Chevy 350 or Buick 455

[jfw432]

I'm looking to swap my I6 to a V8 and while looking for 350's I came across a really ugly but really cheap C-10 with a Buick 455 engine in it. I haven't seen it but I'm guessing the Buick engine has a TH400 transmission on it as that seems to be the most common. My I6 has the TH350 transmission.

I'm figuring this is probably going to cost the same regardless of which way I go since I'll want to tear into the engine and freshen it up prior to installing it. So I'm trying to get opinions on which would be best.... My truck is nice but primarily used as a work truck/toy and probably doesn't see more than 500-1000 miles a year.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

I love Buick 455's myself big block power, and small block mpg. I had a 72 Electra with a 455, and a couple of bolt ones, and I could get 17-18 at 70 mph. It had a ton of power, and got that boat moving. I would imagine it would do just as well in a truck. My car had 2.73 gears, and a switch pitch 400.

If I was building a truck I would use a over drive, and 3.55 gears. Plus headers are a must for the most efficient power on older engines with poor/not great exhaust manifold design.

[lowbrow454]

Almost everyone has a 350. My vote would be the 455. Not that there's anything wrong with a 350, just been there done that. Be cool to see something that's not so common.

[72freak]

455 is WAY cool. As with most folks, budget is a consideration. Just remember, BOP and big block parts are traditionally more expensive. If the elevated costs of parts and repair are not a concern...why not be different!!

[TheCougarine]

Those Buick 455s are sweet motors and all that torque would be nice to have. That being said, rebuilding a Buick 455 is going to be more expensive than redoing a 350. If thats the route you go then you need to make sure you understand that going in.

[KrazyRay]

Make sure you save the motor mount towers from the donor truck. They are hard to find diesel towers from late 70's trucks.

[jfw432]

I think I've bailed on the 455 for now. The plan was always to open up the engine and freshen it up but the amount of money required to do that for a 455 even if I do all the work myself is more than 5x the cost of doing that to a 350 that I feel like I can get more bang for my buck out of a 350. I realized the 455 isn't as popular but I didn't think parts would be this hard to find and cost this much.

[lowbrow454]

Too bad the 455 didn't work out. Good luck with the 350, everyone is always happy with a new motor.

[HAULIN' IT]

I'm going to add my real-world thoughts to the topic. I've done Two square body trucks with 455 Olds swaps. About 15 years ago I did a long bed 4X4 as a daily driver/trailer towing vehicle...it worked so well that something more serious was begging to be tested. So we built this one about 10 years ago for my wife to race & take to cruises, ect.



The engine is a very low-buck piece...I've probably got $3500-$4000 in it over 8-9 years of driving/racing. I started with a running '74 engine & took the pistons, rods & crank out of a '70 engine that I bought for $200 with a BIG crack in the side of the block from someone leaving water freeze in it over the winter. A hone job, bearings & rings is all that the rotating assy. needed. I got a cam (hyd. flat tappet) lifters, timing chain, valves & springs in a kit for something like $600. Some home-port work to the '70 heads & a valvejob was about it. I re-curved the HEI & rebuilt the Q-jet with some modifications (yes the turd from the '74) & stuck it in. We have put MANY thousands of miles & several hundred 1/4 mile passes without much drama. I have done rings & bearings once again
It's been allot of fun & has gone a best of 11.85 @ 113mph.

If you get a decent core...these big, low RPM engines (BOPC) don't need all that much to work well. You just can't treat it like a small Chevy. The max RPM on this one is 5400.

My Two Cents...Do the Buick! You'll love it! Lorne