ new from a nation wide auto parts store. Or, look for one out of a camaro, same height, aluminum two core with the upper mount and stock fan, it keeps my big block chevy el camino cool (I just added a manual switch to turn it off an on, could use a temp switch too). Pics: You can also source one from a diesel Cutlass, it will have an oil cooler in it. Avoid the flex fan. Trust me. Keep the shifter arm off of the trans out of your car, it will line up with the column linkage better. You can use the V-6 fuel pump or do some looking with the parts guy to get a non-return line fuel pump for the 350 Buick. They make two types of shrouds, one with a metal top and 'glass shroud or a two piece 'glass shroud that incorporates the upper radiator mount. You can you the stock V-6 shroud & rad, cut the shroud down, some are made with an extension you can remove. Use all the brackets off of your V-6. Timing cover too. Add a good rubber front timing cover seal for a 3.8 V-6, throw in the $25 oil pump gears and thrust plate, pack with vaseline. The early brackets will fit, need a '78 manifold line to use the long style AC compressor off of the early motor. Route the wiring the same way, it should all fit(for the starter and sending units). I have used both Jegs, and G-force cross members, I like the fit and style of the Jegs better. My G-force one hits the floor(vibrates), and I had to tap it into place with a hammer, it also used a funky mount, where the Jegs one used a normal TH350/M-21 style mount, doesn't hit the floor, and slides into place. I have a set of 350 headers to go in the Regal I am building, haven't stacked it yet, so I can't help there. But, I secured manifolds one from a big car one from a skylark to have a pair without the heat riser deal at the pipe flange. I also bought a Poston GS350-110 cam, my motor is like a '73 or '74, .030 cast, I need to drill the oil galley, and finish the valve job and put it back together. Snag a carb throttle bracket off of an Olds motor from the mid 80's it will have the mount for the trans kick down and the throttle cable. Mounts to the back bolts on a Q-jet. Being an '87 the 7.5 rear end should have the big pinion bearing and race, go snag a ring, pinion and carrier with the side spacers out of an S-10/Blazer/Jimmy or even Camaro/Firebird. Most are 3.23 or 3.42's you don't really need a new crush sleeve, new from seal swap the parts keeping them in the original places it will work 98% of the time without a hassle. If you get a carrier with 28 splie axles, just swap spider gears. I need to stack mine. I get any further I will post pics. Good luck.
