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Four years ago I built a stock 52-3100 and this year I started on a Stock 53-3/4 ton GMC.So hopfully some time this summer I'll get the GMC done.So whats next I asked myself? I was in an old junk yard this summer with my cousins and came across two straight 8s one was a flat head and one was a OHV.So now I got it stuck in my head to build my next truck using one of thoes engines. What do you think a AD hot rod with a straight 8.


Pete

I think it would be Cool.

finding a period Buick 'Fireball 8' would be perfect, but they're long suckers

Bill

Where there is a will there is a way. I'm with Cletis. The Buick straight 8 was the motor of choice at our house until 1963 when dad got his first Buick V8. Very dependable motors that will take a lot of abuse. Don't ask how I know! That's a story too long to post here.

I love those Buick straight eights, too. My family had a 1951 Buick with a straight 8 and Dynaflow tranny. If you can squeeze that L-O-N-G straight 8 into your engine bay, then a Dynaflow coupled to it would be too cool!.

"sparky66" was working on using a Buick 322 V8 and a Dynaflow in a '50 GMC 1/2-ton a few months ago. Seems to have a lot of Buick knowledge. Maybe he can help with some straight eight answers.
> sparky66 Buick post

Just have to put a doghouse in the cab to make room, don't know that would want to have to find parts for one of those engines

Now that project would have a coolness factor on the high side...!!!!!!!

The OHV 8 is a Fireball it's in the car.He wants a 100.00 for it but I gotta get it out of there.The only thing I've been reading is that it's expensve to rebuild the bearings are cast into the block and need to be machined for inserts,I asked my machine shop and they do not do that work.

PMed sparky66


Pete

Post 1950 Buicks used "insert" bearings. Before that (1948-49) some had
insert mains with rabbit rod bearing surfaces.... others didn't. So, stay clear of the pre 1950 motors for your project.

Also Buick made two sizes of straight 8 ...263 (Specials and Supers) and 320 (Roadmasters) cubic inches.

I'd probably opt for a post 1950 320. Either way, you'll need to deal with the Buick "torque tube" issue in your drive train. Maybe a stick set up with an old style trans adapter for Ford or later GM? Most Roadmasters were Dynaflows by 1950.

I believe you could also get an optional 4BBL carb on the big straight 8 in 52 (maybe 53), but I'm sure these parts would be pricey.

'52 Roadmaster 320 came with a 4BBL carburetor.

I'll go back there in spring and look to what year the car is.Is there a # on the engine I could look up like we have on our 6 cly.s thats just behind the distributor? Is there "site" for info on these engines?Or maybe a book? Gotta start planing the rebuild.


Pete

I've done some research on the Buick 8 and the good news is after 50 the bearings were changed to insert.Also Kanter has a listing for all of the rebuild parts that I would need even a "kit" .I've never bought from them but they have been around a long time.I might go get the engine and trans this winter from what I've read it might be a good idea to also get the rear end since it's a tube sys. like our trucks.I also need to find a donor truck,same junk yard has I think 3 or4 sitting in the yard.Plan is coming together to bad it will be next fall before I can start on her.



Pete

Pete, snatch um up when you can, they may not be there if you don't. I think getting the whole drive train is a good idea. If you are really thinking of using the driveline from the buick, be sure to snag the springs too. If nothing else you can use them for mockup.

Having lived in a time when Buick straight 8 and such were common place, I could love the engine in a high torque low RPM application but there is NO WAY I would consider a Dynaflow transmission.The words Dynaflow and Powerglide should never be uttered in performance related conversation.Not enough gears to provide good ratio spread, too much convertor slippage for good response.Straight shift stuff will be available and modern automatics with lockup and many ratios could be applied but forget the torque tube drive--too hard to adapt and work on.
Just my 2 cents worth !!!

Enginenut, obviously you don't know Pete52 He'll do it just because he wants to.....or because I tell him he can't!! LOL

Hey, I agree with that thing of "do it just so you can say you did"--been accused of that myself several times.Then I recall the words of one of our great SOUTHERN philosophers who said "success is getting what you want--but, happiness comes from wanting what you get". Anybody else remember Brother Dave Gardner from the early 60's?IMHO only a mother could love an offspring like a Dynaflow.

You're right about wanting more,joker,and Martin thats way I'm going to take the belly of the beast with me home.I found a site that sells adaptors to go from buick st. 8 to 700R trans and my brother in law has a rebuilt 700 he'll give me if thats what I end up doing.Also found this Buicks.net and got the block numbers so when I go there I can see what it is.This build is going to take alot of fabracation work and alot of time but I'm thinking,if done right will have a high cool factor.Now what color should I paint the engine????



Pete

At the risk of dating myself,
I watched a D/ Altered class, " T " roadster (steel) WIN the US Nationals (1966) in Indy that was powered by a 320 Buick straight 8! IF memory serves, I think it was using a modified 3sp box, with an Olds rear end... I'm guessing he never used 1st gear to launch the car.

Keep in mind he was running V8s in that class! Made a lot of torque, as it smoked the tires off the line!

Have fun with it!

When I was in HS the local Bus company had some old Flxible buses that used Buick straight 8's and I always thought, "man...if that thing will pull a bus around then it must have some serious power". Never had one but it's an Inline and that makes it cool with me.

Dave - the reason the Buick moved those old Flxibles was more the rear end gearing, as with the big bolts ... and they were doing it thru our venerable ol Chevy crash box 4 speeds until the 50's

the Buick FB320 has about the same HP and torque as a 70's 350 V8 .... I had a '47 Buick that had factory dual carbs and a 3 speed. was a great highway cruiser - the old Buick 3 speeds are scarce now because flat trackers liked them

Pete - this page may be useful if you get the engine, and watch e-bay for parts, even complete 'take outs' from the old Flxible buses

Bill

Why Dark Gray of course Peter!!!!!!!


Pete's in the middle of he's latest build, a '53 GMC. Just got
the pictures of the cab in paint last night. VERY NICE looking
Pete, ya gotta post some pictures for the guys here to see.

He's gonna have another one of those One-Year-Projects guys.
Just can't figure out how he does it, I guess he's just one
super human Itralian that's all.

Denny Graham
Still trudging away at the '50 in Sandwich, IL

....DG, don't forget all of Petes Mafia friends. They've taken care of a few problems for me I'm sure they're helping!!

yep, Pete has it all together. I like the red cab pics to. He'll have it up and running before I can get my off jack stands!!!

I can give you any dimensions you may need for your project as I have had a 37 Buick Special with a later 263 straight 8 and also several AD's with 216/235's. The Buick has a 350 Turbo trans behind the straight 8 and a 2.73 rear. This is better gearing than the guys with the T5's have and it's such a torque monster I may go to a 2.41 or even a 2.29 rear. I made a HEI distributor for it by turning a Pontiac V8 HEI to the Buick distributor case dimensions and using the Chevy dist shaft that's cut to length and Buick size tang milled on the end to drive the oil pump. Also have complete templates for a/c mounting (hey, it's in Texas)and a PCV set up that works well. Took it on a small trip a couple years ago; Dallas to Florida to Hershey to Minnesota to Yellowstone to San Franscisco to Bonneville and back to Dallas and not so much as a flat tire. Made a cruise control using the factory throttle and a solenoid that pulled it off when the brake was touched and even though it gained speed downhill and lost speed uphill it was a real leg and knee saver on the long flat stretches. I think you can still buy every part that was ever made for the straight eight engine.

Would a straight 8 even fit in the engine bay?

Don't let the guy saying it can't be done get in the way of the guy doing it.

Evan,any help would be great ,Thanks.I got alot of questions ,did you rebuild it? and if you did does it have insert bearings?Please send the dimensions.

Will it fit in the engine bay? There is an old HotRod trick called wheelbarreling the fire wall were you take the bottom of a wheelbarrel and cut the fire wall back as far as you have to to make the room for the bigger engine,it's very cool and clean way to add a few inches the fire wall.
Going to the junk yard this weekend to get the stamped # and find out what it is ,year,cu.inch,etc


I got some offers you can't refuse!!!!

Pete

There is also a forum for Buicks at www.teambuick.com lots of good info, hotrod tips, and parts available.

oops I see that is the same as red58's link

Hi, The 320 road master is longer than the 263. I have a 263 I plan to put in a 37 chevy pickup. The auto engines had diffrent crank shafts than the standard transmission engines.If you want to use a standard transmission you might keep this in mind. I plan on useing a T5. My brother knows all about these engines. He is the one that wone the championship with his buick stright eight.

If they can fit one in a Jaguar, one ought to fit in an AD.

Salt Cat.

It will be this fall before I can start on her,I found the 8 now I gotta start looking for a AD to do the install.I need some dimensions if somone could do that I would appreciate it.

Pete

Here you go:

Length-front of crank pulley to bellhousing face of block 37"
Width- outside generator on left to outside dizzy on right 19"
Height- bottom of pan to top of valve cover 27 1/2"
The carb and factory air cleaner adds about 6" in height.
The bellhousing face is just 1/2" behind the back of the head
The pulley and fan add 1" to length for a total of 38"
The engine compartment from the recess in the firewall to the radiator is 39" so GM allowed ONE INCH of total clearence.
My engines are both 1952 263ci and have all bearings, no babbit, and run 60#'s cold oil pressure and 45#'s at 190 degrees temp.
There is a 55 second series in the shop which came with a 235 and from the recess in the firewall to the radiator is 36"---3" short.
The 320ci Century/Roadmaster/Limited engine is even longer.

Thanks, Evan,I think I'm going to the yard this weekend and I'll post what I find.

Pete