help 1950 special

M

mkooler

Member
Ok to start off I am a mussel car guy (68,70,72 cutlass 442 my girls) but my wife fell in love with this 1950 Buick special so I bought it. Well needless to say if there is not a V in front of my 8 I am lost. So would any one care to ancer some questions for me? :confused:First what is the glass jar on the firewall for? It has some kind of oil in it and runs in to the intake below the carb. 2. What is with the switch on the carb and can I by pas it and if I can how. And 3 will a V8 mount to the existing frame.
 
When you said glass jar , I thought of the windshield washer, but mounted on the firewall you say! With oil running into the intake? I sure dont' know

The switch on the carb is the gas pedal starter switch. On a '50 Buick you turn the key to on, and press the gas pedal down to start the engine. Perhaps someone has already bypassed yours with a starter button mounted on the dash?

No, there is no V-8 that will mount in there. The straight 8 has quite a few hot rodding fans though. Perhaps you should look at the motor with a eye to nostalgia and consider a total powertrain swap. That's cool!!!:thumbsup:
 
1950 straight 8

welcome! just straighten out that V, or consider it 1/2 of a V 16. seriously they are pretty much the same, the distributor, carb, fuel pump etc. etc. dont care if its a V8 or if its straight! And you can get it in there, a V8 won't care. But the strt 8 is a very good solid engine, it's a basically modern engine with a lot of reliabilty. The chasis and front end are stronger than most modern cars.Thats why we like em'.
 
glass jar?

I do't know what the glass jar on the firewall is? It sounds like its some kind of aftermarket 'top oiler' , that supplies a little oil to the engine? The only 'glass jar' thing i;ve seen on a Buick is the fuel bowl on the fuel pump. :confused:
 
glass jar is for oiling of the top cylinders. Keep it filled with Marvel Mystery oil. There is no need for leaded gas if MMO is used. MMO when burned makes a lubricating ash that keeps the valves lubricated. Before you ditch the straight 8 do a little checking, there are ways to keep it stock, and still go fast with class.
 
[FONT=&quot]:thumbsup:Wow thanks for all the answers and epically the one on the oilier jar I have asked a bunch of people and you are the first that has answered most just surged there shoulders. I have really thought about keeping the L-8 because it is well just plain cool (EXPICALY IF I CAN GET A DUAL CARB SET UP). But know one around hear knows anything about them and I am having a tone of trouble with the carb. And they are so simple. Well thanks for the info.
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If it's for your wife and she is happy with the power just make sure it runs well and leave the straight 8. I find with mine if I pull the shifter down to low when I start off it works just like a modern car and feels much better on take off.
 
Re: Dynaflow

:waving: Hey Jim

This has been a very controversal subject that has been brought up in the past.

If you use the search engine on this site there have been numerious posts concerning Starting out a Dynaflow in LOW gear and how it is Dertamental to the operation of a Dynaflow Transmission causing "Ill Effects" to it's functional operation with continued use over a period of time causing premature breakdowns resulting in total dynaflow Transmission Rebuilds.

Regards,:beers:

Tom Gallagher :shield:
 
Straight 8

Welcome to the world of cruisin smooth. Its a different kind of driving. I love to slam 3000 rpms on the trans brake and hear the engine nearly stop when each cylinder fires from high compression and sweet 110 fuel but, when I start the 51 and can't tell its even running Im proud to know it was the way I set the points, dwell, gapped the plugs and tuned the carb that made it that smooth. When I show people I can balance a nickle straight up in the groove in the oil cap with it running, thats cool. When it takes off, its like stepping onto a cloud and floating. Its fast, and I can tune it to go faster, but I just like it smooth. Enjoy it thats the way it was made...:thumbsup:
 
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