Looking to go to the dark side. BBB swap in my wagon. What is needed?

I have found a running Built up 455. (still in the car, G body Regal) for a good price. I am going to get my TH 350 built to handle it. I am going to use my Sniper system on it. It already has a MSD dist. Long tubes and it has a cam in it. It came in the car when he got it. What do I need to do to drop the 455 into my wagon? Motor mounts, Etc?

Thanks,

Once I get the Big block in it. I'll be selling my SP3, TA front cover, Timing set, and Cam/lifters. and Hookers.

Tim

 

What year/model wagon you working on?

 

If you have a 350 in the car now, it is a pretty easy swap. Obviously, the frame pads for a big block A-body. If you have AC you will need the AC specific adjuster arm. I think the angle/mount point is different from the 350 and throws the angle off. Other than that, unless you are trying to make it look 100% factory accurate, everything else will bolt up and fit. If you are planning on the headers, that makes the exhaust pretty simple. Good luck.

 

I am working on a 1971 Sportwagon. Greg it does have the factory 350 in it. I am not looking for 100% factory. Just nice looking. The motor I am looking at comes with long tube headers.

Tim

 

Buying anyone else’s use motor even with only a few hours of run time on it to just drop in your car without pulling the pan and checking some bearings and the oil pump and also looking for crap in the bottom of the pan is a sure fire route to disaster!

 

This is a pretty good write up, it does cover the trans also which you won't be doing.

http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/conversi.htm

 

I’d tear it down to see how everything is.

 

Whats the dark side about this? Now if you said LS....

 

Id put it in there myself....what you gonna do see something you don't like and then rebuild it?.....if that's the case but a block and build it over the course of the next two years ha ...put the damn thing in there... especially if it's still in the car so yous can listen to it

 

I thought the same thing.
To me, the dark side is a GN

 

Well I went today and got to see the motor live. (not memorex) Long tube headers, MSD CD box and distributor. It is running a Poston S divider intake and Holley double pumper The guy I'm getting it from was told that it is out of a 72 Skylark (a GS455) The heads have cast 73 (year?)in them. It came in his 83 Regal.

It is a red block. Couldn't read any markings on the block. Once I have it I will check that. Accel 300 wires, possible power master starter as I saw a starter box in the garage. I plan on throwing it on a stand and at least pulling the oil pan and valve covers. To give it a look see.

 

Should I run an electric fan or mechanical. If I go with mechanical could I use the fan/clutch off my 350. Would the repro 70 BBB fan shroud work? My wife thinks I should just run it the way it is, using the Carb. when I had planned on using the sniper system.

 

Your wife is correct, use the carb

 

Mechanical fan and the carb. Trust me after fighting the sniper for 3 years on the Cat going back to the carb was the best move I'd made. Now I'm not askeered to drive it more than 20 miles from the house

 

The motor is getting pulled out of the Regal as I type this. I am heading down tomorrow afternoon to get it. Cannot wait.

 

Well it is sitting in the back of my son's Maverick. all shrink wrapped. Going on the stand tomorrow. Going to pull the pan and Valve covers make sure everything looks good. Sometime early next week. I will get my TH 350 down to the transmission shop. For a performance build. Then the real fun begins. putting it in.

Tim

 

OK, going to a BBB is not going to the dark side. Neither is going to a turbo regal motor. Dark side means non Buick motor like an LS motor or God forbid a non GM motor.

 

You want to talk about dark side? There's a local Ford guy here that married a woman with a 3rd gen Corvette. He hated working on it and Cobra swapped it, complete with blower and Cobra emblems. Looks factory.

 

Cobra swapped it? Did he put in a coyote motor? Or something else?

 

It's a Terminator swap ...and dumb