got a line on a few engines, a 1968 350, a 1976 350, and a 340 that I didn't know buick made or what year it is. which would be the best choice to go into a 1976 skylark? thanks
The 68 engines are desirable I believe, the heads are better maybe? The 76 is gonna have the good cap screw rods, and block, the rest with be scrap weight.
Depends on what you want. 340 I think is already 4 barrel carb. The 76 engine should accept any trans hookup you may need. 68 may have Alittle more horsepower than the others. 340 doesn't have a lot of build up parts available if you eventually want to go that way.so you might not want 340. Decide what you want to do with the car. Daily driver, weekend cruiser/want more horsepower, any racing? What's your budget?
I know the 76 would be a direct swap, but not the 68? It's just going to be a weekend cruiser, sleeper, toy. don't want to go thru the trouble of dropping a bbb in, but looking to have about 350 hp. to get people's attention.
Both engines are direct swaps as long as it was a Buick V6... If it was a Chevy engine in there then there are some things to change... What engine is in there now? Use the 68 engine... If you can then also get the 76 engine for the better rods if you can get it for really cheap. If not then the 68 engine would be fine to use with the old style rods for 350 HP. The early heads are without a doubt better than the later ones.
I see no reason to use the 340... 350 has more parts available and easier to find more engines if you ever need.
yes it's the 3.8 v6 with the 200 trans. actually I know of 2 1968 350's available so if it will bolt up to the 200, I know I will have to get the trans beefed up to handle the 350hp.
Get a 350 trans . the 200 won't last and if you set downshift cable wrong it will burn up. That's why I mentioned the 76 engine would be set up for trans cable as the 68 will not and you will have to make it fit. But just look on craigslist for a 350 Buick/olds/ Pontiac trans. Its a direct swap for the 200 but you add a vacuum line to trans. Cable doesn't need to be hooked up at all if you like to manual downshift. As the 200 needs cable.
talked to owner of the motor and trans today, says he bought it to put in a hotrod truck years ago but never got around to it. low miles but was pulled in the 80's. so I know the cam will have flat spots and the valve springs have gotten a memory but already have plans of performance rebuild. he also said it was the turbo 350 trans.
Might only need a freshen up. But remember that 68-69 has different lifters,pushrods,rockers then 70- up also head gaskets are different. I would suggest milling .030 off block if using steel head gaskets. If using fel pros gaskets go. 050 .Then drill out oil passage from oil screen to front cover to 1/2 in with a new melling oil screen s20i 5/8 pickup. This will help volume to oil pump.also drill passages in front cover to 1/2. TA cam bearings. You will have a decent compression and decide that you want from there can make a strong 350 with possible 350 HP.
thanks for the oiling info, I read on here about some oiling issues with buick motors. the motor an trans are out of state, but just a few miles from where I'm gong for buzzard day, so until then........
brought home the 350/turbo 350 from colo. last night, going to pull apart and get all #'s to see exactly what I have, being told it's a 68. it does have the large 350 stamping on the back side, points dist., a/c with a real big a/c comp. mount. i'll post all the #'s later today
pulled the engine apart today, sure the motor sat outside for quite a few years without carb on and uncovered. lot of rust in heads around intake valves and water had set in cyl. for a long time, hope it will come out with a bore job. a lot of plastic gear teeth on oil pick up and bottom of pan but timing gears are metal, did these engines come with plastic timing gears? now need to find good machine shop in northern new mexico or Denver area
Originally the timing gear was aluminum base and nylon teeth. When ordering lifters or other valvetrain parts 68-69 oil rockers thru heads 70 and up is thru pushrod. You can't mix and match here or you wont have oil to rockers. You can use 70 and up lifters if you get hybrid pushrod and plug oil passage in block to head. But stick to the 68-69 stuff to make things simple.
ok, code is PP, telling me it's a 68 350 4bl, 280hp with 10.25 to 1 comp. I'm getting ready to take it to a machine shop, should I have anything special done to the crank, rods, or heads? I'm going to replace the valve springs because they've been in the same position for 30yrs. should I run whatever the bore is going to be in the stock 10.25 to 1 comp.? and stock valve springs?
Your compression more than likely is 9.5 with steel shim head gaskets. Replacement head gaskets are .043 which will bring it to about 9.3. What are your plans? Cam choice? Gear ratio? Race ? What kinda power do you hope to put out? Budget?
