Buick V8 engine

Buick V8 Engines
Manufacturer:General Motors
Production:1953–1981
Successors:GM LT engine, GM LS engine, Buick V6 engine
Type: OHV V8 engine
264 Nailhead
Production:1954–1955
Displacement:264 cu in (4.3 L)
Power:143 hp (107 kW)-188 hp (140 kW)
Bore and Stroke:3.625 in × 3.20 in (92.1 mm × 81.3 mm)
322 Nailhead
Production:1953–1956
Displacement:322 cu in (5.3 L)
Power:164 hp (122 kW)-255 hp (190 kW)
Bore and Stroke:4.000 in × 3.20 in (101.6 mm × 81.3 mm)
364 Nailhead
Production:1957–1961
Displacement:364 cu in (6.0 L)
Power:210 hp (157 kW)-325 hp (242 kW)
Bore and Stroke:4.125 in × 3.39 in (104.8 mm × 86.1 mm)
401 Nailhead
Production:1959–1966
Displacement:401 cu in (6.6 L)
Power:265 hp (198 kW)-325 hp (242 kW)
Bore and Stroke:4.1875 in × 3.64 in (106.4 mm × 92.5 mm)
425 Nailhead
Production:1963–1966
Displacement:425 cu in (7.0 L)
Power:340 hp (254 kW)-360 hp (268 kW)
Bore and Stroke:4.3125 in × 3.64 in (109.5 mm × 92.5 mm)
215 Small Block
Production:1961–1963
Displacement:215 cu in (3.5 L)
Power:145 hp (108 kW)-200 hp (149 kW)
Bore and Stroke:3.500 in × 2.80 in (88.9 mm × 71.1 mm)
300 Small Block
Production:1964–1967
Displacement:300 cu in (4.9 L)
Power:210 hp (157 kW)-250 hp (186 kW)
Bore and Stroke:3.750 in × 3.40 in (95.3 mm × 86.4 mm)
340 Small Block
Production:1966–1967
Displacement:340 cu in (5.6 L)
Power:220 hp (164 kW)-260 hp (194 kW)
Bore and Stroke:3.750 in × 3.85 in (95.3 mm × 97.8 mm)
350 Small Block
Production:1967–1981
Displacement:350 cu in (5.7 L)
Power:145 hp (108 kW)-315 hp (235 kW)
Bore and Stroke:3.80 in × 3.85 in (96.5 mm × 97.8 mm)
400 Big Block
Production:1967–1969
Displacement:400 cu in (6.6 L)
Power:340 hp (254 kW)-350 hp (261 kW)
Bore and Stroke:4.04 in × 3.90 in (102.6 mm × 99.1 mm)
430 Big Block
Production:1967–1969
Displacement:430 cu in (7.0 L)
Power:360 hp (268 kW)
Bore and Stroke:4.1875 in × 3.90 in (106.4 mm × 99.1 mm)
455 Big Block
Production:1972–1976
Displacement:455 cu in (7.5 L)
Power:175 hp (130 kW)-370 hp (276 kW)
Bore and Stroke:4.31 in × 3.90 in (109.5 mm × 99.1 mm)

Like its sister General Motors divisions, Buick produced its own family of V8 engines to replace its straight-8 engines. Some of these engines had the same displacement numbers as those from other divisions, but were entirely different engines.

Buick "Nailhead V8"

Buick's first generation of V8 was offered from 1953 through 1956. It was an OHV/pushrod engine like the then new Oldsmobile "Rocket V8" engine. This engine became known as the "Nailhead" for the unusual vertical position of its small-sized valves, which were derisively compared to nails since their head diameter is smaller than other comparable displacement engines of the same era.[1] The Nailhead V8 family used a camshaft with greater lift and duration to offset the smaller-sized valves and arguably restrictive intake- and exhaust-port diamaters. The small-diameter intake runners allowed these engines to develop high torque, with many exceeding one foot-pound per cubic inch, which was exceptional for the day. All of the Nailhead designs have 4.750" Bore spacing.

The Buick V-8 was originally called the "Nail Valve" by early hot rodders because the valves looked like nails since the stems were so long and the heads were small. At some point "Nail Valve" got replaced by "Nailhead."

264

The 264 cu in (4.3 L) 264 was a direct replacement for the 263 straight-8 in Series 40 Buicks. It was produced in 1954 and 1955. It was the smallest displacement Nailhead, and the only engine available for the economy "Special" Series 40 through 1955. The 264 ( Bore 3.625" ) is a small bore version of the 322, sharing stroke and deck height.

322

The larger 322 cu in (5.3 L) 322 was used by Buick from 1953 through 1956 in the Roadmaster, Super and Century models, and finally in the Special in 1956. It had a bore of 4.00" and a stroke of 3.20".

The 322 was also used in the 1956 through 1959 Chevrolet pickup.

Nailhead V8

Buick's second variation of this V8 has also been called the Nailhead. It was produced from 1957-1966.

364

The 364 was introduced in 1957. The Special came standard with 2bbl carb and 250 hp, where all others had the 4bbl, 300 hp engine. Buick, like most of its competitors, continued to expand their durable V8 engine to larger displacements, such as the 364 in³ (4.125in bore)x(3.40in stroke)= 364 cubic inches (6.0 L).

400

The next member of the family was the 401 cu in (6.6 L) 400. This was actually a 401 that had been later redesignated a "400" to meet GM directives for maximum displacement engines in mid-size cars.

Another even later Buick "400" engine was a member of the 400/430/455 family and was produced from 1967-1969.

401

The 401 cu in (6.6 L) 401 was Buick's full-size and later intermediate muscle car powerplant (relabeled '400', see above) of choice; this engine was used in the company's Skylark Gran Sport and Buick Wildcat models, among others. The air cleaner for this engine family featured the labels "Wildcat 375", "Wildcat 410", and "Wildcat 445"; these monikers indicated not the cubic-inch displacement but the foot-pounds of torque produced by the engine. The "Wildcat 410" was the 2-barrel carbureted engine that was standard on the 1962-63 LeSabre. The "Wildcat 375" was a no-cost option for the '62-'63 LeSabre that used a lower compression ratio to run on lower-octane fuel. The 4-barrel version of the '66-'67 small-block Buick 340 V8 was also labeled "Wildcat 375" on its air cleaner but was not a Nailhead engine.

The "Wildcat 445", with a single 4-barrel carburetor, was the standard engine in the Invicta, 1959-66 Electra, 1962–66 Buick Wildcat, 1963 Riviera and 1965 Riviera (the '64 and '66 Riviera models used the 425 with a single 4-barrel carburetor, labeled "Wildcat 465", as standard equipment). The Buick 401s were also used as starter motors for the SR-71 Blackbird, mounted on a trolley.

In an effort to overcome the restrictive exhaust-port design of the Nailhead, Buick drag racing enthusiasts in the 1960s adapted superchargers with a custom camshaft to feed intake air in through the exhaust ports; the larger intake ports became the exhaust outlets. Perhaps this feat of ingenuity, and the unusual appearance of the engine modified in this manner, also intimidated rival racers and contributed to the Nailhead V8 legend in US auto history.

425

The 425 cu in (7.0 L) 425 was the largest-displacement version of the Nailhead. It began as an option in 1963 for the Riviera and was later available on the Wildcat and Electra models. The 1964 and 1966 Riviera used the 425 engine as standard equipment.

Four-barrel carburetion was standard on all 425 Nailheads, called "Wildcat 465" (see note above, on 401). For the 1965 Riviera Gran Sport and the 1966 Wildcat GS, the "Super Wildcat" regular production option ("RPO") Y48 included two four-barrel (4BBL) carburetors and the intake manifold, which were delivered in the car's trunk, to be installed by the dealer. Toward the end of the 1966 model year, in approximately May 1966, Buick offered the Super Wildcat 465 with dual 4BBL Carter AFB carburetors as a factory-installed option. This engine is coded "MZ", while the dealer-installed dual four-barrel setup was coded "MW". Only 179 1966 Riviera GS cars were built with the MZ factory dual 4BBL setup, making it a very rare car.

Buick "Small-Block"

In 1961, Buick unveiled an entirely new small V8 engine with aluminum cylinder heads and cylinder block. Lightweight and powerful, the aluminum V8 also spawned a turbocharged version, (only in the 1962-63 Oldsmobile Cutlass version), the first ever offered in a passenger car. It became the basis of a highly successful cast iron V6 engine, the Fireball. The all-aluminum V8 engine was dropped after the 1963 model year, but was replaced with very similar cast-iron-block/aluminum-head version for one year, and then in all-iron versions. Bore spacing for all variants of the SBB are 4.240".

215

See also Rover V8 engine

GM experimented with aluminum engines starting in the early 1950s. Alcoa (Aluminum Company of America) was pushing all automakers to use more aluminum. An early-development supercharged version of the 215-cubic-inch (3.5 L) V8 was used in the 1951 Le Sabre concept car,[2] and the 1953 Buick Roadmaster concept car, and work on a production unit commenced in 1956. Originally intended for 180-cubic-inch (2.9 L) displacement, Buick was designated by GM as the engine design leader, and decided to begin with a larger, 215-cubic-inch (3.5 L) size, which was deemed ideal for the new "senior compact cars" introduced for the 1961 model year. This group of cars was commonly referred to as the "B-O-P" group — for Buick-Olds-Pontiac — or the Y-bodies.

Known variously as the Fireball and Skylark by Buick (and as Rockette, Cutlass, and Turbo-Rocket by Oldsmobile),[3] the 215 had a 4.24 in (108 mm) bore spacing, a bore of 3.5 in (89 mm), and a stroke of 2.8 in (71 mm), for an actual displacement of 215.5 cu in (3,531 cc). At the time the engine was the lightest mass-production V8 in the world, with a dry weight of only 318 lb (144 kg). Measuring 28 in (71 cm) long, 26 in (66 cm) wide, and 27 in (69 cm) high (same as the small-block Chevy),[4] it became standard equipment in the 1961 Buick Special.

Oldsmobile and Pontiac each used an all-aluminum 215 on its mid-sized cars, the Oldsmobile F-85, Cutlass and Jetfire, and Pontiac Tempest and LeMans. Pontiac used the Buick version of the 215; Oldsmobile had its own. The Oldsmobile version of this engine, although sharing the same basic architecture, had cylinder heads and angled valve covers designed by Oldsmobile engineers to look like a traditional Olds V8 and was produced on a separate assembly line. Among the differences between the Oldsmobile from the Buick versions, it was somewhat heavier, at 350 lb (160 kg). The major design differences were in the cylinder heads: Buick used a 5-bolt pattern around each cylinder where Oldsmobile used a 6-bolt pattern. The 6th bolt was added to the intake manifold side of the head, one extra bolt for each cylinder, meant to alleviate a head-warping problem on high-compression versions. This meant that Oldsmobile heads would fit on Buick blocks, but not vice versa. Changing the compression ratio on an Oldsmobile 215 required changing the heads, but on a Buick 215, only the pistons, which was less expensive and simpler. For that reason, the more common Buick version (which looks like a traditional Buick vertical valve cover 'nailhead' V8) has today also emerged as more desirable to some. But the Olds wedge-shaped/quench combustion chambers/pistons are more compatible with modern low-octane/low-lead motor fuels than the Buick 'hemisperical'-shaped combustion chambers and domed pistons. Later Rover versions of the aluminum block and subsequent Buick iron small blocks (300 with aluminum, then iron heads, 340 and 350 with iron heads) went to a 4-bolt-per-cylinder pattern.

At introduction, Buick's 215 was rated 150 hp (110 kW) at 4400 rpm. This was raised soon after introduction to 155 hp (116 kW) at 4600 rpm. 220 lb·ft (298 N·m) of torque was produced at 2400 rpm with a Rochester 2GC (DualJet) two-barrel carburetor and 8.8:1 compression ratio. A mid-year introduction was the Buick Special Skylark version, which had 10.00:1 compression and a four-barrel carburetor, raising output to 185 hp (138 kW) at 4800 rpm and 230 lb·ft (312 N·m) at 2800 rpm.

For 1962, the four-barrel engine increased the compression ratio to 10.25:1, raising it to 190 hp (140 kW) at 4800 rpm and 235 lb·ft (319 N·m) at 3000 rpm. The two-barrel engine was unchanged. For 1963, the four-barrel was bumped to 11:1 compression and an even 200 hp (150 kW) at 5000 rpm and 240 lb·ft (325 N·m) at 3200 rpm, a respectable 0.93 hp/cu in (56.6 hp/L).

Unfortunately, the great expense of the aluminum engine led to its cancellation after the 1963 model year. The engine had an abnormally high scrap ratio due to hidden block-casting porosity problems, which caused serious oil leaks. Another problem was clogged radiators from antifreeze mixtures incompatible with aluminum. It was said that one of the major problems was because the factory had to make extensive use of air gauging to check for casting leaks during the manufacturing process and was unable to detect leaks on blocks that were as much as 95% complete. This raised the cost of complete engines to more than that of a comparable all cast-iron engine. Casting-sealing technology was not advanced enough at that time to prevent the high scrap rates.

The Buick 215's very high power-to-weight ratio made it immediately interesting for automotive and marine racing. Mickey Thompson entered a stock-block Buick 215-powered car in the 1962 Indianapolis 500. From 1946-1962, there had not been a single stock-block car in this race series. In 1962, the Buick 215 was the only non-Offenhauser powered entry in the field of 33 cars. Rookie driver Dan Gurney qualified eighth and raced well for 92 laps before retiring with transmission problems.

Surplus engine blocks of the Oldsmobile F85 (6-bolt-per-cylinder) version of this engine formed the basis of the Australian Formula One Repco V8 used by Brabham to win the 1966 Formula One world championship, although only the earliest engines had any Oldsmobile components. The majority of Repco RB620 engines were cast and built in-house at Repco.

Rights to these engines were purchased by the British Rover Company and used in the 1967 Rover P5B that replaced the 3 L straight six Rover engined P5. Throughout the years, the Rover Co., which became part of British Leyland in 1968, and its successor companies constantly improved the engine making it much stronger and reliable. Capacities ranged from 3.5-5.0 L (215 to 307 in³). This engine was used for V8 versions of the MGB-GT known as the MGB GTV8. This came straight from the MG works at Abingdon-on-the-Thames. Rover also used the engine in the 1970 Range Rover which saw the engine successfully returning to the USA after the Range Rover's 1986 introduction. American Buick 215s have also been engine swapped into countless other platforms, especially Chevrolet Vegas and later British cars MG sports cars including the MG RV8 in the 1990s, Triumph TR8, and various sports sedans and sports cars by the MG Rover Group and specialist manufacturers such as TVR and the Morgan Motor Company. The engine remains well-supported by enthusiast clubs, specialist parts suppliers, and by shops that specialize in conversions and tuning.

The 215 was also used in the Italian-American gran turismo Apollo in 1962-1963, as well as in the Asardo 3500 GM-S show car.

Although dropped by GM in 1963, the Rover V8 engine remained in production use for more than another 39 years, even longer on the aftermarket. GM tried to buy it back later on, but Rover declined, instead offering to sell engines back to GM. GM refused this offer.

In the mid-1980s, hot rodders discovered the 215 could be stretched to as much as 305 cu in (5 l), using the Buick 300 crankshaft, new cylinder sleeves, and an assortment of non-Buick parts.[5] It could also be fitted with high-compression cylinder heads from the Morgan Plus 8. Using the 5 liter Rover block and crankshaft, a maximum displacement of 317.8 cu in (5,208 cc) is theoretically possible.[6]

300

In 1964, Buick replaced the 215 with an iron-block engine of very similar architecture. The new engine had a bore of 3.750 in (95.3 mm) and a stroke of 3.40 in (86 mm) for a displacement of 300.4 cubic inches (4,923 cc). It retained the aluminum cylinder heads, intake manifold, and accessories of the 215 for a dry weight of 405 lb (184 kg). The 300 was offered in two-barrel form, with 9.0:1 compression, making 210 hp (160 kW) @ 4600 rpm and 310 lb·ft (420 N·m) @ 2400 rpm, and four-barrel form, with 11.0:1 compression, making 250 hp (190 kW) @ 4800 rpm and 335 lb·ft (454 N·m) @ 3000 rpm.

For 1965, the 300 switched to cast-iron heads, raising dry weight to 467 lb (212 kg), still quite light for a V8 engine of its era. The four-barrel option was cancelled for 1966, and the 300 was replaced entirely by the 350 in 1968.

The Apollo 5000 GT sports car, (also sold as the Vetta Ventura) used this engine.

340

The 340 cu in (5.6 L) 340 was a stroked to 3.85 in (98 mm)) version of the 300. It had a two- or four-barrel carburetor, the two-barrel with 9:1 compression ratio rated at 220 hp (160 kW) at 4000 rpm and 340 lb·ft (460 N·m) at 2400 rpm, and the four barrel with 10.25:1 compression ratio, rated at 260 hp (190 kW) @ 4000 rpm and 365 lb·ft (495 N·m) @ 2800 rpm. It replaced the four-barrel 300 for 1966. It was produced only in 1966 and 1967, with the new Buick 350 taking its place after that.

350

Buick adopted the popular 350 cu in (5.7 L) size with their final family of V8 engines. Although the Buick design shared the displacement of the Chevrolet Small-Block engine family, the Buick blocks were substantially different and of Buick's own proprietary design.

The Buick 350 V8 featured the same 3.80 in (97 mm) bore as the 231 cu in (3.8 L) version of the Buick 90° V6 and retained the 3.85 in (98 mm) stroke of the previous 340 cu in (5.6 L) V8. It was introduced in 1968 and produced through 1980.

The major differences of the Buick 350 in comparison to other GM V8s are Buick's deep-skirt engine block construction, the use of cast iron with increased nickel content, the use of an external oil pump, a forward-mounted distributor, under-square cylinder bore sizing, 3 in (76 mm) crankshaft main journals, and 6.385 in (162.2 mm) connecting rods. The Buick 350 also shares an integrated aluminum timing cover, which incorporates the oil pump mechanisms as well, leaving the oil filter exposed to oncoming air for added cooling. The engine garnered a reputation as a rugged and durable engine , and some of the design characteristics of the Buick 350 are found in other Buick-designed GM engines such as the 231 cu in (3.8 L) V6 and its 3800 descendants.

Of all the GM 350 cu in (5.7 L) engines, the Buick 350 has the longest piston stroke. This design characteristic made the Buick 350 significantly wider than the other GM 350s — essentially the same width as the Buick big-blocks, which have the shortest stroke of the GM big-blocks. At a glance, the Buick 350 can be mistaken for the larger 455 engine; this is due to the over-sized intake manifold atop the engine and conventionally-angled valve covers that resemble those of the 400/430/455.

The Buick 350 was used by Kaiser-Jeep and AMC Jeep in the Jeep Gladiator and Wagoneer models from 1968–71;[7] in these applications, the engine was billed as the "Dauntless V8".

Buick "Big-Block"

The company introduced a larger engine family to replace the "Nailhead" in 1967; this big-block design was produced through 1976. As the Buick big-block V8 was a replacement for the large displacement Nailheads at the end of their production run, it maintains that design's 4.750" cylinder bore spacing.

400

The 399.95-cubic-inch (6,554.0 cc) 400 was produced from 1967-1969. This engine had a bore of 4.04 in (103 mm) and a stroke of 3.90 in (99 mm). It was the only large V8 engine available for the A-body Buicks due to the GM cubic inch limit restriction prior to 1970. Most parts except the pistons interchange with the 430 and 455. This 400 engine had the distributor towards the front of the engine, as opposed to the 401 (nailhead) that had the distributor back near the firewall.

430

1968 Wildcat 430 CID engine

The 429.69-cubic-inch (7,041.4 cc) 430 was only produced from 1967 until 1969. This engine had a bore of 4.1875 in (106.36 mm) and a stroke of 3.90 in (99 mm). The 430-4 engine was rated at 360 hp (270 kW) and 475 lb·ft (643 N·m) of torque. This engine was used in B-, C- and E-body (large body) Buicks. Most parts except the pistons interchange with the 400 and 455.

455

Buick 455 V8

The 455.19-cubic-inch (7,459.2 cc) 455 Buick V8 used a 4.31 in (109 mm) bore and a 3.90 in (99 mm) stroke. Most parts (except the pistons) interchange between the 400 and the 430. It was produced from 1970–1976 and was based on the 400/430 V8. The regular Buick 455 was rated at 350 hp (260 kW), while the 455 Stage 1 was rated at 360 hp (270 kW). The regular 455 produced a rated 510 lb·ft (690 N·m) of torque at 2800 rpm, more than any other muscle car engine. The horsepower was somewhat reduced in 1971 mainly due to the reduction in cylinder compression ratio, a change which was mandated by GM in order to cope with the introduction of new federal laws which would require new cars to use low octane gasoline in an effort to reduce exhaust emissions. Then, starting in 1972, the horsepower rating on paper would be reduced again, down to approximately 250 hp (190 kW), this time due to the new measurement of horsepower as SAE net horsepower, rather than a gross horsepower rating. Unleaded gasoline and catalytic converters came into play in 1975 for all US manufactured cars. Tightening emissions controls would cause the engine to drop in power still further, a little at a time, through 1976.

The 455 was one of the first "thin-wall casting" engine blocks (at GM), and because of this advance in production technology it weighs significantly less than other engines of comparable size (for example, 150 lb (68 kg) less than a Chevrolet 454 and only 25 lb (11 kg) more than a Chevrolet 350).

Other GM V8s powering Buick vehicles

In the mid-1970s, GM was using powerplants sourced from various GM divisions where the Buick V8 was considered a factory option with the Buick 350 as the sole survivor, or in the worst case, for Buick vehicles where the 400/430/455 big blocks were phased out because of fuel economy/emission requirements.

260

The 260 cu in (4.3 L) 260 was an Oldsmobile V8 engine shared with Buick:

301

The 301 cu in (4.9 L) 301 was a Pontiac V8 engine shared with Buick.

305

The 305 cu in (5.0 L) was a Chevrolet V8 engine shared with Buick:

307

The 307 cu in (5.0 L) was an Oldsmobile V8 engine shared with Buick:

403

The 403 cu in (6.6 L) was an Oldsmobile V8 engine shared with Buick:

See also

From the 1950s-1970s, each GM division had its own V8 engine family. Many were shared among other divisions, but each design is most-closely associated with its own division:

GM later standardized on the later generations of the Chevrolet design:

References

  1. ↑ Vintage Buick Engines
  2. ↑ Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1946-1959 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2008), p.1021.
  3. ↑ Depending on carburetion or use of turbocharger. Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1960-1972 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2004), pp.205 & 246.
  4. ↑ Baechtel, John. "Alternative Engines: Part 2--Buick V8", in Hot Rod Magazine, 11/84, p.67.
  5. ↑ Davis, Marlan. "Affordable Aluminum V8's [sic]", in Hot Rod Magazine, March 1985, pp.84-9 & 121.
  6. ↑ Davis, p.87.
  7. ↑ Jeep Engine: Dauntless Buick 350 V8
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