The Old Guy

There are adapters available,but if you change the trans, you must also do major surgery on the rear end. You must convert to open drive and that entails a 4 link or something comparable. If you are going to all that trouble, why not put in a 700-R4 or 200-4R overdrive?

There are actually 3 straight 8 engines. The 248CI and the 263CI from 1950 up will interchange. The 320 CI is longer and would take major surgery to fit in the 40 series. The 263 has inserted bearings and hyraulic lifters and makes a GREAT engine in the early cars. I have one in my 1940, and drive it everywhere at 70+ MPH .The biggest drawback to these cars is the rear end gearing. The tallest gear you can get for a 37 is a 3.6, and they are VERY hard to find. There are places that will install an overdrive in your torque tube drive, and that is probably the simplest way out. The 1941-42 Buicks had dual carbs, and you can still find them on E- bay occasionally.

It did not come from the factory with an overdrive, but numerous people have had them installed. If it is indeed an overdrive ,it will make the car much more comfortable to drive. You will not always be looking to see if you are in high gear ,as the engine RPM will be dramatically lower. The only caveat is to remember that your Buick will go better than it will stop!

I have put 101,000 miles on my 1940 Buick ,and have never used an additive. It still runs just fine.

You are fortunate to have 98 octane available. We have 93 octane as the highest available here. The Buick engines have a higher nickel content than most cast iron, consequently they do not suffer valve recession like many others. Lead additives are not necessary .Your Buick should run fine on 92-93 octane without lead.

I would check the fuel pressure. It sounds to me like you do not have a fuel pump that is delivering enough.

WD-40 is a water displacement oil. If you can find some Kroil or PB-Blaster, you will have MUCH better luck freeing up the different parts. Keep up the good work

I bought my first old Buick because my boys wanted to take my L88 powered Model a roadster pickup to school. That convinced me that I should explore other facets of the automotive hobby. I then purchased a 37 Chevy 2dr sedan ,and found that trying to put a wife ,6 children and a mother in law in it was like trying to stuff a phone booth. I heard of a 1932 model 97 Buick in Missouri, and bought it sight unseen . That started my involvement with the BCA, and I have been hooked on Buicks ever since. Living in the Flint area also gave me a wonderful group of Buick fanatics to hang out with, and I guess I'll stick with them.

I also have a 69 GS hood in Michigan . It has all the trim, and is $225

Sid, if it is an exhaust leak ,you can pour some kerosene or fuel oil in the carb with the engine at a high idle (2000 RPM) ,and watch to see where the smoke comes out. I have use this method for years, C-YA in Sedona

Your engine is the 248 ,and the other is a 263. I would say though that if your engine balancer did not use your balancer when he balanced your engine, that it is NOT externally balanced. The V8s were externally balanced,and the different CI engines had a different amount of off balance incorporated into the balancer. It was visually noticable. If both balancers look symetrical, I would say "go for it"

I am going to copy this to some GM people,and see what they have to say!

Sid, I got a 69 Sport Wagon a couple of years ago ,and LOVE it!! I don't think you can go wrong for the price

I run 90-140 in my 1940, and have NEVER had a problem. The trans has over 100,000 since I cleaned it out, and the rear end was changed for a different ratio about 25,000 miles ago. ANY GOOD GRADE IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE PRODUCTS OF 65 YEARS AGO.

I had my 37 and my 69 out for a ride,and hauled parts to a swap meet in my 69 Sport Wagon. I think Robberbach is being a "little" facetious, as the "frost laws pertain to moving heavy equipment when the frost is still in the ground. Buicks are heavy,but not THAT heavy

Dick Sweeny is VERY involved with the ROA, and also the BCA. He did a good job filling Cecil Don's post , and should have a board seat for a full session. IMHO

I am not familiar with those lights, but they will allow blue dot tail lights and halogen headlights ,so you should be OK

If you put the FM reciever in the glove box , you should be OK. I have a later radio in the glove box of my 40, and they haven't said anything.

I agree with the other members of this forum. I pulled a 1954 17 foot Airstream all over the country with my 57 Caballero. The only upgrades to the car were a trans cooler,radial tires ,halogen headlights, and air shocks' I did have a class 3 hitch and reciever with the load bars. I never experienced any trouble, but that extra 7 feet is just a "little" scary. I also pulled a 1935 "Covered Wagon" to California with a 32 model 97, but that was back in 1976, and I don't think i would attempt it now, as the traffic is much worse, and noone seems to have any patience anymore!

In our chapter of the BCA, we have a"technical advisor" .Anyone that needs help can ask him,and if he doesn't know the answer, he usually knows who to ask for help. This has worked well for us.

The stock exhaust manifold will cost $600 to replace. the dual exhaust from the 41-42 will dump the front pipe into the motor mount,so if you have your manifold opened up for duals, you will have them forever unless you want to weld the hole up

53 was the first year for the V8, and they had some wrist pin problems. If the engine has a rattle at idle, be careful! That is the last year for the "woodie" from Buick, and they were a BEAUTIFUL car.

I had a set that said "KUICK" that I ran on my 40 for years.

I drove the 69 Sport Wagon to Plano which is three times as far as Batavia from my home, and I installed a 200-4R overdrive in it last fall just to help the fuel economy. I will be there "Be the good Lord willin' ,and the creek don't rise",but I am driving my "modified to promote the new division.

I have a 350 in my 69 Sport Wagon, and with the 200-4R it makes a GREAT combination