Buick 350?

 

In reply to:

Now, I look at the engine and see that the Distributor (although it looks like a GM HEI) is in the front. I thought every GM 350 had the distributor near the rear of the engine, NOT the front.

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I thought it was a Buick 350 so I ran a search for that and came you with this.

This one is in a `68 Buick GS. Take a look here Jeep Engine: Dauntless Buick 350 V8 Case Closed,

TheBigUgly

 

Ok... it looks like we are going with the Buick.

I have found links that show an engine that looks just like this and I found a site with all the specs for the Buicks 350 engine which did have the distributor in the front. And thanks to the link from one of the replies as well. I learn something new everyday.

Thank you for your quick responses. I think I have all the answers I need.

Thank you, thank you.

 

Well... actually I have one more question. A 77 CJ7 with the Buick 350 instead of the Chevy 350.

Would you have a problem with this engine if you were looking for a CJ7 with a 350 engine? Would it matter to you whether it was a Chevy or a Buick 350?

Thanks

 

As long as you don't think you can throw a chevy 350 in it with adapters it's OK.

 

Well, it's still a Jeep engine in some cases. I know that they are a little more exspensive to get parts for than a Chevy. But, we run them in our enduro(pure stock)race cars and they held up. Also, the page I found the pix from has all kinds of Hi Po ideas for it. I think you said it already has fuel injection? If it works ok, than theres a $900.00 bonus, but, if it has problems like a few guys on the board here, then what? L8r,

TheBigUgly

 

Lindy,

I am not sure I follow. I know the engine works and has been setup to work in this Jeep... I am just curious if the more experienced Jeepers out here... would they be against having the Buick 350 in the CJ.

Meaning... are there major reasons why one would just flat out turn down purchasing a CJ7 with this engine in it if the jeep had everything else they wanted, but they were expecting a Chevy 350 and realized it was a Buick 350. Both being a 350 with good power, would you pass up on that jeep because of the buick.

I know I can later put in a Chevy 350 if this one pukes, but I welcome your opinions!

Greg

 

I'm not sure in what ways the Buick "Dauntless" 350 v8 differs from other Buick v8's, but it was used in jeep trucks like the J10.

More speculation, but aren't Buick, Olds, Pontiac a different bellhousing pattern that Chevy? Did you say there was an adapter between the motor and bellhousing? Just following up on the thought you could later switch to Chevy.

 

The only thing I can think of is that a Buick engine seem to work better with the wide/gangster side wall type Jeep.








Just kiddin... Jeep and Buick go well together

 

I don't know the answer to that. I am not sure if any of the pictures I have show what you are looking for. If it matters the tranny is a T400...

Actually, I not a 100% sure it is the "Dauntless" version or not.

Here are the links to every picture I have so far.

http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages2.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages3.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages4.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages5.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages6.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages7.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages8.html
http://www.geocities.com/gmanhere79/JeepImages9.html

 

Lets start with ....
it IS a buick 350.
it will NOT bolt the same as a chevy.
Thats what I know for fact.
Now beyond that it appears to be a garden basic mid 70's engine out of a car.(75 regal for example) Thats what all the goodies on it look like. They are fine for the offroad purpose. Stock they make more torque at lower than a chevy (that is good) but don't make the RPM as easy either.(not a bad thing so to speak) If it runs good, then it's a fine engine.

 

I did a search on google for "Dauntless 350" and found this thread from Parts Man Mike's forum It's "Dauntless" Take aread on that and they came up with a few ideas. L8r,

TheBigUgly

 

The Buick motor is a little heavier than the Chevy. Dirt Dog is right about the low end torque, plus T400's are a dime a dozen in the Buick, Olds, Pont bolt pattern, but a chevy is not a direct bolt in. Might want to check, but alot of Jeepers ran the Buick because it would bolt in front of the dauntless drive trains without adapters.

The FI is holly and will retro on anthing with a holly pattern manifold.

This is a cool sight, lots of info!!

 

My earlier post should have said "without" an adapter. Sorry for the confusion. It seems lately there has been confusion on Chevy versus BOP engines and the trannies used with them.

 

It is a Buick 350. They are actually lighter than a Chevy 350. The name "Dauntless" was a name coined by Jeep, like the old 327 Rambler engine Jeep used was called "Vigilante." "Huricane" and "Tornado" were other Jeep-coined names for engines they used. Anyway, back to the Buick. There's no difference between the "Dauntless" 350 Jeep used and the 350 that Buick cars had for the same years, which were '68-'70 for Jeep. Buick continued to use their 350 until '79 or '80. It never came with fuel injection. It never came in a J-10. The J trucks back then were called "Gladiators" and had models of J-3000 & J-4000. AMC later changed the models to J-10 & J-20, but this was during the rein of Kaiser. The original Buick 350's had a points-type distributor. The HEI distributor arrived around '75 and could be easily used to replace the points model, (as I have done in my '70 Waggie). The Buick 350 had the Buick/Olds/Pontiac, (BOP), bolt pattern in the rear of the engine. It was also known as "twin-ears." The TH-400's that Jeep used were from the earlier Buick/Olds/Cadillac, (BOC), cased units that were also known as "round-top." Jeep used these same TH-400's behind the older 327 Rambler, the 350 Buick and the newer AMC engines up thru '73 or '74 with a different adapter for each different engine. The Chevy cased TH-400 will not work behind the Buick 350 without a different adapter. Way more than anyone wanted to know, I'm sure.

So back to the original question. If the engine is known to be in good shape and not installed by the hack method, then it should be a good vehicle. If you will have to rebuild the Buick 350, then it's not really cost-effective. Buick parts are expensive. I have over five G's in my rebuild. Could buy a couple of new crate Chevy's for that. Nostalgia has it's price and it ain't cheap!

 

Actually Tim... you have been a big help. It was very informative and I love to be informed

.

Regarding a rebuild. If this engine lasts another 20,000 and just needs a simple rebuild. Nothing to try and beef it up or make it more powerful, is it really that expensive to get a basic rebuild kit to make the engine fit again?

Just curious.

 

just to clear this up buick, oldsmobile and pontiac used the same style distributer. remember that they are all made by GM and for the motor it does look like a buick 350 to me. and all chevy motors have there distrubers in the back of the engine.

 

I suspect that a simple rebuild will still be more for the Buick parts compared to Chevy parts, but go price them out to be sure.

 

Is that a Holley pro-jection on there?

I believe there was also a change between 69 and 70 in the oil system to the rockers. I don't remember which but one oils through the pushrods and the other uses solid pushrods.