To Alleycat

Hi jyrki! I am in the middle of building/rebuilding 3 engines, my ford exploder which "exploded", my 409 chev, and my 248 for my 50, along with beating nails into the house! The 248 is going to be a "take no prisoners" kind of build up and its sort of my test subject for the book as I do everything to this engine, it goes into the book. This has gotten rather into a bigger project than I initally thought! I've done a few papers but nothing like this! Main problem is that practly NOTHING is really known about these engines. I'm putting the finishing touches on the rod section, then its on to the crank. alleycat
 
buick buget

Dont get me wrong st8 are cool looking but as time goes by parts are becoming more rare some times might need to improvise like u guys have been talking about a 350 chevy or buick parts are way cheaper there is just so many things u could do with them to buy a rebuild kit for a chevy and have 64cc heads your buick will fly under 1000 to 1500 with modern high performance parts:shifter:
 
20 years ago I might have considered swapping in a SBC, but 10 years ago, when I started building my Buick, it was out of the question for me. I have seen too many SBC's - it's plain boring. Even a nailhead Buick would be a better choice. Ten years ago very few of my fellow rodders were able to understand why I kept the S-8. All the streed rods had an SBC. Now all the rods I see around have a flathead. I love it!

The S-8 is something different, not just an easy-way shortcut SBC. Part of the fascination when building a S-8 is that no performance parts are available, so you have to get creative and improvise, just like the true pioneers of hot rodding. And it's amazing how much power you can get out of these engines, at will.
 
Dont get me wrong st8 are cool looking but as time goes by parts are becoming more rare some times might need to improvise like u guys have been talking about a 350 chevy or buick parts are way cheaper there is just so many things u could do with them to buy a rebuild kit for a chevy and have 64cc heads your buick will fly under 1000 to 1500 with modern high performance parts:shifter:

Hell..........If all I wanted was an easy life.......I would have never picked the Buick straight eight
 
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eight in a row makes 'em go

Here is some of the parts that are going into the 50 Buick engine.
 
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The reason most people like the Buick Straight 8 is that they are strong reliable engines. They can be modified for improved performance, but basically can still be driven daily for transportation. Back in the day, they could be driven across the US with no problems. They arent that bad on gas compared to other antique cars.
 
I agree, leave the straight eight in it. All I want to do is add twin carbs and would like to do a overdrive of some kind. Before I tore it apart it went along with traffic good, rpm's a little high on the expressway but ok.
 
Love those pictures

Saltracer, Gary, Doug, and everyone, keep those pictures coming, I just can't get enough :bana:

Gary, did you get that piece of art (aka cam) from Howards?

Alleycat, are you going to save all your pictures for the book, or could you provide us with a peek?
 
Absolutly!! The book is a secondary project! As I finish up the parts, I photo them and when I get a bunch I'll post 'em. alleycat

Saltracer; like the headers!
 
straight 8 hot rodders

jyrki, yes the cam came from Howards, Donnie Johansen. We had it degreed in yesterday, it was right on the money. We installed the crank Tuesday, used Plastigage and had to shim the mains .001", installed cam and timing gears and chain. MIke is off Monday, we will put in the rods and pistons, oil pump and pan. Another guy that does machine work for us is making the bungs for the EFI injectors.
 
straight 8 hot rodders

Alleycat, Venolia had someone make the aluminum rods for us back in 1999, we think they are GRP, but not for sure.
 
I happened to pull out a old dual quad manifold for a oldsmobile, the answer.!!! Like, in the last 2 days! I can not machine this design, it must be cast. My effort on the dual quad manifold was , I guess, practice. Back to the drawing board.


Forgive me if my question has been covered, I'm still reading all the comments, but what year/make Olds did you pull this intake from?
 
Been a while since I posted here...Did'ent think anyone was still interested. I don't even know what i was thinking about in reguards to the olds manifold, must have had a shape that looked like it had some possiable application to a buick str8. I've since solved the intake problem. Alleycat
 
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