engine question

[69larkcustom]

Hey all,

New to the site. i have a buick engine question for all of you. I just recently bought a 1969 Buick Skylark Custom. It doesn't have the original engine in it, but I did get the original engine in the purchase. I was told that the engine in it is a 350 Stage 1 from another Buick I believe he said it was from a mid to late 70's, and that the only way he found out it was a stage 1 was because of the hardened connecting rods. supposedly the stage 1 350 had a harder(?) connecting rod than the regular 350. Is this true? did they make a 350 stage 1 at all or is it just a regular 350 with higher performance rods?

I plan on freshening up the motor and possibly selling it and using the money to do what little has to be done to get the car back to original. If i do sell the motor I want to be able to tell a potential customer what the motor is for sure.

F.Y.I. i haven't checked the numbers on the motor yet just cause I've only had the car since last thurs. and haven't had a chance to yet. It's sitting at the garage that me and my father own and just two days ago got it running.

Thanks for any help that any of you can give

Ryan

[bob k. mando]

I was told that the engine in it is a 350 Stage 1

false. there is no such thing as a 'Stage' small block in the Buick family.

not that these can't make great motors (the infamous vette killing turbo v6 of the mid-80's is based on this block) but it's not all that in stock form.

the 1970 350v8 was factory rated at 315hp but any post 75 engine would be under 200hp.

supposedly the stage 1 350 had a harder(?) connecting rod than the regular 350. Is this true?

true AND false. later (newer) model year 350's came with capscrew rods which are considerably stronger than the early 70's / late 60's rods. i'm not sure when the factory made the changeover though.

the capscrew rods applies to ALL of the Buick 350's once they were introduced though.

look here for ID numbers:
http://www.buicks.net/shop/engine_ident.html

look here for casting numbers:
http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference...g_numbers.html
http://www.gesslerheadporting.com/members/gesslerheadporting/ghp.nsf/822dcaaaa26c6da985256dd80023623d/8464cf4d587de6d085256e47001720b1!OpenDocument
http://www.gesslerheadporting.com/members/gesslerheadporting/ghp.nsf/822dcaaaa26c6da985256dd80023623d/7f3f173a509bfb4d85256e47001a8afa!OpenDocument

[69larkcustom]

hey

thx for the helpful information. at least now i know what i've got and what i can call it truthfully.

[bob k. mando]

you're welcome.