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Need a quick answer on Buick 455 motors please!

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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 08:56 AM
  #1  
dennis6's Avatar
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From: Independence, MO
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Need a quick answer on Buick 455 motors please!

Are there any motor mounts for putting a 455 in a Thirdgen? Doesn't matter if its an oddball combo or its conversion mounts. Also not worried about trans or exhaust just the physical bolt in.

Thanks.
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Old Feb 12, 2004 | 07:38 PM
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From: Independence, MO
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Well, gues it doen't really matter anymore. This is what I was up to though...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33615
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Old Feb 14, 2004 | 02:45 AM
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From: Independence, MO
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
The guy listed it again and I went ahead and bought the engine.
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Old Mar 10, 2004 | 01:03 AM
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From: Independence, MO
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine is now sitting in the car, but not bolted in.
I couldn't borrow a truck off anyone so I took my beater camaro and threw it in the hatch. The only damage was to the already shoddy carpet, so no loss.
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Old Mar 10, 2004 | 10:43 AM
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From: SE Michigan
Car: Bright Red 91 GTA
Engine: CARBED LT4
Transmission: MK6
Originally posted by dennis6
Engine is now sitting in the car, but not bolted in.
I couldn't borrow a truck off anyone so I took my beater camaro and threw it in the hatch. The only damage was to the already shoddy carpet, so no loss.

not to sure but i think you exceeded the hatach tongue limit
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Old Mar 10, 2004 | 01:29 PM
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From: Independence, MO
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
lol, well it was a 200 car and it survived. Don't try it though, the car handled like it was on ice. BTW, this is not the car the 455 is in right now. The 455 is in my 91 RS and the 89RS is the beater.
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 10:52 AM
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From: Northern Kentucky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
I have an old Hot Rodding magazine where a guy put a Buick 455 in his 87 T/a. He used the stock 700R4(rebuilt a couple times..lol) and the stock 10bolt with an Eaton Posi. He turned 11's in a daily driver.....the engine even had AC on it. Nothing fancy, just a stock 455 with a fat cam...not even dual exhaust.....pretty impressive. I think the only mods he used were frame bracket spacers and a Buick V6 oil filter. It says he did some minor grinding on the stock manifolds.

Last edited by KYL98; Mar 13, 2004 at 10:56 AM.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 08:22 AM
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From: MI
Car: 1985 Firebird
Engine: 327
Transmission: TH350
Excellent conversion choice. I am quite fond of those 455 Buicks. One thing, be sure to replace the timing cover and instal a high flow oil pump. The timing cover forms the oil pump housing and wears with time. T/A Performance Products, Inc. has anything you may desire, but building Buicks are expensive.
I put a 455 Stage I with the Stage II modifications in a 1973 Firebird, this thing hauled A! Kept a 3.08 rear and stock converter, this thing would bury my 160 speedo, even giving a 10% inaccuracy, that still moving.
Any questions, just ask.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 10:15 AM
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From: HAUNTING THE CHAPEL
Car: '87 Mustang LX
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: T-5
Originally posted by Lonestar
I put a 455 Stage I with the Stage II modifications in a 1973 Firebird, this thing hauled A! Kept a 3.08 rear and stock converter, this thing would bury my 160 speedo, even giving a 10% inaccuracy, that still moving.
Any questions, just ask.
Yeah, do you have any pics you can send me?
I'm a big time fan of both buicks and pontiacs
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 10:23 AM
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From: Northern Kentucky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Was the Pontiac 455 the same size externally as the Buick?? I know the Buick isnt much bigger externally than a SBC, right? Where could a find a Buick 455 to possibly rebuild? Are some years better than others for a rebuild?? I heard that the 71 block is a good candidate....an "old-school" guy we work with was saying take one and mill the heads a little, and put in a fat cam, and it'll run like a bat outta hell......The article I have of Hot Rod with the 87 T/A with the 455 running 11.56 in the 1/4 with basically a stock 455 minus the cam......is reallllly tempting...lol
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 05:09 PM
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From: MI
Car: 1985 Firebird
Engine: 327
Transmission: TH350
Physically it is wider and taller than the sbc. These things are torque monsters, I have seen 4000 lb cars run in the 12's with stock ones (pre '73).
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 05:59 PM
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From: MI
Car: 1985 Firebird
Engine: 327
Transmission: TH350
Have fun with this swap, but make sure you stiffen the car to handle the torque. I twisted my '73 and had to have it professionally repaired...not cheap!! Traction is another concern as my '73 would lay 1/4 mile of rubber no problem, even just leaving it in drive.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 06:23 PM
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From: Northern Kentucky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Im seriously considering it. I found a Buick 455 on Ebay with GS heads...I believe the block is a 71 or 72....but needs total rebuild. IF I were to do this, I put tubular steel through the floor pans(sub frame connectors) and use a Global West Trak-Link....to "try" to keep from twisting the car in half...lol Maybe even some airbags inplace of the rear springs....
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 02:48 AM
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From: Independence, MO
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Thanks KL98.

V8buick.com is an excellent resource when its up.

I am trying to this as I have money, which is coming in very slowly. Right now I am in the process of obtaining a TH350, then I am going after mounts and I am going to bolt this thing together.

TA Performance sells shorty headers that I may try at a later date. As for the oiling system, I have a 74 motor which had improved oiling already. Also I heard from multiple sources including TA perforamnce that high volume oil pumps wear out the cam bearing in a hurry on the Big Block buicks. They recommend the booster plate and oil pressure regulator, or the whole timing cover.

Updates will come as they happen, but don't hold your breath. I am working on a very limited income at the moment.
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 02:57 AM
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From: Independence, MO
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Oh here is a link to a guys website that put a 455 into a beatup camaro.
http://www.geocities.com/mustang732/...amaro/updated/
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 07:11 AM
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From: MI
Car: 1985 Firebird
Engine: 327
Transmission: TH350
Originally posted by dennis6
Thanks KL98.

As for the oiling system, I have a 74 motor which had improved oiling already. Also I heard from multiple sources including TA perforamnce that high volume oil pumps wear out the cam bearing in a hurry on the Big Block buicks. They recommend the booster plate and oil pressure regulator, or the whole timing cover.

That's what I said, the oil pump housing which is part of the timing cover wears, so either replace it or have it checked for proper clearances. Just adding the longer gears and plate will do nothing for you if the housing is worn. Remember that the weak part of the Buick engines has always been the oiling system. Take care of that and the engine should last quite some time.

Also, be sure you check your flywheel for stress as the engine will snap the center out of it if it is fatigued in any way.
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 06:40 PM
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS
I am hoping my oil pump is in good shape, the engine only has 80k miles on it. If I have issues with oil pressure I will have to rip the cover off and deal with it.

I have been thinking about maybe putting an electric pump of som form inline with a remote oil filter that should boost pressure.
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