Hey guys, I have a 76 Electra that has been sitting in my driveway for a while. It was my daily driver when it was first given to me in 2000, but I have not had the funds to keep it running. However, I am graduating from college this May (go terps!), and I will have a little extra cash on tap, so I am looking forward to spending more quality time with the Buick. The engine currently runs, but knocks like crazy. The bottom end is on its last leg! From experience with saturns, I am assuming that it would be more cost-effective to have a new engine installed rather than having the current bottom end rebuilt. Where should I begin to look for an engine for my car? I have looked at various engine websites, including ATKengines, and a couple others. I have also looked at www.taperformance.com, but it seems as if they are more performance oriented (which will be my direction after getting the car running). I thought about local salvage yards, but with the age of the car, I'd be skeptical of buying an engine from there. Any suggestions are greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Your there already! Put a request in the parts wanted section. I'm sure someone here knows of a 455 that could use a new home. Right Guys and Gals!
If push comes to shove you could always try some place like http://remanufactured-engines.com/ Or simply your local machine shop. I'm sure they could point you in the right direction on where to get a good running original or remanufactured engine.
Hi MD_76_UNLIMITED, Please post your name so we can all be on a friendly first-name basis.:beer Now, the problem with buying an engine from a generic shop is that they don't know Buicks, and there are some things we do that will definitely increase the longevity (and hence, your enjoyment) of your 455. For starters you want a 5/8" sump (and if the block is a 70 or early 71 you want to have the oil passages drilled out). And you want to add a TA booster plate and adjustable regulator to the oil pump. If you plan on doing a performance build down the road, then for sure you don't want to do a cam swap when that time comes, so install the cam you want now. Then you can do the heads/intake/headers/HEI from Dave conversion without having to pull the front bumper and grille to just swap the cam. And rebuilding your block will be more cost effective in the long run when you average in the cost of buying a core. Just a bearing job, hone and cutting the crank (hot tanking too) should be around $1000 or less, depending on what else you want done.
thanks for the replies...My name is Langston by the way. To be more specific with my long term goals...I am a huge fan of speed/performance. I know that my buick was not built for speed/performance, but I'm sure it would be fun (my saturn wasn't built for speed, but it sure is fun making it faster). I know the 455 has a lot of potential, but my knowledge of Buick engines is lacking. Since forced induction is a possibility in the future, I assume that a rebuild with forged rods & pistons should be a necessity. With that comes a few questions....should the pistons be customized to lower the compression ratio, or should I have it rebuilt to stock specifications. I know that on saturns, once the compression ratio is raised too much, streetability issues come into play, along with fuel octane requirements. Yardley, thanks for the info on the question regarding rebuilding the current block. I am realistically looking to spend about 3K on getting the engine to my liking (is that realistic for this engine?). I guess I should look at buying: -rods -pistons (& rings) -camshaft -bearings (rod, main, cam) -new timing chain set Im sure there are other things to add, such as new oil & water pumps, etc...I am just trying to become more "at one" with this engine :grin: As for performance parts outside of the engine block, is taperformance.com the best place to buy items such as: -carburator -intake manifold -performance cylinder heads -headers etc? I know these questions may seem like common sense to some of you guys, but I am really trying to learn about my car/engine so I can do this rebuild/restore the right way. Thanks alot! Langston
Sold! Langston - There is a "built" complete 455 on this board for sale in your budget! Its in Kansas, so the delivery would be a challange, but not impossible. Heres the link: engine You may also want to have someone check your engine first. 455s have really strong lower ends, so it may be something else you are hearing. This site has a nice search feature, poke around for other advice. Also You don't need forced induction on a street car. These motors can make 500+hp without too much effort and no blower/turbo. If you want big power, stroke it. btw there is a local group, one in MD and one in VA if you are interested. Meeting - Bill
Thanks a lot for the tips/links Bill. (BTW I am looking to start on the buick within the next 6-8 months so with my luck,I'm sure the engine will be sold) So I can get SERIOUS wheel hp naturally-aspirated...gosh...I've been devoting too much time to my saturn! Langston
yea just think.... all the money the honda guys put in installing parts to gain 5 hp.. you can spend the same amount and get much more horsepower and something that the import guys dont know exists is torque. was that Jim's 455 build up that was at 800 hp and 800 ftlbs of torque natrually asperated....? about a month ago? Nate
sorry sorry.... my mistake. a gorgous work of art I must say. hopefully i'll get a chance to see you run with it if im ever in your area. Nate
well in my idle time today, I priced everything that I could think of for a bottom-end rebuild of my engine (using taperfromance.com, and classicbuick.com....): Overhaul Gasket Kit.................$72.00 classicbuick.com Timing Kit..........................$56.00 classicbuick.com Timing Cover Gasket Set.............$12.00 classicbuick.com Camshaft (TA C110)..................$149.00 taperformance.com Lifters (TA 1405)...................$79.00 taperformance.com Keepers (TA 1434)...................$29.00 taperformance.com Springs (TA 1435)...................$85.00 taperformance.com Pushrods (TA 1426)..................$129.00 taperformance.com Cam Bearing Set.....................$25.00 classicbuick.com Main Bearing Set....................$110.00 classicbuick.com Rod Bearing Set.....................$72.00 classicbuick.com Match Pin-Fitted Piston Set.........$249.00 classicbuick.com Piston Ring Set.....................$45.00 classicbuick.com Connecting Rods(TA 1629A)...........$225.00 taperformance.com Total of $1402.00 I'm probably forgetting some other stuff, but that is all I can think of for now. Does that sound reasonable? Are these the optimal places from which I should buy parts? And Bill, I had a mechanic look at the car sometime ago (like last summer), and he diagnosed the problem according to the sound, and he said that it sounded like a piston was knocking...but I will have it diagnosed by a professional shop before I make any major decisions.
become a member become a buick club member for 30 bucks and subtract 10% the TA performance bill when you tell them your a member. not sure if everything is entitled for discount but im sure it would help Nate
I didnt see any machine work prices there yet??!!! For a reputable engine guy to build it the machine work is another $1500 for a real nice decent stock job.
reuild Piston slap is not so bad. You should not need new rods. Timing cover gaskets should be in the engine kit. Not sure what a timing kit is, chain + gears? Anyone else? -Bill
If I were you, I would buy the engine Mike Garrison is selling,complete and ready to go! It's just what your looking for and you can be confident it's done right:TU:
Michael, Yeah, I didn't even begin to think about labor prices, as I have no clue as to what it may cost to get the cylinders honed/bored (or whatever may be necessary). I was just trying to get a ball park figure for parts. Bill, The Timing kit consists of the timing chain, and sprockets. I appreciate the info on the rods. Red GS1, Yeah, I undertand exactly what you're saying. That is a sweet engine. If I had the money right now, it would be mine! I was checking out the link that skyphix provided, and they have an engine for just under 2k. I am kinda leaning toward that route. Thanks for all of the input. This is the best way for me to learn at this point. Langston
Reguarding engine I Just put a rebuilt in my skylark this winter from http://remanufactured-engines.com it costed me 1600.00 plus exchange, and that included a mild cam moly rings triple ground valves with hardened seats and a high out put oil pump its a 350 very happy with the performance.
yeah, thats the site I was looking at....you can get an upgraded cam, oil pump, & valve job for like an extra $200 bucks. SOunds good to me...then I can worry about the body ("work of art" within itself)
