Engine swaps,compatibility s.....88 buick

Suffer no more. Any auto parts shop has prefitted brake lines from around 18" to at least 6'. Use a coupler to connect for longer sections.
Always use a cheap line bender for the bends and use the old lines to copy the bends. Replace one at a time. When a line is too long, use a shorter second line and add a few bends or curves.
The most expensive parts are the single rear rubber line and the two front hoses near the wheels. Those are also not badly priced if you look around. I'm thinking the entire job can be done for under $100, or less.
I don't normally swear, know the queen, or speak German, but on occasion, when cutting, mashing, spraining body parts, I have been know to say DARN or dang nab it.

 

Ok, I am a little confused here. Fat t is talking about a buick 350 but others are talking about a 307. Aren't they the same thing?

If I was able to find a decent engine but not a tranny,could I then put in the decent engine but have the original tranny rebuilt at the same time?

Then, boom ,they both go in and now I have only body work to deal with.....:banghead3:

 

If your Buick has an Oldsmobile 307 now, you're in luck. All the Olds small blocks are externally the same. A lot of Buicks came equipped with Oldsmobile engines. A 330, 350, or 403 will drop right in. A 455 would probably fit as well and use the same accessory brackets with longer belts.

 

That's why the call them housekeepers. They keep the house after the divorce. They just don't seem to have a sense of humour...

 

First off, you don't show where you live and that could be the most important part of your question.

Is your car subject to emissions testing? If so, they will check to see that the car is as it came from the factory and will flunk it and deny your registration if it's not.

 

My reference to the Buick 350 was in relation to MikeT suggesting the motor because it would bolt rite up to your motor mounts, and no they are not the same engine.

I believe Shinnzle is some where in Ontario, witch yes depending on year it may have to past smog testing, and yeah that could be a deciding factor on the engine(?)

Shnizzle, what year is your Buick again, and what year does does smog testing begin?

 

Yep, in Ontario. And it's an 88 electra estate. 87 is the cutoff year for emmisions. So if I put a non 307 in there,it may not pass emmisions?

I would like to have an engine with a bit more get up and go, well the 307 has the go but the get up part...not so much. But since I will be paying by the hour,I need something that will be the most time efficient and less fussy changeover.

I MAY have found an engine for under 200 and I spoke to the guy and he seems pretty straightforward, I didn't get any weird vibes. I am terrified of paying to have one crappy engine swapped for another crappy engine.

My dilemma is now becoming what to do. I love the car, I love the espresso color which seems to be very few and far between,but between changing the engine and tranny and then having to address the bubbling bodywork and bubbling under the wood grain,where do I stop?

I look at the CL ads all the time here and there seems to be plenty of good looking box wagons for sale at reasonable prices. Probably about the same cost of what I may spend in the end to bring this one up to speed.

I will take a bath if I put it up for sale. Wagons here just aren't moving at all. It's too good for scrap. And NO WAY IN HELL will it go for derby.

But at least with the car I have, it's the devil I know. And it still starts reliably and drives straight and smooth, so it doesn't have to be all done at once.

But,you never know, you could always luck out and buy a winner at a great deal.

For reference, approx 2 quarts of oil were added and in a week of moderate driving,say.....guessing here.....approx 500? Kilometres ( which is actually way more than I usually drive as I am on the motorcycle but its darn cold in the am!)
The car used approx. a quart of oil......gulp...gulp.....the air cleaner is all oily.



I will try and post up some pics in the next couple of days.

 

This is something you have to find out from a reputable shop, your motor vehicle/insurance company, and or where ever your cars are emission tested. Honestly, no point in researching engine swaps let alone buying a different size engine until you know for sure that you can do it because of "smog/emission" testing.

 

Just about any GM V-8 can be bolted in using factory parts.
Cad 500 would be fun if you have the wallet for fuel

 

In Ontario, emissions testing is for cars model year 88 and newer, every 2 years. Well, it is almost like that. Model year of the car or the engine, which ever is newer. So, if you have an 88 and put in a 95 LS1, you will suddenly have to meet the 95 emissions test, not the 88. I would see what is wrong with your engine before you go doing major work to change or rebuild. There are repairs that can be done to fix the oil burning. My little brother got 640,000 km out of his 86 Parisienne before the floor fell out. The Chev 305 did not burn any oil after he had the valve seals done.

 

Easiest bolt for bolt swap is another small block Olds, period.

If you want more power, the 330, 350 or 403 small blocks are the best way to go. The taller deck big blocks 400, 425, 455 will also bolt in. In the larger B bodies, I believe the big blocks right valve cover will clear the heat and A/C plenum.

If you stick with a single exhaust on a big block, use the crossover pipe for the big block.