350 to 455 swap

Discussion in 'The "X" bodies' started by USAMPFREAK, Apr 2, 2009.

  1. USAMPFREAK

    USAMPFREAK Well-Known Member

    I am looking for any info on pulling the 350 buick that's in my 1975 old omega and swapping it up to a 455 Buick out of a 1971 Riviara. :pray:
     
  2. wormwood

    wormwood Dare to be different

    you came to the right place. it's a very easy swap. it should just bolt right in, a direct swap. the only thing you may have to do is make a small access hole in the frame so you can get the top rear frame mount bolt in. thats how i did it, but that was 10+ years ago, and i went from a v6 to a 350 (and eventualy onto a 455). i take it that the 350 isn't the original motor? you may consider beefing up the radiator and transmission, or just leave it and see what happens.
     
  3. USAMPFREAK

    USAMPFREAK Well-Known Member

    The 350 Buick is the stock motor.... This is one of the cars that GM was sued over during the strikes in 1975.
    I have been told that I have to use the 455 mounts and fab a spacer to fill the front side of the sub chassis.
     
  4. RAMKAT2

    RAMKAT2 Randy

    You should be able to use the stock 70-72 Skylark/GS frame pads, motor mounts, and headers to do this swap. I don't know what your plans are for the transmission, but a TH400 will require some hammer work for clearance at the transmission tunnel. Not sure what needs to be changed for the transmission mount. Someone else here should be able to fill you in.
    Check out the "Show us some pictures" thread and you will see several X-body Skylarks with 455's in them. Welcome to the board!
     
  5. wormwood

    wormwood Dare to be different

    randy is correct with the 70-71 frame/chassis mounts the will work and so will headers for that year, but there is no "hammer work" need for the TH400 (atleast mine didnt need any, fit right in). the transmission x-member just needs to be slid back (and maybe turned upside down) but the holes are there and it will bolt right in. not sure what you mean about "fabbing" in a spacer, no fabrication is necessary. like i said, you may just need to drill two holes for the chassis mounts, one for one of the top dog ear holes and one on the side of the actual frame for access to get a nut in there. my car is not at my house or i would take pictures.
     
  6. USAMPFREAK

    USAMPFREAK Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the input I am ordering a set of 70 skylark motor mounts and going to pick up the 455 Sunday. If all goes well with the motor I will have a pretty damn fast X-body. :3gears:
     
  7. wormwood

    wormwood Dare to be different

    where are you located usampfreak?
     
  8. RAMKAT2

    RAMKAT2 Randy

    Wormwood, you are taking all the fun out of this. Let him work out some frustration with a big hammer someplace where no one will ever see it (the trans tunnel perhaps?) while he enjoys all the fun of an BBB engine swap!
    USAMPFREAK, since you are one of the first to do this swap since we were blessed with an X-body forum, you get to be the lead dog as far as taking all the pictures and documenting everything that needs to be done to have a successful BBB/X-body engine swap. If you do it up right, we may even make it a "how-to" sticky at the top of this forum, and you will receive all the prestige and accolades that go with it. Heck, we might even buy you a beer or something!
     
  9. USAMPFREAK

    USAMPFREAK Well-Known Member

    I am in Southern Cali, and grew up in the Missouri swapping everything from 302's into 75 Mustang II's to my greatest feat a 283 into a 1969 Datsun pick-up.

    I just had to tell my dad to sell our last project together because of the damn smog regs here in Cali...... :ball:

    I have sponsors for the interior and paint/body but the motor and suspension are totally mine to do.
    The painter for West Coast Customs is going to do my baby in med. grind 2008 Caddy pearl white and RoadWire is going to redo my seats and headliner plus rewrap all inside plastics that are visible.

    I only have great things to say about this forum. Best car forum I have ever Joined and if you really want to know how many just google my screen name.
     
  10. RAMKAT2

    RAMKAT2 Randy

    Keep us posted on how this project is coming. I can't wait to see it with the new paint and interior parts.
    I don't know what your plans are for hot-rodding the motor, but you might ask Wormwood about any hood clearance issues when using a taller than stock intake manifold. Later, Randy
     
  11. wormwood

    wormwood Dare to be different

     
  12. Transcoupled

    Transcoupled Parrish 'n' Kelly

    Yeah keep us posted on the steps and progress. I am stuffing a buick 455 in a buick apollo as soon as I finish collecting parts, but when thats done I also have a 75 olds omega thats getting a olds 455. The olds currently has a 4.1 250 l6 :( . That pearl white will look great!
     
  13. USAMPFREAK

    USAMPFREAK Well-Known Member

    Found this on the rear driver side of the block today. Does it mean anything special?
    [​IMG]
     
  14. RAMKAT2

    RAMKAT2 Randy

    Yeah, you have an oil leak...:laugh:
     
  15. USAMPFREAK

    USAMPFREAK Well-Known Member

    Going over to visit jmccart in 2 weeks to take a look at some 455 parts he has sitting around. Also talked with the guys from TA Performance to day about frame pads and they are on b/o :ball:
    Unless some one here has an extra set but I am going to do all my mock up with a bare block just to make it easier to work with.
     
  16. wormwood

    wormwood Dare to be different

    frame pads should be easy to locate. local junkyard, or better yet, go to the parts wanted section. OOOR shoot BrunoD a pm, i'm sure he has a set collecting dust somewhere.
     

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