1934 Buick Series 40 engine identification

D

Doug H

Member
I just picked up a complete engine, trans, cowl and hood for what I think is a 1934 Buick series 40.
Can someone check the number for me, I can't find the early motor numbers listed anywhere.

Number stamped on block is 2877464.

I bought it for the manifold but it is a smaller engine then what I am restoring and I am not for sure what it is.

Thanks in advance.

Doug
 
1934 appears to be a hodgepodge.

i count four different displacements available that model year, 345, 235, 278 and 233. and that's assuming that you are correct about the year. Buick really didn't have much standardization on the Straight 8 until 1936 and the introduction of the 320 and 248. the 320 lasted until practically the end of S-8 production with only the 263 ( upsize 248 ) outlasting it by one year until 1953. 1931-36 were development years with Buick getting their legs under themselves on how they wanted the engine architecture to be, having 7 different configurations ( more than one per model year ) before they got it sorted out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Straight-8_engine

http://www.carnut.com/specs/gen/buick30.html



the Series 40 brochure for 1934 does say that it should be a 233ci engine which agrees with the Carnut site.

http://www.oldcarbrochures.org/index.php/NA/Buick/1934_Buick/1934_Buick_Brochure/1934-Buick-18


sorry, i can't help any more than that.
 
According to "The Buick - A Complete History" by Terry Dunham and Lawrence Gustin, 1934 series 50/60/90 engines started at 2861223 and series 40 engines started at 2894800. Since this engine number falls between those numbers, it must be a series 50/60/90 engine. Each series used a different size of engine:

Series 40 = 233 cid, 3 3/32 in. bore, 3 7/8 in. stroke
Series 50 = 235 cid, 2 31/32 in. bore, 4 /14 in. stroke
Series 60 = 278 cid, 3 3/32 in. bore, 4 5/8 in. stroke
Series 90 = 344.8 cid, 3 5/16 in. bore, 5 in. stroke

What series car are you working on?
 
I am not sure what series the unidentified motor is in, the car we were looking for a manifold for is a 48 four door.

The early model motor could be out of a 50 series, all I have is the tranny forward without a grille.
Dash looks like pics of the 34 40 series I have seen pics of.
 
In 1935 Series 40 used a downdraft carb and Series 50-60-90 used an updraft. 1934 and 1935 cars are very similiar, so maybe that is true in 1934. You can look on the old car brochures site that Bob posted the link to and see if there are any pictures that might help.
 
I am not sure what series the unidentified motor is in, the car we were looking for a manifold for is a 48 four door.



then you should KNOW that the manifold cannot be for the same motor. neither the 248 nor 320 were in production in 1934. whether or not one of the earlier manifolds will fit on your engine is going to be a total crap shoot.

if the 48 has the original engine, it HAS to be either a 320 ( long block ) or 248 ( short block ).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Straight-8_engine
Note: The 320 has a head length of 34 [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]2[/SUB]" while the [ 248 and 263 ] are 31 [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]4[/SUB]" long.


the 320 and 248 have, by far, the longest production runs of the Buick Straight 8s. so, relatively speaking, they should be the easiest to find parts for. measure your head and we can start making progress on what you actually do need to look for.
 
The 48 has a 320.
I bought the 34 sight unseen to keep it out of the crusher and now I just want to figure out what it is. If its the small cube I'll sell it if its large cube I'll keep it for hot rod material.
It was running a sawmill in the Ozarks so I was hoping for large cube.
Thanks for the info. I like learning about them as much as finding them.
 
The 1948 car is a four door.Don't have a clue what the 1934 car was.It had the body stripped down to the dash.
 
1934 Series 40 all came with the small st eight, This engine was new for 34 and became the basis for all small Buick eights.
The 320 roadmaster engine came out in 1936 and was perity much unchanged untill the last in 1952. Engine mounts changed and rods became inseret.
 
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