The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun STRAIGHT 8 in a '46 1.5 Ton

I have access to a STRAIGHT 8 from a 1952 BUICK.
I am desperate to get any technical direction on the prospects of this FLAT 8 even having the possibility (even with minor modification) of FITTING/installing onto & within the my ORIGINAL FRAME on my 1946 Big Bolt....????

Anyone/any guidance please!

I know the block is likely too long, but does this have any potential at all?

Do you have a tape measure?
What is the length difference and can you deal with that???

Is it a 263 or a 320 cubic inch motor? The larger motor produced considerable torque. The 320 has a head length of 34½". But as Grigg says are you willing to put up with the extra length? It sure would be different. As far as specs and tech stuff, Google is your friend.

SimS

The buick is an overhead motor. I'm told that the buick bellhousing would mate up to the SM420. That's all I know though. I asked about this same swap over on Team Buick. I think it would be great, but my engine source evaporated, and that's as far as I got.

If you are switching to an open driveline, there is an adaptor available, to go from the 320 bellhousing to a T-5, but the adaptor is about $1000.

You'd need to make new mounts, blah blah blah.

You can find all this stuff, like SimS said, with your pal google.

Sounds pretty cool. My, guess is that you'll have to do some trimming on the firewall. The AD trucks already have clearance issues in the water pump area. It only makes sense that adding 2 more cylinders would only compound the problem. Being a flat 8, you lose a little height on the motor, so you might not have to do much trimming.

Buick IS NOT a flat 8. The Oldsmobile straight 8 was a flathead engine, IMHO. My main concern would be with the location of the shifter, and possibly fabricating a rear crossmember to support the bellhousing, plus clutch linkage. The firewall situation could be resolved by using a steel wheelbarrow tub welded into the cowl area like some of the hotrodders do when making oddball engine swaps.
Jerry

The poncho was also a flattie.

Jerry- Steel wheel barrow? That sounds incredibly clever.

A buddy of mine used to drag race a Hudson with a straight 8. His dad loved the old inlines. They put the Hudson 8 is a few different hot rods. I think they they even had a Deusenberg 8 too.

I knew a gal that was a flattie.......Oh.....That doesn't go here does it?

I mean't she had a hard belly.

You didn't say if your 1.5 ton is Chevy, or GMC. GMC radiators mount on the FRONT of the radiator support-that would give y ou some add'l length. There is a gentleman(name slips me right now) on the inliners board who makes adapter plates for CBOP which should work for you. GMC 302's can be bored out considerably(close to the 320 of the Buick) which would make an easier fit, unless you are in love w/ straight 8's. You might want to look for a 5 speed rather than a 420, even an OD if you are lucky.

Many years ago a friend of mine had a straight 8. It was about 6" longer than a GMC and about 8" longer than a Chev. He finally put it in a T roadster where he fabricated a frame. It looked and sounded cool, but it wasn't particularly quick. 6 to 8 inches is a lot to deal with when you can get the same power out of a 302 GMC. Unless you just want to be different, I don't think it is really worth the effort.

the 320 Buick "Dynaflash 8" was used in late 40's Flxible buses, mated to the same GM 4 speed as found in a 46 truck - the 320 made 168hp [about the same as a late 70's 350] and lots of torque .... but aside from the coolest valve cover name you'd find, not a really practical conversion

Bill

May work if you want to build a ratrod or get Chip Foose to redesign your truck. Short of that IT WON'T FIT and as mentioned your shifter would be at the back of the cab. If you really want that many more cubes you may get a 270-302 jimmy to work, still would need to find more room. A friend of mine has built an inline '8' Buick and it's not cheap but if the money is no object you can build almost anything.
Best of luck

That really is a groovy name!