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Thread: New Guy With a Question ~ (California GS?)

  1. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by bob k. mando View Post

    the 215ci v8 is the forefather of the SBB ( Small Block Buick ) engine family. this family includes the 300, 340 and 350ci Buick engines, as well as all of the Buick v6 engines ( 225, 231, 3.8L, 4.1L, 3800, series I and II ).

    the Buick v6s were derived by knocking the front two cylinders off of the 300ci v8, so they are a shorter deck height than the Buick 340 and 350 although the 231ci has the same bore diameter as a Buick 350.

    less well known ( but we're doing our part to fix that ) is that Buick sold the 215 aluminum tooling and designs to British Leyland back around 1965. Leyland / Land Rover kept the basic v8 engine in production up through 2004, although they converted it to all metric dimensions and called their 215ci a "3.5 Litre". Rover took the displacement up to 4.6L and there other other British manufacturers that licensed the engine and took it out to 5.0 liters. TVR is one of them.

    Yeah, I ran across this story while researching the 231ci. Buick motor. If I remember correctly, it was called the Odd Fire, then the Even Fire/Fireball. Also, it was even used by Jeep somewhere in the story.

  2. #12
    yes, Buick 350s and 225s powered some Kaiser Jeeps back around 1970. AMC wasn't so keen on having a GM power plant.
    The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.
    Vladimir Lenin

    Government schooling is about "the perfect organization of the hive."
    H.H. Goddard, Human Efficiency (1920)

  3. #13
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    Here's a video of me firing here up for the first time in well over 10 years.
    She had a leaky head gasket when I got her.
    I was a young and eager Bench Mechanic at the time.
    I pulled the engine out, gave it a bit of an overhaul and some fresh paint.
    In my haste of rebuilding the top end and putting her back together in my father's driveway....
    I neglected to bolt the torque converter to the flywheel!
    Needless to say, it was a noisy mess when she fired up.
    After bolting it together correctly, the transmission wouldn't go forward.
    She's been immobile ever since. Last winter I found an ST300.
    It came from a an old 60's car that had an electrical fire, and was parted out.
    Got time to put her in last month, no more Switch Pitch though, shucks.
    I installed a push button for the kickdown, so I don't have to go WOT to downshift.



    I had originally titled this video as, "1967 Buick Special".
    Then I did some research, and got some help from you guys . Thanks!
    Going for a body off frame restoration.
    Luckily, I have a engine machine shop in the local community, and it's a very small community.
    I don't know the last time somebody's opened up that that crankcase. So, better safe than sorry.
    I already gave the engine bay a touch-up, rebuilt the carb, cleaned fuel tank, and put on a few new parts.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Sure Shot; 01-20-2019 at 01:12 PM.

  4. #14
    if you're that fixated on the SP, an ST-400 ( mid-60s SP variant of the TH-400 ) will also bolt up to your block. you'll probably have to shorten the driveshaft.

    the 200r4 is your go-to choice if you want OD.
    The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.
    Vladimir Lenin

    Government schooling is about "the perfect organization of the hive."
    H.H. Goddard, Human Efficiency (1920)

  5. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by bob k. mando View Post
    if you're that fixated on the SP, an ST-400 ( mid-60s SP variant of the TH-400 ) will also bolt up to your block. you'll probably have to shorten the driveshaft.

    the 200r4 is your go-to choice if you want OD.
    Thanks, I was wondering if it was possible to take the switch pitch out of my original transmission, and place it in the new one?
    As I understand it, the switch pitch is in the torque convertor and it's activated from inside the housing.

    I have a TH400(not 200r4) lying around, and a 3 speed Saginaw. I don't think I'll like the results of swapping either of them in.
    I have a 4 speed Hurst shifter and nothing to hook it up to.....yet.
    I do enjoy climbing to 65MPH in one gear and would like to know the difference the SP makes.
    The engine didn't run great before the valve job and head gasket change. So, I never got to feel her true power.
    She pulls great now, but I'll be taking the engine out soon. The local machinist can't help but stare as I idle bye to get groceries.
    She has a stock rumble that resembles my 454 big block with a full Edelbrock intake and headers. Not quite, but it's close.
    From the MSD timing advance module, and the Holley 500 carburetor, I'm thinking this girl may have had a little time on the circle track.
    Holley 500's are mandated on some tracks. Maybe that's how she got the new fender, who knows?
    I do have a Quadrajet as well. I'm thinking that is the best way to go. What say you?
    Last edited by Sure Shot; 01-23-2019 at 07:56 AM.

  6. #16
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    I was thinking this might do better than hood scoops.
    The engine is nicknamed, "Wildcat 375".
    It's a California version, and the California's wildcat is, the Mountain Lion.
    I'm no sports fan, but this Sacramento Mountain Lion logo, works for me (with slight alterations).
    I'll be doing it in paint, not decals.
    The third image is the hood I did on my El Camino.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #17
    how are you going to actuate it?

    the OEM SP has a plug on the side of the case and wiring inside the case to convey the position signal to the stator.

    do you think you're up to fabbing something like that? sounds like some machine work to me, getting the signal into the spinning torque convertor.



    I'm thinking this girl may have had a little time on the circle track.

    while it is possible to race oval without touching anything, circle track tends to be heavy on the body contact. had the car been raced for any length of time, it's hard to imagine that they got out of it only needing to replace one fender.

    also, pretty much every racing series requires the removal of all glass ( except, perhaps, the front windscreen ) and exterior plastic. and the interiors get stripped simply to save weight and simplify installing the roll cages. therefore, i doubt that the chassis has seen any time on a circle track at all.

    Holley 500s are a common rule requirement for Street Stock classes, so that may be why the previous owner had one laying around. and, if the engine was used in a race car, it's probably got a cam swap in it. which is why it sounds so lumpy.

    back in the day, Holley also had some 2v 600cfms.


    I do have a Quadrajet as well. I'm thinking that is the best way to go. What say you?

    a properly functioning Quadrajunk will definitely have better part throttle response than that big 2v Holley, because the primaries are smaller. and there's no comparison with WOT, when the secondaries open up. be careful not to overtorque the housing though. they twist easy and then they don't seal up.

    Buicks, both big and small block, tend to like a LOT of carb.

    whil
    The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.
    Vladimir Lenin

    Government schooling is about "the perfect organization of the hive."
    H.H. Goddard, Human Efficiency (1920)

  8. #18
    oh, and i do quite like that paint job.

    but, obviously, at that point you're no longer concerned about "restoring".
    The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.
    Vladimir Lenin

    Government schooling is about "the perfect organization of the hive."
    H.H. Goddard, Human Efficiency (1920)

  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sure Shot View Post
    Thanks, I was wondering if it was possible to take the switch pitch out of my original transmission, and place it in the new one?
    As I understand it, the switch pitch is in the torque convertor and it's activated from inside the housing.
    Yes, you can use the SP parts and add them to any 65 and up 400 transmission. The switch Pitch transmissions use a special front pump and input shaft, the associated wiring, and of course the converter. There is also a passageway in the case that gets plugged with the SP. The SP transmissions also had specific valve body calibrations. You cannot use a SP converter on a fixed pitch transmission, and visa versa. More information below.

    http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/switchpitch.htm

    http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/SPTrans.htm

    http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?thr...-guide.143723/
    Larry

    1970 GS455 Stage1 Race weight 4025 lbs.
    TSP 470, 602 HP, 589 TQ
    MT headers, Gear Vendors Overdrive
    Best E.T. 11.54 Best MPH, 116.06
    1998 Riviera SC3800

  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by bob k. mando View Post
    how are you going to actuate it?
    I still have the linkage, and the old tranny has been in my trunk for over ten years.

    Quote Originally Posted by bob k. mando View Post
    i doubt that the chassis has seen any time on a circle track at all.
    Thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by bob k. mando View Post
    it's probably got a cam swap in it. which is why it sounds so lumpy.
    I was thinking cam swap could have happened, too.


    Quote Originally Posted by bob k. mando View Post
    a properly functioning Quadrajunk will definitely have better part throttle response than that big 2v Holley, because the primaries are smaller. and there's no comparison with WOT, when the secondaries open up. be careful not to overtorque the housing though. they twist easy and then they don't seal up.

    Buicks, both big and small block, tend to like a LOT of carb.
    Thanks, again!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Sure Shot; 01-23-2019 at 12:29 PM.

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