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Buick 400-430-455 Engine Specifications and Blueprinting


 
 
Buick 430

General Specifications for the 1968 400/430 and 1970 Buick 455 Cubic Inch Engines. The following information has been directly complied from original Buick service manuals for the respective year of vehicle manufacture.

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BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

Use a reliable torque wrench to obtain the figures listed below. This will prevent straining or distorting the parts as well as preventing thread damage. These specifications are for clean and lightly lubricated threads only. Dry or dirty threads produce friction which prevents accurate measurement of the actual torque. It is important that these specifications be strictly observed. Over tightening can damage threads. This will prevent attainment of the proper torque and will require replacement of the damaged part.

Area Lb. Ft.
Spark Plugs 15
Crankshaft Bearing Caps to Cylinder Block 110
Connecting Rods 45
Cylinder Head to Cylinder Block 100
Harmonic Balancer to Crankshaft 200 Minimum
Fan Driving Pulley to Harmonic Balancer 23
Flywheel to Crankshaft (Auto. & Manual) 60
Oil Pan Baffle to Cylinder Block 455-13, 400/430-8
Oil Pan to Cylinder Block 14
Oil Pan Drain Plug 30
Oil Pump Cover to Timing Chain Cover 10
Oil Pump Pressure Regulator Retainer 455-35, 400/430-25
Oil Pick-Up Tube & Screen Housing Assembly to Oil Pump 8
Oil Gallery Plugs 25
Oil Pressure Switch to Cylinder Block 455-23, 400/430-25
Oil Filter to Cylinder Block 455-13, 400/430-12
Timing Chain Cover to Block 455-29, 400/430-30
Water Pump Cover to Timing Chain Cover 455-7, 400/430-8
Fan Driven Pulley 20
Thermostat Housing to Intake Manifold 20
Automatic Choke Cover to Intake Manifold 8
Intake Manifold to Cylinder Head 455-55, 400/430-50
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head 18
Carburetor to Intake Manifold 455-13, 400/430-12
Fuel Pump to Cylinder Block 20
Motor Mount to Cylinder Block 455-63, 400/430-70
Fuel Pump Eccentric and Timing Chain Sprocket to Camshaft 22
Rocker Arm Cover to Cylinder Head 4
Rocker Arm Shaft to Cylinder Head 455-25, 400/430-30
Delcotron Bracket to Cylinder Head 35
Delcotron Adjusting Mounting Bracket to Cylinder Head 455-35, 400/430-22
Delcotron Mounting Bracket Thru Delcotron to Cylinder Head at Pivot Location 35
Starting Motor to Block 35
Starting Motor Brace to Block 11
Starting Motor Brace to Starter 11
Distributor Hold-Down Clamp 455-13, 400/430-12
Flywheel Housing to Cylinder Block 35
Automatic Lower Flywheel Housing Plate 4

Buick 400-430-455 Head bolt torque pattern.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

General
  400-4 430-4 455-4 455-4, Stage I 455-4
Code Number Prefix PR PD SR SS SF
Export Code Number Prefix N/A PE N/A N/A N/A
Engine Type
90° V-8
Bore and Stroke 4.040 x 3.900 4.1875 x 3.900 4.3125 x 3.900 4.3125 x 3.900 4.3125 x 3.900
Piston Displacement 400 cu. in. 430 cu. in. 455 cu. in. 455 cu. in. 455 cu. in.
Carburetor Type
4 BBL.
Compression Ratio 10.25:1 10.25:1 10.0:1 10.50:1 10.0:1
Gasoline Requirements
Premium
Brake Horsepower @ RPM 340@5000 360@5000 350@4600 360@4600 370@4600
Maximum Torque @ RPM 440@3200 475@3200 510@2600 510@2600 510@2800
Taxable Horsepower 51.91 56.1 59.5 59.5 59.5
Octane Requirements - Motor
90
Octane Requirements - Research
99
Cylinder Numbers - Front to Rear - Left Bank
1-3-5-7
Cylinder Numbers - Front to Rear - center Bank
2-4-6-8
Firing Order
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

Piston and Pin Specifications
Piston Material Cast Aluminum Alloy
Type Divorced Skirt
Finish Cam Ground
Piston Pins  
     Material Extruded SAE-1018
     Type Pressed in Rod

Connecting Rods
Material 400/430 Forged - SAE-1141 Steel, 455 SAE-1053
Rod Bearing Removable Steel Backed M/400

Ring Specifications
#1 Compression Cast Iron Molybdenum Coated
#2 Compression Cast Iron-Lubricated
Oil Control SAE-1070 Steel-Chrome Plated
Oil Ring Expander Abutment Type
Ring Locations Above Pin

Crankshaft Specifications
Material Nodular Iron
Bearing Material Steel Backed M/400 Aluminum - #5 Durex M/100A
Bearing Taking End Thrust #3

Camshaft Specifications
Material Cast Alloy Iron
Bearings Steel Backed Babbitt
Number of Bearings 5
Drive Chain
Number of Links 48
Crankshaft Sprocket Sintered Iron
Camshaft Sprocket Nylon Coated Aluminum

Valve Specifications
Intake Valve Material Aluminized Face and Chrome Flash Stem SAE 1041 Steel
Exhaust Valve Material Aluminized Face and Chrome Flash Stem GN-N82152 (21-4N)
Valve Lifter Mechanism Hydraulic
Valve Spring Single Helical



Lubrication System Specifications
Type of Lubrication  
     Main Bearings Pressure
     Connecting Rods Pressure
     Piston Pins Splash
     Camshaft Bearing Pressure
     Timing Chain Drip from Front Cam Bearing
     Cylinder Walls Splash & Nozzle
Oil Pump Type Gear Driven
Normal Oil Pressure 40 Ibs. @ 2400 RPM
Oil Pressure Sending Unit Electrical
Oil Intake Stationary
Oil Filter System Full Flow
Filler Type Throw-Away Element & Can
Crankcase Capacity  
     Less Filter 4 qts.
     With Filter 5 qts.

Cooling System Specifications
System Type Pressure
Radiator Cap Relief Pressure 15 psi
Thermostat Choke Type Opening at 190°
Water Pump Type Centrifugal
     GPM @ RPM 15 @ 1000
     Drive V-Belt
     Bearings Double Row
By-Pass Recirculation Type Internal
Cooling System Capacities  
With Heater 400-16.2 qts., 430-16.7 qts., 455-19.7 qts.
With Air Conditioning 400-16.7 qts, 430-17.0 qts., 455-20.0 qts.
Fan Diameter and Number of Blades  
18"X4
GS400 Less AC, GS455
Wildcat Less AC
Electra Less AC
18"X7
GS400 With AC
GS455 With AC
Riviera Less AC
20"X5
Wildcat With AC
Electra With AC
Riviera With AC
Fan Drive  
     Less AC Water Pump Shaft
     With AC 400/430 Thermostatic Controlled Clutch
455 Torque and Temperature Sensitive Clutch

Engine Dimensions and Fits
Piston Clearance Limits*
  400 Cu. In. 430 Cu. In. 455 Cu. In.
Top Land .034-.042 .0343-.0423 .0343-.0423
Skirt - Top .0007-.0013 .0007-.0013 .0007-.0013
Skirt - Bottom .0017-.0033 .0017-.0033 .0017-.0033
Ring Groove
     #1 - Compression Ring .2090-.2165 .2090-.2165 .2090-.2165
     #2 - Compression Ring .2115-.2190 .2115-.2190 .2115-.2190
     #3 - Oil Ring .1815-.1890 .1815-.1890 .1815-.1890
Ring Width
     #1 - Compression Ring .077-.078 .077-.078 .077-.078
     #2 - Compression Ring .077-.078 .077-.078 .077-.078
     #3 - Oil Ring .023-.025 .023-.025 .023-.025
Ring Gap
     #1 - Compression Ring .013-.023 .013-.023 .013-.023
     #2 - Compression Ring .013-.023 .013-.023 .013-.023
     #3 - Oil Ring .015-.055 .015-.055 .015-.055
Piston Pin Length 3.520 3.520 3.520
Diameter of Pin .9994-.9997 .9994-.9997 .9994-.9997
Clearance
     In Piston .0001-.0004 .0001-.0004 .0001-.0004
     In Rod .00075-.00125
press
.00075-.00125
press
.00075-.00125
press
Direction & Amount Offset in Piston
.060 Offset
Major Thrust
.060 Offset
Major Thrust
.060 Offset
Major Thrust
*A11 Measurements in Inches Unless Otherwise Specified.

Connecting Rod Specifications
  400 Cu. In. 430 Cu. In. 455 Cu. In.
Bearing Length
.821
.821
.821
Bearing Clearance (Limits)
.0002-.0023
.0002-.0023
.0002-.0023
End Play-Total for Both Rods
.005-.012
.005-.012
.005-.012

Crankshaft Specifications 400/430/455
End Play at Thrust Bearing .003-.009
Main Bearing Journal Diameter 3.25
Crank pin Journal Diameter 2.249-2.250
Main Bearing Overall Length
     #1 .865
     #2 .865
     #3 1.057
     #4 .865
     #5 1.143
Main Bearing to Journal Clearance .0007-.0018
Bearing Journal Diameter
     #1 1.785-1.786
     #2 1.785-1.786
     #3 1.785-1.786
     #4 1.785-1.786
     #5 1.785-1.786

Valve System Specifications
Rocker Arm Ratio 1967-68 400/430 - 1.59 to 1, aluminum
1969-70, 400/455 - 1.54 to 1, stamped steel
1971+, 455 - 1.6 to 1, stamped steel
Rocker Arm Clearance on Shaft .0015-.0030
Valve Lifter Diameter .8427-.8422
Valve Lifter Clearance in Crankcase .0008-.0023
Valve Lifter Leak down Rate 12 to 60 Sec. in Test Fixture
Intake Valve
     Head Diameter 2.000
     Seat Angle 45°
     Stem Diameter .3725 ± .0005-Max. Allowable Taper to be .0003 with Smallest Dia. @ Valve Head End
     Clearance in Guide .0015-.0035 & .0003 Max. Taper
Valve Stem Height 2.0320"-2.0620", some 2.0900" - 2.1200
     Valve Spring
     Valve Closed - Pounds @ Length 72 ± 5@1.890
     Valve Open - Pounds @ Length 177 ± 7@1.450
Exhaust Valve
     Head Diameter 1.625
     Seat Angle 45°
     Stem Diameter 400/430, .3723 Min, and .3730 Max
     Clearance in Guide .0015-.0032 & .0002 Max. Taper
Valve Stem Height 2.0320"-2.0620", some 2.0900" - 2.1200
Valve Spring (Inner)
     Valve Closed - Pounds @ Length 72 ± 5@1.890
     Valve Open - Pounds @ Length 177 ± 7@1.450

Additional Blueprint Specifications for the Buick 400/430/455
Cubic Inches Bore Stroke Rod Length Rod Width Rod/Stroke Ratio Bore/Stroke Ratio Bore Spacing Deck Height
400 4.040 3.900 6.607 0.928 1.6923 1.0359 4.750 10.57
430 4.1875 3.900 6.607 0.928 1.6923 1.0737 4.750 10.57
455 4.3125 3.900 6.607 0.928 1.6923 1.1058 4.750 10.57
Buick 400/430/455 rear Main Seal, use Fel-Pro BS 30135 (Ford 200 L6) seal, or Fel-Pro BS40012 (Caddilac 472 May nead trim).