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Thread: Identificatoin and open centre diff

  1. #1

    Identification and open centre diff

    Hi All,

    I have been googling a fair bit and it always takes me to this forum so I thought I would go to those in the know.

    I have aquired a Buick 8 of unknown year or even engine number. (any hints from the pics of what year? I think 51) I am going to give it a scrub up this weekend to see if I can find any numbers. One side as you can tell is filthy.

    Where I am these engines arent very popular so I am trouble finding a rear end to suit. I want to keep the gearbox so not have to muck around with adapters and later model gearboxes. Does anyone know what is needed to convert to an open centre diff? From what it looks like to me the flange on the end doesnt spin and just holds a bearing which lets the splined centre move. Am I close on that one or way off?

    Thanks in advance.

    Regards

    Damo





    Last edited by dmulally; 10-19-2011 at 09:00 PM.

  2. #2
    Have a look in the reference area for information on where to find the numbers you want.

    I would suggest that the best way to change to an open rear is with a transmission conversion kit. That improves the whole perfomance of the engine.

    Let us know what you find!


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  3. #3
    Join Date
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    It's a 50-53 Buick 263 CID straight eight with the small 3 three speed. They came with a closed driveline.
    I'm a member of P.E.T.A.
    People Eating Tasty Animals
    There's no nookie like chinookie
    No butts like halibuts
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  4. #4
    Thanks Bob. Im guessing you mean this?

    http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference..._ident_52.html

    I couldnt find it on the site but google got me back here.

    Looks like its on the greasy side. I have been playing with old lumps for a while but even I am shocked at how heavy this bad boy is. I have a racing car that weighs 70kgs less than this...this...thing.

    As soon as I identify, I will ship out most of an egge rebuild kit and start tickling the compression to see what happens.

    Anybody have a starter that they dont need and want to sell?

    Cheers

    Damo

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by JR9162 View Post
    It's a 50-53 Buick 263 CID straight eight with the small 3 three speed. They came with a closed driveline.
    Thanks Mate. Now I now where to go digging for the number.

  6. #6
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    Contact http://www.buickclub.org.au/
    A guy in Sydney, Ron ??, sells Buicks parts.
    When better Automobiles were built, Buick built Straight 8's

    Buick Club of America
    and Buick Club of Australia

  7. #7
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    Here's a couple of good resources for the transmission conversion etc...


    http://www.webrodder.com/article.php?AID=235&SID=6


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid...fzE&feature=iv

  8. #8
    That is the old one, I would suggest the TeamBuick reference area linked to above and going to Identification, Identification by the Numbers:
    http://www.teambuick.com/forums/view...=indent_engine


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  9. #9
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    Dec 2011
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    SanFran CA
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    Converting to open drive

    Quote Originally Posted by dmulally View Post
    I want to keep the gearbox so not have to muck around with adapters and later model gearboxes. Does anyone know what is needed to convert to an open centre diff? From what it looks like to me the flange on the end doesnt spin and just holds a bearing which lets the splined centre move. Am I close on that one or way off?
    If you like the 3-speed and want to keep it, a similar version was made for open drive cars. Look at Pontiacs through 1954, Olds eights through 1948, and Olds sixes through 1950. All of these have the same bolt pattern in front and will bolt to your bellhousing without an adaptor.

    It will probably be the least amount of work to swap the complete gearbox if the input shafts match up. They are all 1-1/8" 10 spline and of generally similar length, but I can't say for certain that they are identical. If the shafts don't match, either swap your present input or swap the output shaft and tail housing. Transmissions made before about 1939 have top shifters, and one of those might be more useful than the column shift type if you are building a rod.

    Ray

  10. #10
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    The engine you have is a 1948, possibly a 49, 248 out of a Special. What dates it as a 48 is the side mounts on the block which came into use in 48. Prior to the side mounts all str8's used the front mounts located on a plate bolted to the front of the engine. The lack of "ribs" on the exposed cylinder walls under the manifolds is the dead givaway that it is a 248, not a 263. The air cleaner mounting is also '48 style, in '49 and on, the air cleaner went across the engine. The manual trans commonly came in Specials, Supers mostly got dynaflows. alleycat

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