f-85

OK guys i know its not a Olds, but close. Last year my buddy got a Little 61 Buick 4dr Special. Its basically the same as the 61 Cutlass. It came with the 215 and crappy air cooled 2 speed. Well reverse went out. And we didnt have any luck finding a used trans. So i talked my buddy into doing a motor and trans swap/ upgrade. We wanted to keep it Buick so we found a used 72 350 and th350 from a junk Skylark. It took a alot of work to get it in. I have pics i can post but not on this comp.

To keep this short. We had to cut out alittle bit of the floor and the whole trans hump. i just made it all out of sheetmetal. We removed the blower and heater box so we could get it in smooth. (it might fit back in) We where about to cut the motor mounts to make custom ones, but then tested the original 215 motor mounts and they fit, and the engine fit right in. (we bought new 215 motor mounts) We had to drill out new holes for the original crossmember, and make a new transmount to get the right angle. Used the original 350 manifolds and a Mopar tool (BIG hammer) to get some clearance on the firewall. Made our own duals with Cherry bombs. Used my original driveshaft out of my F-85 (just cut down the yoke a few inches) We had to lift up the car alittle, but my buddy didnt think new stock springs would do much. So we just bought some cheep spring lift kit from autozone. It did the job. The original radiator was small so we put in an aluminum 2 core. Also for clearance reasons we had to use an electric fan. Before we put in the trans we drained it and i put in one of those B&M shift kits ($35 from advanced auto) and new filter. I made a bracket for the shifter linkage. Over all the swap wasnt as bad as i originaly thought. We did have some problems with vibrations at first. After swapping engines (thanks jeremy for the donor motor) we found out it had a bad Converter. LOL The swap should be almost the same for a Olds 350 into a 61-62 Cutlass other then the motor mounts. Heres a few video clips i took the other day having fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxY5V2l4RSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBqX2n_LE3k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhCGHaXSS0I

Oldsguy

You guys did a pretty good job there. That is a nice looking car too.

f-85

Hey Dan

Thanks. It took us about 5 weeks of nights and weekends. Plus ordering a few parts along the way. then another month or so to figure out the vibrations. Also we need a buick quadrjet for it so we can put the hood back on. Right now we are running an adapter for a Holley.

f-85

Heres another video clip we made wen we first finished it. My buddy got the old ss wheels for it, but he blew one of the old super chargers on it. So we had to swap the original wheels and tires that came with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vwXEW0EKr8

And heres one right before we pulled the 215

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwuoNXkJ2Y8

Oldsguy

I just figured you had not put the hood on yet. If I had worked that long on a car and had the engine running well but the hood off I would have said "to hell with it, let's run it!" "Do the hood later." You might contact Dan Sarvis, username 7owcars, he rebuild a quadrajet for me and can do it with or without a core. I bet he has the specs for your engine.

f-85

Hey Dan

I found a holley spreadbore on craigslist. My buddy is going to check it out tonight. If that doesnt work ill give ourr fried a try. Thanks for the tip.

J-(Chicago)

NICE. Let me know how the Holley works out.
If not, I can stop by with those 3 junk carbs and we could try and pirate the linkages to make the one I gave you with the motor work right again.

f-85

Nice! Sounds like a plan!

f-85

I forgot i had a old small holley air cleaner. We just tested it out. And the hood fits!

J-(Chicago)

WIN!

Olds64

That is very cool. I bet it will be a blast to drive, especially since the 2 speed was going out on it before the engine swap. BTW, don't Buick engines look funny without the oil filler up front?

citcapp

That Buick will be a for sure sleeper. Suprise, suprise Camero

f-85

The car is fun. Only auto car ive driven that would chirp 3rd gear.

yep the buick engine is alittle odd. But it does have lots of power. Its just a stock 72 350 engine. Imagine if we would have put a built motor in it.

f-85

I wish we would get the chance to run it against a camero, or mustang. But my buddy is selling the car now. He listed it on ebay last night. He has way to many projects. And to get this little buick where he would want it would just be a waist of cash. the car would never be worth the investment. We are poor sons of b*tchs. And need to spend our money wisely. he has a 66 GMC we are about to strip down and paint, also he is going to buy my drag car i want (64-65 cutlass) and trade me for m 64 Super 88. Then he wants a 50s Olds to turn into a drag car. He is working on building a 455 E-85 motor for that. LOL its kind of funny we both have our racing engines lined up, but no cars! LOL

ent72olds

Nice work on the buick! My second choice next to Olds...at least it's not a chebby!

f-85

Thanks!