I have a 1986 buick estate wagon, with a 307 what motor swap for added power is easiest? Would like to upgrade tranny also! Something that needs not much work, also I live in an area that requires no smog checks so I'am wanting to get rid of the computer controlled carb, and go with oldschool regular carb.
It is or they could go with a 455, Pontiac 350-400-455 will also work along Buick 350-455 These 350 are not to be confused with the Chevy 350 since it is a true small block. the Buick,Olds, Pontiac engines do not have small blocks in older engines until late 70's with the 265,301 which were not good engines IMO
Excuess me a sec while I put a hit out on the man who say's to put and olds in a Buick. Buick 350s are cheap, plentiful and pack a punch with little mods. But mileage difference between a Buick 350 and 455 are not great, so if you find a deal on a 455 id do it. Both have plenty of support from companies like TAperformance, PAE. Though the 455 blocks become like glass around the 750HP range and need help staying together. The Buick 350s have been beyond 1000HP on 2 bolt blocks and just asked for more. Tranny, get a 200R4 if you want OD, not a 700R4, don't fall into that hype trap. Though don't rule out a SwitchPitch tranny if you want to have fun. Still plenty of support for them too. And what it means is at the flip of a switch, you can either launch at 1500rpm like stock, or at 4000rpm
Depending on what part of the country he or she is in it might be easier to find a Olds ,Pontiac engine compared to a Buick. I like Bufords too but here in NC where I am at not so easy to find any of the engines I listed. Mostly Fords and Chevys which is what is poplar here. I grew up with Mopars and Big Blocks in my area are hard to find but the 318,360 are easy.
Perhaps, but then he also has to screw around with finding brackets, accessories, starter, move wiring, power steering lines, A/C line, etc. All that little crap that takes forever to put a different engine in there. With the Olds everything from the 307 should swap right onto the 350. Much less headache. Also I don't think they ever made the 700-R4 with the BOP bellhousing pattern. So unless he wants to run some sort of adapter plate the 2004-R is the way to go. But I will agree that I prefer the 200 over the 700 trans.
The 200R4 is only good because it's the same length as a TH350, so you can use the original driveshaft. 700R4 trannys are fine if they're built right. All Corvettes, IROCs and 1/2 ton 4x4 trucks had them for many years. My 87 K5 Blazer still has the original tranny at 170,000 miles. And I of rough 4 wheeling and mudding. They never used a 200R4 behind a potent V8, just a turbo V6 (Buick GN). I'd say get a Chevy 383 crate motor from GM Performance Parts or Summit and a 700R4 trans. It'll run like a beast ! Or an LT1/4L60E drivetrain out of a 94-96 B, D or F body, of course.
If it was me, I'd be going for the Olds 'Rocket' 350 2bbl. motor - @9 to 1 compression, from '69 to '71! Switch to a 4bbl Quadrajet, HEI ignition and a RV cam - good for another 100k mi.! Externally the same as a 307, will bolt right in without a problem, and be very dependable, with some balls! Believe even the exhaust manifolds will fit! Find a exhaust shop that'll install 'true duals', and you can even get decent mileage! You've probaby already got the 200r4 - get it rebuilt with a shift kit, and it too, can last awhile!
I wish my dad went that route. He's got a 83 Olds Dleta 88 and had it rebuilt a few years back and the thing isn't a dog but a 350 would have been a way better option and he probably would have spent the same amount of money.
First, the 307 is an Oldsmobile-sourced motor used in all five of GM's car lines in the 1980s. My 86 Caprice wagon has a factory installed Olds 307. The Olds, Pontiac, and Buick motors are all different designs with different motor mounts and accessory brackets. The only direct bolt-in swap is another Olds small block. A 350 or 403 Olds motor bolts in and all the accessories bolt up. The 455 Olds bolts to the motor mounts but the accessory brackets need to be modified due to the taller deck height as compared to the small block Olds motors. Alternately you can use older accessory brackets but the R4 A/C compressor won't fit those brackets. Pontiac and Buick motors use completely different motor mounts so you would need to find the frame mounts for those blocks. You would also need the accessory brackets for those motors and you would need to rewire the engine compartment due to the different location of items.
From the sound of it a olds 350 will be the way to go. Will it bolt up to the 200r4 tranny? Also is there anything I can do to make the tranny stronger?
From above: The Turbo Buick community has found and fixed all the weak links in this trans. This is but one recommended vendor: http://www.ckperformance.com/resources/GM2004RTRANSMISSIONS.html First thing I did was buy his 200-4R rebuild and modification manual. Then I bought all the parts.
