little engine info neede, buick 350

[68_Gladiator]

what year heads and intake manifold will fit the buick 350 in my 68 gladiator? what year cars should i be looking for if parts are neede? thanks

[Tad]

IIRC (and you should ask Wayne-PlumCrazy, he remembers way more than I forget) up through '77 will all swap but there are some valve train/oiling changes that happen in or around 1970.
Some good info can probably be found here...
http://www.v8buick.com/index.php

[PlumCrazy]

IIRC (and you should ask Wayne-PlumCrazy, he remembers way more than I forget) up through '77 will all swap but there are some valve train/oiling changes that happen in or around 1970.
Some good info can probably be found here...
http://www.v8buick.com/index.php

Wow Tad...I appreciate that :D

You called it on the nose, up to 77 will swap out without too much trouble, but I like motors around the 68-72 era.

Otherwise stick to those prior to 75 for the higher nickle content (or so I was informed a few months ago) and if you have to find new stuff, tell the counter robots you have a Skylark and they can work magic with those neat 'puter boxes. A real good store will have what used to be called "books" that will actually say you have a Buick motor in a Jeep.:rolleyes:

If you need to rebuild your motor, don't let anyone tell you that you "need hardened seats on your heads"...them suckers are pretty hard already.

Check the archives for this post on oil pressure, it's a common problem on Buicks.
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=56544

For a power boost, either drop on a stock 4bbl or go aftermarket. Either way is win-win on power and gas mileage...I pulled a Freightliner and am getting a solid 20 mpg:thumbsup:

Get rid of your points! Pertronix is pretty good (part # 1181) if you want to maintain the "stock" look or drop on a later HEI.

The bugger-bear for the Buick motor is the upper radiator hose (Gates 20763). If you can find one, get it for a spare and if you can find two your dang lucky! I use the universal hose for the bottom (1222)

The two "normal" belts are Gates 7525 (PS) and 7455 (ALT), your PVC is a common AutoShack part PVC118 (grommet is 42065), your oil filter is PF24 (or Fram PH25) and your air cleaner should be A329C (AC Delco)



Umm lets see:Intake manifold gaskets are MS 96006
Head gaskets are HS 8264 PT-1
Headlight switch is Wells SW210
Ignition switch is Borg-Warner CS85


Anything else you might need, jump on the Buick site and tell 'em your Buick is in a Jeep:fsj:

Wayne S

[james1414d]

let me help you all a bit. 68-69 heads are oiled a little different then the later style. ive put 70 gs heads on my wagoneer. they are the best for the 350. 68-69 heads oil through the rocker assembaly. later buick 350 heads oil through the lifters/pushrods like a normal engine. if you put 70 and later heads, you need to switch to 70 and later lifters, pushrods, rockers, rocker shafts and the all importian nylon(puke) rocker keepers. the head gaskets will be spicific to 69 and earlier or 70 and later. FYI ask how i know you need to install them properly ! if they are backward you will puke coolant right away.

[PlumCrazy]

Good call James...wasn't thinking about the little things that can sneak up on you between the 60's and 70's.
Another nice to know is that 4bbl heads and 2bbl heads are the same casting number for each year.

Wayne S

[Tad]

James,
Thanks for the breakdown on the heads and oiling system.
That's actually the first time I have read and understood that.

The Buick/GM HEI is also a nice upgrade but there are interference problems with the Jeep power steering/AC bracketry.
It didn't take me more than a week to source a complete set of Buick brackets and pulleys on EBay for the Wag B350 that sits in the J2000 now, along with the correct water pump.

I've been runing the '71 Skylark 350 for 5 years now and have been very happy with it (HEI is all I have ever done to it besides rebuild the Qjet).

[fulsizjeep]

slight hijack... but maybe worth it...
I have a free 350 in a 69 Wag over here:
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=77352