Found a 344 straight eight engine 1931-35

[Pete Phillips]

A local guy has this straight eight for sale. He did not know what it was, so he called me in to I.D. it. It is a 344 for the big 90-series and 80-series Buicks, 1931-35. Seems to be complete except for the water distribution tube. Looks clean underneath the valve cover, just a light coating of oil which is what you want. Has clean oil and the crankshaft turns. Engine # appears to be 2954556. Can anyone date it from that? What's it worth? Do not know anything about its condition except that it was in an estate sale and looks to have been run not too many years ago, due to having some plastic coated wiring here and there and the clean valve train. I have no use for it, but I might be able to get it for $1500 if anyone is interested. Same guy has a pair of sidemount covers that look like they could be from the same era (1931-35?) Can anyone identify them?

 

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Leonard, TX

[Pete Phillips]

Okay, I just learned that if the engine has a 3-piece exhaust manifold, it is 1933-35, which is the case here. Before 1933, the big series engines used a 1-piece exhaust manifold.

[sean1997]

The number 2954556 falls into the range for 1935.

[nzcarnerd]

I am guessing that is a big lump which takes some moving.  In the 1970s Buick factory sent me copies of a bunch of information about the Buicks of that era and included was a list of component weights.  From memory that big series engine is about 1100 lb fan to clutch. Even the new 233 small series engine (which continued through to the early 1950s as the 248 etc) is about the same as a later big block V8 at over 750 lb.

[Pete Phillips]

Sean1997,

Thanks for the date information.

Pete

[DAVES_BUICKS]

Pete, the side mount covers look like the one's on my '33 Buick

[Leif Holmberg]

As "sean1997" say,the number 2954556 falls into the range for 1935.  1932 engine numbers starts at 2751922,1933 starts at 2811457,1934 starts at 2861223,no engine start numbers for 1935 on my list.

Leif in Sweden.

[nzcarnerd]

Leif the reason for there being no 1935 starting number in your list might be because the '35 big series cars were a continuation of the 1934 models as a stop gap until the completely new 1936 cars came out in September 1935.  The Standard Catalog does list a starting number for 1935 though; 2922072, through to 2984413.  That covers all of the 50s,60s, and 90s. Total output of 1935 Series 90s was just less than 2,000.

Edited March 11, 2016 by nzcarnerd (see edit history)

[1967 - 1997 Riviera]

What was the final disposition of this engine?

 

For someone who needs a 1935 production 344 cubic inch engine, in what appears to be good+ shape, this is a lucky find.

[Pete Phillips]

The engine is still where I saw it, in the garage of the man who has it for sale.

Pete

[IURII]

Hello Pete,

is engine still available?

I just looking for 344 engine in any condition.

 

Iurii

Edited August 29, 2017 by IURII (see edit history)

[Pete Phillips]

Not available. It was sold last year.