HELP please! Blown Engine

[smyrna ranch]

Long story short. I have a blown Buick 455 that was in my Delta 88 and a Olds 455 that I just bought to replace. I had planned to swap parts to get the Olds running, but that was before I realized I had a Buick engine in my car. From what I understand practically nothing is interchangeable. My question is can anyone recommend where and what basic parts to get this OLDs 455 running again? I have searched extensively only to find performance parts that will not fit my budget. The Olds 455 is the block, head, intake, pistons, crankshaft etc.) just looks like all the components were stripped off (distributor, starter, carburetor). Is the flywheel, starter, anything from the Buick usable?

[smyrna ranch]

Long story short. I have a blown Buick 455 that was in my Delta 88 and a Olds 455 short block that I just bought to replace. I had planned to swap parts to get the Olds running, but that was before I realized I had a Buick 455 in my car. From what I understand practically nothing is interchangeable. My question is can anyone recommend where and what basic parts to get this OLDs 455 running again? I have searched extensively only to find performance parts that will not fit my budget. The Olds 455 is the block, head, intake, pistons, crankshaft etc. It just looks like all the components were stripped off (distributor, starter, carburetor). Is the flywheel, starter, anything from the Buick usable?

[kevinkpk]

Originally Posted by smyrna ranch

Long story short. I have a blown Buick 455 that was in my Delta 88 and a Olds 455 that I just bought to replace. I had planned to swap parts to get the Olds running, but that was before I realized I had a Buick engine in my car. From what I understand practically nothing is interchangeable. My question is can anyone recommend where and what basic parts to get this OLDs 455 running again? I have searched extensively only to find performance parts that will not fit my budget. The Olds 455 is the block, head, intake, pistons, crankshaft etc.) just looks like all the components were stripped off (distributor, starter, carburetor). Is the flywheel, starter, anything from the Buick usable?

I don't know (possibly other than the motor mounts) anything being different. I know in the late 70's model alot of Olds had Buick engines and whatever GM would put on the assymbly line.
I guess if the block will fit in the car, the rest comes with it, it will work. You didn't say anything about the transmission.
One good thing about GM, it is still GM.

[Oldsguy]

You will need to get Olds specific brackets, water pump, distributor, intake, carb, exhaust manifolds, flywheel, hoses, cables, perhaps power steering pump (not sure), and probably some other things I forgot or missed. Not an easy task but possible. If you transmission is a TH400 then you should not have trouble bolting it to the Olds block but you may need a different flywheel as I mentioned. Good luck, that is a big project.

[J-(Chicago)]

-Wouldn't the frame mounts be entirely different?

-What year is this Delta?

You will probably have to find another Delta88, or similar B-body from the same year, and use the Oldsmobile frame mounts instead of the Buick ones.

From what Joe P. told me... as far as an Olds350 / buick 350 swap, the motor and frame mounts will NOT interchange. I don't know about a 455 buick, but I'm assuming it is a similar scenario.

I can get away with using mounts from a 3.8 cutlass for my buick 350, but you will probably have a harder time with a big block.

Also, pay attention to what side the trans cooler lines/fuel pump/lines etc are on. It might just be easier for you to replace it with another buick motor.

[J-(Chicago)]

I don't think anything will interchange.

[Redog]

Summit racing and Jegs are a great place to find a lot of the stuff. Mondello Twister is expensive, but they do have the cranks for 455s and a complete gasket kit.

It will be a lot of work and money, but yes the parts are out there

I find Summit and Mondello's web sites the easiet to go though

www.summitracing.com

www.jegs.com

www.mondellotwister.com

www.dickmillerracing.com

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by smyrna ranch

Is the flywheel, starter, anything from the Buick usable?

The only common parts are the distributor cap and rotor. Sorry.

[J-(Chicago)]

Also, if you are anywhere near chicago, I know of 3 buick 455's for sale in the area.

[Olds64]

You can use the carburetor. It is probably just a Quadrjet.

[Oldsguy]

Sounds like you have basically a short block. Don't know what your budget would be but this won't be cheap, won't even be reasonable. Unless you are a die-hard Olds enthusiast, then the price of resurrecting an Olds Big Block is worth every penny!

Threads have been merged....

[smyrna ranch]

I am truly overwhelmed by the responses. I definately have alot of work in front of me. Since I have a Oldsmobile I am going to try to rebuild the OLDS 455 to put in it. My car is a 1973 Delta 88. I can't tell that any modifications were done to put the Buick 455 in the car? Hopefully I won't have too much trouble putting the Olds 455 in it since that is what it was originally. I belive the transmission is a TH400. It i basically a short block so if i just can find all the componrnts to add on it shouldn't be too bad$$ right? I built a "garage" out of a free wood fence to cover the car and now my journey is really just getting going. My wife is laughing but she can't wait to ride again!

[Redog]

You can look on eBay too.

If you need Olds heads, A lot of them pop on on there. "C" heads are the best bet around $200 a pair