Guest Posted November 17, 2000 Share Posted November 17, 2000 I'm searching salvage yards for a Buick 455. How can I tell they aren't trying to push an Olds or Pontiac 455 instead? <BR> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest grisby Posted November 17, 2000 Share Posted November 17, 2000 One of the easiest and quickest ways to tell ( at least for me) is that the Buick 455's have the distributor in the front, and the valve covers have 5 hold downs. 3 on top on the intake side and 2 on the bottom on the exhaust manifold side.<BR>hope this helps<BR>bill g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 17, 2000 Share Posted November 17, 2000 1. buick and caddy have front distributor. all other gms have rear.<P>you can tell the caddy, cause all the spark plugs are pointing slightly toward the front of the car. buick plugs alternate pointing front and rear. caddies also have a shorter distributor cap.<P>2. the buick 350 is basically identical to the 455 on the outside. there is a simple way to tell the difference, though, on the back of the engine, above the top of the tranny mounting surface, is a BIG '455' or '350'.<P>most buick 455 blocks are similar, the heads can differ a good bit, esp. the 1970 model. the year is cast into the side of the engine near the front driver's side. it will say 70 thru 76 in inch tall letters. the 70 model has higher compression, you wont be able to run it without some octane booster.<P>if you can get it, a 74-76 model is nice cause it already has the HEI distributor installed. of course, you can swap the distributors (if you take out the resistor wire). the later models do have crappy exhaust passages in the heads and manifold though. (those can be blocked, however )<P>good luck.<BR>allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2000 Share Posted November 28, 2000 What would you like to know about it, just the year? Yes, the engines of those years were painted as you described. <P>I replied cause kitn0 is unregistered and may not show back up for a while. <P>------------------<BR>George C. Thomas<BR>70 GS 455 12.teens<BR>86 GN Low 13's/ high 12's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2000 Share Posted November 28, 2000 you seen to know a lot about 455's, i have an<BR>engine that i think is a 75 or 76, the code is SO i think, and it was originally painted<BR>a greenish color, can you help me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2000 Share Posted December 3, 2000 just wanted to augment something that someone said... Many caddys have forward pointing plugs on both sides, but the 5200 family (identifyable by the casting number engine in "5200") which includes 500, 472, and 390-something, have mirror-image heads. All four plugs on the passenger side point backwards, and all four on the drivers side point forward. Caddys are easy to tell by the straight up water neck, evenly spaced ports, and lack of bracketry. Knowing that all Caddys came equipped with everything, they designed the block and heads with proper bolt holes. There are a few brackets but not alot. Dipstick is on the drivers side, between the block and ex. manifold. Waterpump boss is well protruding from the block...like 3-4 inches. AC compressor (if any) is mounted top center above the intake. The intake itself is a key to the caddy. It sits so low that the runners actually have to curve up before entering the ports. Personally, for not much more size, alot more nickel in the block, and less money AND about 200 fewer pounds...I'd go with the caddy 500. I did in my 66 Bonny and I get 370 hp, 630 ft-lbs of torque, a redline of 3800 rpms and 18 mpgs on 87 octane. No replacement for displacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camsbuick Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 i have several 455's want to build one for my 59'buick ,which is the better motor buick or olds, the years range from 70-74 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrod 84 lesabre Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 i'd go 72-74,or even better... the 430 buick!10:1 compresion,lots a potential.i have one in my 84 le sabre 4 door,got 500 hp,w/ alumunum heads wild cam,boy,it hauls!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camsbuick Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 i dont have access to a 430, all 455's i looked up the hp of both buick and olds, books i have say early 70's olds range around 320 hp ant the buick only around 250hp, any truth? my choices are a 73 buick 455 siezed but ran when i pulled it, or 74' olds 455 not siezed but has j heads. also which breed will have cheaper, and accessable performance parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrod 84 lesabre Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 nah,the buick would be better,TA performance is the best source for parts,www.taperformance.com480-922-6807(orders)480-922-6808(tech) they are willing to help you build the buick engine you want! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Art Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 When you put your 455 Buick in the LeSabre, I assume you replaced a 307 Olds. Isn't the starter and related wiring on the passenger side for the Buick engine vs the Olds being on the driver's side? Did switching that over cause much of a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrod 84 lesabre Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 nope all went well.have done several of these swaps. yes i replaced a 307 boat anchor.i installed a 1968 430 in this one.new heavy duty 4 row radiator installed to help it cool better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camsbuick Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 will the motor mounts of my 301 match up with my buick 455? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrod 84 lesabre Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 i'd set the 455 in the frame and see where it will sit,then drill any holes,if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe Racicot Posted January 15, 2005 Share Posted January 15, 2005 Which engines had the highest nickel content? I have seen on this web site: http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofeng.htm#Engines%201964%20-%201990 that the nickel content in Olds engines went down in the mid-seventies... Did the same happen to the Buick engines? I have heard that the 1975-76 Buick 455 had a new stronger casting, but did it have reduced nickel content like the Olds? which engines had the most nickel in their Blocks? Cadillac, Buick, Olds, other brands?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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