Buick 430 swap results

[bigblack'74]

I just wanted to post a couple notes about this motor swap now that it is complete.. This motor is a stock lower end with rebuilt heads.. it has factory everything but the points were changed to accell race points and acell coil and taylor wires. With that said the power is really outragous. This is in comparison to both a heavily built 401 and heavily built 360 that i had in the jeep previously... the buick is like a whole different class of motor. I have fogotten the specs but they are huge from the factory at the crank...the power though is not really smooth power... when the 4bbls open it just almost busts the motor mounts and comes out.. it is really kinda feaky..i have never had a big block in a jeep and it is really a new feeling..i am gonna try to post some video sometime in the next week or so.. if you have ever thought about this swap.. just go a head and do it... no freaking way you can build any amc for this cheap to make this kinda power...if anyone has questions feel free to ask.. i have some pictures but mostly notes and i can take pics of the all the stuff i had to frabricate.. anyhow I am pleased.. go buick ;)

[PlumCrazy]

Ohhhhhhhh yeah Buick Power...now you need the aluminum valve covers I have in the for sale section.

Wayne S

[War Wagon]

Buicks Rule. :thumbsup:

[Elliott]

Are those heavier then the 455?

[incommando]

I have always loved the 430. I think it was Buick's best motor.

I think they weigh the same as the 455 and are of the same family. Doesn't a big buick weigh about what a sbc weighs???

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Almost everything from the 455 will interchange with the 430 except for pistons..........they are light, 600 LBS

[bigblack'74]

yeah the front didnt sag down anymore than with the 360... it was really a good thing ;)

[Mikel]

I have always loved the 430. I think it was Buick's best motor.


Is the 430 similar in configuration to the Olds 425 (Big bore, shortish stroke, excellent high RPM capabilities)?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Is the 430 similar in configuration to the Olds 425 (Big bore, shortish stroke, excellent high RPM capabilities)?

Not sure what the OLDS did, but the Buick 430 and Buick 455 share the same stroke 3.900. 430 has a bore of 4.1875 the 455 a bore 4.3125

[incommando]

The Olds used a 4.126 bore on a 3.975 stroke, so they are similar but the Buick's stroke is actually a tad shorter.

For my money, some of the best motors were all in this displacement range:

Ford = 427/428/429

Chevy = 427

Pontiac = 421/428

Buick = 425/430

Olds = 425

Mopar = 426

I think if Buicks had been a tad easier on the wallet, a lot more of them would have been hot rodded.

[fulsizjeep]

On the Mopar, is that a wedgie or a hemi? ;) The elephant was a monster and tedious with tuning. Out of the box, a 440 Magnum is hard to beat. That list looks pretty good and I would also include AMC 401 and IH 392 too. :cool:

Trevor - You have some pix yet? (maybe I missed them if you do) Glad to hear that monster is working out for you. :thumbsup:

[wao]

Finally I've found someone who has done this swap. I'm putting a 1970 455 in my 1969 Super Wagoneer. The big question is how did you do the motor mounts? It appears to be a couple of inches wider than the current 350 buick. Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated.

[Elliott]

Finally I've found someone who has done this swap. I'm putting a 1970 455 in my 1969 Super Wagoneer. The big question is how did you do the motor mounts? It appears to be a couple of inches wider than the current 350 buick. Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated.

From pics I've seen of a 455 install, the Buick mounts were just sectioned to fit the width.

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Users/Elliott/Buick455Swap1.JPG

http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Users/Elliott/Buick455Swap5.JPG

[dlowrance]

The big question is how did you do the motor mounts? It appears to be a couple of inches wider than the current 350 buick. Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated.

I've got a 455 in my Gladiator, and it came stock with the 350 - the PO told me the motor mounts required nothing for the swap....but that's second hand info...I have a 350 on an engine stand right next to the truck, if you need it I can take some measurements to verify...

[wao]

Elliot, thanks for the pictures, nothing like a visual aid. dlowrance, thanks for the offer. I have already procured a second set of mounts I just need to decide how I'm going to section them.

[bigblack'74]

i cut the nose off mine then i welded a tube on the front at proper height so my autotranny shift linkage would keep the stock function and appeance

[FSJeep80]

430 Buicks were all 360hp/490ft/lbs torque. 10.25:1 compression. The 430 heads can be used with 455s up to 72 (73-76 have integral AIR ports in the heads). The valvetrain in not interchangable though,430 has aluminum adj. rockers and oil through the heads. 455s have stamped steel rockers and oil through the pushrods. 430s have better ports in the heads and are awesome when fitted with Stage 1 valves. 430s also have better exhaust manifolds with seperate internal runners. I just sold my last one (out of a `68 Wildcat) a few months ago. Some years ago I have one in a `67 GS-400 GranSport and a `70 Firebird. :thumbsup: Great motors! FSJeep80

[incommando]

On the Mopar, is that a wedgie or a hemi? ;) The elephant was a monster and tedious with tuning. Out of the box, a 440 Magnum is hard to beat. That list looks pretty good and I would also include AMC 401 and IH 392 too. :cool:

Trevor - You have some pix yet? (maybe I missed them if you do) Glad to hear that monster is working out for you. :thumbsup:

Hijack on: I was honestly thinking of the wedge. The hemi seemed to be a novelty on the street, and I have heard what you said about the 440 vs hemi for the street a bunch of times. I run a 440 in my road runner, but it is a drag car.

The neatest looking motors IMHO are the 427 Ford & the 426 Hemi.

Hijack off:

Stupid questions: what color were the Jeep/buick 350's painted?