what engine now?

I was playing in the yard and moving some of the cars with uncle buck. I heard the noise, you don't want to hear. uncle buck was still on the fast idle, when the noise came from the lower end. you could barely hear it but it was there. when I kick it off the fast idle it went away. the noise of loose rod bearing suck! now I have to look for engine for uncle buck!
this car has less than 93,000 miles on it. I'm not that much on brain power ,on olds after building one 30 yrs ago but I'm wondering if olds engine are any good. so should I rebuild the olds 307 that’s in it? should I find a 350 olds or just swap a 400 SBC in?

remember, I have two other wagons for hot rods. so no big cubic inch engine. uncle buck was going to be my highway cruzer.

 

What rear end do you have? I am assuming you have a 200-4R in there now? My vote is for an Olds 350 with a 200-4R and a mild rear end. I've never been a fan of the Olds 307 at all. I'm a big fan of 400SBC's but not in this application. You've already got an Olds powerplant in there. Keep it Olds even though the parts cost more than SBC.

 

Well....we have a 307 (on propaine) in the buick. It's been well looked after by Suzie who gave us the car. It's not a power house by any means but so far has proven very dependable. How ever....if the 307 ever packed it in ( knock on wood, my head) I would only go as small as a 350 for replacement (and keep the propiane).

If it ain't broken don't fix it, but if it needs motor swap fixing...go better IMO


Same as my Crewzer, it's a strong little 305 still but if ever a magor problem...350, on gas.

 

it currently has 2.70 something gears in 12 bolt rear end but it will be getting a 3.73 with traction or posi.
right now, the car is still drivable and only hear the rod nock on , like when hold the gas pedal at 2000 rpm or so and the tranny in park . it don't do it under load. I drive the car in town but with that noise , i can't trust it for my highway travels and that’s the reason I'm keeping the car. I have 20+ other cars/trucks I can drive around town.
I would like to keep it olds power for easy fix purpose and looking factory but I have time and just trying out some ideas.





wow 40 people look at this so far and only 4 people vote?

 

I'd rebuild it if the heads and pistons are ok. Haven't touched an Olds engine. SBCs (283 CID), one 1963 Buick, a bunch of hemis, and a Turbo Corvair. (and I voted)

 

I have no idea what kind of car "uncle buck" IS??? That could be a major part of the non voters.

 

I assumed it was his mid-late 80's LeSabre station wagon.

 

The white Electra woody that he shows on a trailer?

 

1988 buick electra estate wagon.


here photo of what it look like the day after i got home with uncle buck .
it yellow with hint of snow.

 

Takes a while to pass that Buck! Longroofs forever!

 

OH. In that case, ranch....I think you should just sell it to me for what you paid for it.
EDIT:
I'd be happy to come to Montana and pick it up.

 

well that might be a option because
the olds 307 /350/ 403 have the same stroke? then going from 307 to 350, I'm not going to see big improvement in the mid range FT LBS torque department but I would see in improvement HP department but would loose the roller cam in the process.
by going to 403 with that big bore would make it more for high rpm department. in my past with engine's that are so over square ,where more for racing than cruzing down the highway.
this sound like I need to think more about what I want out of uncle buck

.

 

A 455 Olds is nearly a bolt-in. The taller deck height over that of the small block Olds motors requires some minor changes to the accessory brackets. 307 motor mounts bolt right up. Use the 455 exhaust manifolds from a 1969-1972 A-body car. The 200-4R bolts right up and may even last to the end of the driveway before you frag it. Seriously, any engine with more torque than the pavement-ripping 307 will destroy a stock 200-4R. Many vendors sell beefed versions, which I highly recommend behind any modified motor.

 

A Buick should have a Buick engine.....

Couldn't find the Buick 455 with TH-400 and 12 bolt rear axle option in your little poll

 

that’s because this car, will be my highway traveler. I also have 20+ other ride's that I can cruze around town in and a 455 with 400 tranny will not get gas mileage. I already have some big block cars and there gas mileage sucks, 10 to 15 mpg highway. if I wanted that kind of gas mileage ,then I would NOT drive this Buick because that’s what my truck's/tow rig get all day long.
where I live, the next town is 90 miles or more away, not across the street. I plan to have this wagon drive mostly on the highway . so I'm looking for 23 to 25 mpg highway, just like my last two full size rear wheel drive caprice's did.