Awhile back I was at a friends house and we were talking to his dad about Buicks and cars in general. He was telling us when he was a mechanic that sometimes guys that raced in 4x4 type races came to him looking for a 455 buick engine. He said that they liked them because BBBs seemed to fit into them well and since they were very light weight blocks that they didn't have to beef up the suspension as much. Just curious if any of you guys have heard of this. I'm personally guessing that some of those guys with AMCs would be especially interested in them since many of them came with 231s or 350 buicks. Patrick
If you have a 4x4 Chevy truck with a 4sp truck trans,use a Buick manual bellhousing,but you have to open up the hole were the nosecone of the trans goes thru. If the truck has a chevy turbo 400 then just remove it and use a short shaft buick 400. I had a 1ton dually that came with a diesel and turbo 400. I changed the trans and put in a 2x4 Stage1 that was balanced,etc.I don't recommend a 1/2 ton running gear as you will have to much torque.I also ran a 3/4ton Chevy with a 73 stage1,manual trans and 17x40 mud tires. It broke alot of front ends,but I could go it 2 wheel drive were alot of people had to use 4wheeldrive because they didn't have the power to spin the tires cleen. Mike Nussell
That is some really cool stuff!! I was asking if it was popular in the 4x4 races but hearing from anyone that actually has done the swap is more intersting. I've said it once and i'll say it again GM really missed the boat on this one since they used the same engine in the camaro as they did in their trucks rather than using the engine from their Rivieras!!! Wondering about the people running GM, Patrick
Back in the late 80's, me and a buddy drag raced an early GMC 3/4 ton pickup with a 430, and then a healthy 462 at the local 1/8th mile track. Our only competition came from a '68 FORD p/up with a true 428 CJ. He would edge us out more times than not with the 430 (we were the underdog but the crowd favorite with the big 3/4 ton), so we slipped in the 462 and it was all over from then on. Mike, you prolly know the truck I'm talkin about.
NO PROBLEM! 1978 1/2 ton with 430, S/P T400 and 3.08 gears. I got 11.5 to 13 mpg towing an open trailer and 3500lb GS. I could go up Black Mountain in high gear and only use the front two barrels of the Q-jet! Now that is torque:grin:
Big block truck racing gotta love it!! I just love those buick big blocks, tough enough to level the competition on the drag strip, and brawny enough to pull home a 3500 pound car Glad to have car by a company that knows how to build engines, Patrick
Re: NO PROBLEM! Jimmy, There are some guys in the little towns of Burnsville and Mars Hill that ran Caddys in there Chevys pickups. 472 and 500 Cubes of torque. Love to see a pull off with you and one of them!!!
I have a 455 in my 78 chevy shorbox 2wd pickup. It is a really fun ride, very fast! (undefeated on the street ) The torque it puts out is just awesome, and its really cool to grab all 3 gears just sitting there roasting the tires. The thought of one in a four wheel drive sounds cool since its a lighter motor and wont sink your front axle in deep mud. Im working on a four wheel drive project truck now..might have to consider another buick powered chevy in my family.
trucks Howdy and I thougt I was the only one with these crazy dreams. When the 454 in my 76 3/4 ton suburban dies it will get a 455 thinking of an od trans that would work in it. Mark Sheppard
Hey Adam, Why don't you show a few pics I would be real intersted in seeing what that beast looks like, i've always had a soft spot for 70's chevy stepsides and big block buicks. Sounds like the best of both worlds. Plus i'd like to see your suburban Mark, I love those old beasts too!! Dreaming of Buick powered trucks, Patrick
Id be happy to show you some pics of my pickup, Patrick. I will probably have some good pics of it here in the next couple of weeks. There is a town near to where I live that has a rod run coming up in about 3 weeks that is complete with heads-up 1/8 mile drag racing after the car show. I plan on taking the old blue beast up there, so I will probably have some cool Mickey Thompson burnout pics for you guys, too. Oh..one more thing...my pickup isnt a step side..just a regular ol short box..(I wish it was a stepside though..I think they look cooler :grin: )
Patrick, I ran a BBB 525 alk. inj. w/nitrous, in a Mud Racer....I'll try an attach a couple pics, I have the Stage III tall port heads for sale in "455 race parts" all other parts gone or spoken for, enjoy, Bill Lee "TNT RACING" No pics, this site is too hard to attach photos
Re: Re: big block buick truck racing? Only one word for this......Alf er i mean bitchin!!!! Wishing this site was easier to attach pics to, Patrick
Had a buddy in college that used to tow his demo derby cars to the track in an old Chevy pickup with a 4-speed and a 430. No problems with torque there! - Freed
I have a 75 Blazer, the body is bad but the frame is good. I am puting a 87 Dakota cab on it and a chevy step box. I also have a 72 455 and th400 combo, I was going to use my spare Buick 350 but if I could hide a 455 under the hood that would rock.
Can anyone give me tips on how to build the motormounts when using a Buick 455 in a early 90's chevy pickup. I plan to use a Buick 350 but the mounting should be close. Also any tips on the Buick to Chevy swap would be helpfull. Pics of mounts??
1972 stepside 455 powered i had this build in the wrenchin section earlier this year .im still driving it just about everyday . runs great , about 8-10 mpg down the hwy with 3.08 's . 4-speed is damn fun , yet it would be quicker than sh*t with a auto . just found me boxsides , hopefully this winter i'll be doin the tear down and changing cabs and box . probably be switching to an automatic . only cause the cab i got had a auto and i dont want to cut the floor for the larger hump, unless i find muncie or borg warner cheap
Thanks, I remember that post! That truck is nice now and will be really nice with good sheetmetal on it. Any tips on the mounts?
I run a warmed over 455 in a Chevy LUV with a 4sd 4.11s and 31-18.5 M/Ts to say it is fun to drive is a understatement :laugh:
