New member taking time to wish everyone well.

Picked up a 50's Buick str 8 with engine ID stamped in front of distributor. 8 digits, starts with 7, ends in 4. Crankshaft flange has been modified. Which size engine is this?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2851.jpeg
    IMG_2851.jpeg
    337.4 KB · Views: 18
  • IMG_2850.jpeg
    IMG_2850.jpeg
    371.7 KB · Views: 18
Welcome,
That number is strange. Do you have pictures of the driver [ left ] side? Need to see the water pump, cylinders and crankcase vent inlet.

Ben
 
Welcome,
That number is strange. Do you have pictures of the driver [ left ] side? Need to see the water pump, cylinders and crankcase vent inlet.

Ben
Thanks for responding so quickly. I thought so myself, I'm thinking its a 263, but I think Buick also made 248's for the Specials in the early 50's, I don't know enough about them to distinguish. Here are some photos of both sides of the block.

Thanks again

Raul
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3287.jpeg
    IMG_3287.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 9
  • IMG_3288.jpeg
    IMG_3288.jpeg
    1 MB · Views: 9
It should be a 263 I believe the 248's last year was '48. BUT who knows someone MAY have changed out the original engine.

Ben is pretty knowledgeable about the straight 8's & late 40's - early 50's Buicks.

Tom T.
 
Thanks for your response. My 49 Super Sedanette has a 248 with hydraulic lifters. I read that the 263's are better but owned one, hopefully I have it.
You know a lot about Nailheads, got a question for you. I heard many years ago that connecting rods from the early 54/nailheads could be used on 40's Buick 320ci straight eights if you wanted to get away from the stock babbitted rods. Is this correct?

Raul
 
Raul, that is a 263 for certain. All 1950 Specials were 248. The last ones. Actually a one year engine.

See the water pump outlet coming around into the side of the block? 1950 and later.
See the "ribs" on the cylinders? 263 only. Post war [ 1946 and later ] engines had the series number as the LAST digit, usually a little more distance than this one. SO, that indicates a Special, 40 series. Since 1950 Special was still a 248, this would be 1951-1953 Special. The 1953 straight eight numbers began with 6,950,620. SO, this engine would have been about 70,000 into 1953 production. Not strange as my first post indicated.

What are the plans for this jewel.

Tom, thanks for the kudos. I have learned most of what I know because of questions such as this.


Ben
Thanks for your response. My 49 Super Sedanette has a 248 with hydraulic lifters. I read that the 263's are better but owned one, hopefully I have it.
You know a lot about Nailheads, got a question for you. I heard many years ago that connecting rods from the early 54/nailheads could be used on 40's Buick 320ci straight eights if you wanted to get away from the stock babbitted rods. Is this correct?

Raul

Raul, I know little about "nail heads". That is a nickname for the 1953-1966 Buick V8. I have never heard of anything from one exchanging with a straight eight.
The straight eight engines, both 248 and 320, received insert rod bearings in 1949. For the 248 all the way back to 1938 , I believe, the 1949- 1950 rods will interchange . I believe the 1949 and later will do the same for the 320.
There are folks that will machine the older rods to accept inserts.

Where do you call home?

Ben
 
Thanks guys,

I picked a dual exhaust manifold setup, and located a third member with better gear ratio from a 55 Roadmaster, but thought it would be better off with a 263 underneath. I've read about 40/50's Buick owners hopping up these 263's for better performance, so I'm leaning towards tinkering with it. Does that crankshaft flange look tampered with? I'm thinking that engine had a Dynaflow attached to it, but a previous owner adaptrd it to a manual transmission
My 48 burns oil, now I'm leaning towards putting a better matched motor in it than overhauling or rebuilding the original motor. I drive that 48 daily, would like to drive it interstate and am tired of the disrespect I get for putting around on the highway at 65mph. I'm in the NorthBay of San Francisco Bay Area.

A 37 Century restorer once told me in the 80's that going to 54 Buick connecting rods on 320ci engines liberates him from having the original rods rebabbitted.

Thanks fellas, you've been most helpful. Have a good weekend. I'll keep you posted on how this all works out.

Best wishes.

Raul
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1666.JPG
    IMG_1666.JPG
    299.8 KB · Views: 5
Back
Top