Dear Team Buick Engine gurus,
<humor mode on>
I've received the gospel and I believe! I shall spread the word all over the earth! Tho shall not build a Buick engine to sloppy tolerances or it shall go - boom!
<humor mode off>
With all seriousness here, if I've learned anything from Team Buick, it is that Buick engines are mechanical masterpieces and do not tolerate sloppy rebuilds. I believe, I believe! The trouble is I cannot rebuild an engine myself and therefore - I need to make the machine shop staff believe that my beloved Buick engine isn't simply another Chevy with a funny color of paint.
I've got a potential lead on a 430 engine out of a 67 Buick Electra. This engine is still running, but the safe bet is that it needs a rebuild. It would be infinitely easier for me to have this work done by a machine shop nearby me. Now I could simply provide the 430 specs to the shop (which are here - right? https://www.teambuick.com/reference/400-430-455_engine_specs.php) and mutter something to the effect: "and you'd better darn well get this right!" However, I'm a mere mortal and these fellows are obviously master machinists (or at least thinks they are). They are about as likely to listen to me as a 86 year old grandmother.
Is there a useful comparison document (Chevy vs. Buick or equivalent) that shows exactly how much more careful machinists have to be with a Buick engine? Do folks in the business of rebuilding engines have any clever ways to convincing Chevy-heads that "no this engine really is different and you better damn well pay attention or else!"
Any thoughts on this puzzling topic of car rebuilding psychology would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers, Edouard
<humor mode on>
I've received the gospel and I believe! I shall spread the word all over the earth! Tho shall not build a Buick engine to sloppy tolerances or it shall go - boom!
<humor mode off>
With all seriousness here, if I've learned anything from Team Buick, it is that Buick engines are mechanical masterpieces and do not tolerate sloppy rebuilds. I believe, I believe! The trouble is I cannot rebuild an engine myself and therefore - I need to make the machine shop staff believe that my beloved Buick engine isn't simply another Chevy with a funny color of paint.
I've got a potential lead on a 430 engine out of a 67 Buick Electra. This engine is still running, but the safe bet is that it needs a rebuild. It would be infinitely easier for me to have this work done by a machine shop nearby me. Now I could simply provide the 430 specs to the shop (which are here - right? https://www.teambuick.com/reference/400-430-455_engine_specs.php) and mutter something to the effect: "and you'd better darn well get this right!" However, I'm a mere mortal and these fellows are obviously master machinists (or at least thinks they are). They are about as likely to listen to me as a 86 year old grandmother.
Is there a useful comparison document (Chevy vs. Buick or equivalent) that shows exactly how much more careful machinists have to be with a Buick engine? Do folks in the business of rebuilding engines have any clever ways to convincing Chevy-heads that "no this engine really is different and you better damn well pay attention or else!"
Any thoughts on this puzzling topic of car rebuilding psychology would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers, Edouard
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