Buick 455 in my Jimmy?

[hgs_notes]

The place I'm keeping my Jimmy at just got in a pile of old car parts. Included in that pile was a running Buick 455 with a TH350 bolted to it. If my 400 sbc will not turn over or is otherwise unuseable, I have a 350 short block I can put together for it. But how hard would it be to strap this 455 in there?

Couple questions, will the chevy tranny bolt to the buick block? Are the engine mounts radically different or are there adapter mounts available? Will the exhaust manifolds fit between the frame rails and clear the steering? Didn't one of the longhorn guys do a cadillac 500 swap a couple years ago?

This is not a sure thing, but I thought it would be one helluva alternate power supply for a 4x4. Gobs of torque, and it already runs and I think the distributer is in the front.

The same guy also is scrapping out a late 70's chevy K-10. I can get the transfer case for nothing I think. He just wants the engine. I still need to see what model case it is, but might be a donar for a future doubler.

Give me some opinions here guys.

[1971K54X4]

I'm not 100% but I think a 455 buick weighs less than a small block chevy. You could put the output shaft from a 4 wheel drive chevy TH350 into the BOP transmission. Overall I think its a good idea.

[RED72blazer]

hhmmmn....

just googled it.... all I could find was it weighs 150 pounds less than a big block chevy.

[1971K54X4]

Like I said, I'm not 100%. I read alot of magazines and this guy was trying to convince everyone that the 455 Buick was better than the small block and I think that was one of his reasons. Then again anyone who thinks there is something better than a Chevy should not be listened to anyway.

[jamie72]

it can be done i don`t know the details but i do know a guy that had on in a 72 k10.

[jeffspower]

I put one in a '64 K20 years ago. It had a divorced transfer case, so I just used the Buick TH400. You can bolt it to the Chevy pattern 350 with an adapter plate- about $50. One detail you have to watch for, is that the torque converter has threaded lugs, and not "wings" for bolts & nuts. A balance weight on the flywheel gets in the way. Motor mounts are a pain. The OE Buick mounts are weak. I made my own brackets & crossmember utilizing "biscuits" with pass- thru bolts. Manifolds & everything else cleared without a problem.

[hgs_notes]

At least it sounds like a viable alternative. Thanks everyone.

[pumpkin]

A buick 455 with an aluminum intake works out to be the same weight as a small block chev. The bellhousings are different, so the best way would be to put the 4X4 output shaft in the th350.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by pumpkin

A buick 455 with an aluminum intake works out to be the same weight as a small block chev. The bellhousings are different, so the best way would be to put the 4X4 output shaft in the th350.

So your saying to remove the tranny output shaft from the truck and put it on the buick transmission? I hadn't thought of that. Hmmm.

[66skylarkpost]

Originally Posted by 1971K54X4

Then again anyone who thinks there is something better than a Chevy should not be listened to anyway.

hey them fightin words lol seroiusly , i put my '72 together a couple years ago from pretty much parts i had laying around .went the adapter route , to keep the 4-speed , used a centerforse dual friction . i drive it about it everyday . its only a '73 riv motor , stock 8.5 to 1 . nothing special , but i'd take the torque over any chevy motor in comparable form and for built buicks , i'll put the .030 430 in my skylark against any , i say any . comparably built 396 or 454 . never doubt the potential of a properly tuned buick

[jeffspower]

Originally Posted by 66skylarkpost

never doubt the potential of a properly tuned buick

I've had at least a dozen 430/ 455 powered vehicles. For monster torque on a budget, they are hard to beat. Even though plenty of OE ratings for 427's & 454's were a lot higher, off the showroom floor the Buick would usually leave them behind at the dragstrip.

On the transmission output shaft, swapping outputs would be the best. But it requires a complete teardown to do it.

[GMC AMI]

Originally Posted by 1971K54X4

Like I said, I'm not 100%. I read alot of magazines and this guy was trying to convince everyone that the 455 Buick was better than the small block and I think that was one of his reasons. Then again anyone who thinks there is something better than a Chevy should not be listened to anyway.

B.S. for sure! I bolted a Stage 1 455 Buick in a 80 vette and it was the best set-up ever! I had a hi-po 427 with rect. port racing heads that did not even come close to the 455.The Buick 455 with vette 308 hi-way gears ran a 7.2 at 93 mph in a short 1/8 of a mile and I won many awards with her! Right off the street! So Chevy lovers do not cry, it was still a GM motor, just not the best one one for a vette?

[hgs_notes]

For anyone that would like to have more input, please take a look at my tatest post on my build thread. The link is in my signature.
Thanks,

[mkundo]

I though I would weigh in on this subject. The 455 Buick is a great truck motor plenty of Toruqe. It weighs the same as a s/b Chevy 375hp in stock form. It is easy to bolt this engine to a 2-wheel truck, I have the stock mounts that will work with the '73- '87 front crossmember. It should also be a slam dunk for any 4x4 truck.
My $.02