Thread: engine swap

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i have a 1949 buick sedanette and it has a straight eight with the 3 on the tree. im only 19 so i dont know much and i dont have anyone to help on this, its a solo project i guess. i want to put a bigger engine, small block 350, or possibly a 1970 caddi 500 with an auto tranny. im just looking for some suggestions on what would be a good/compatable engine and tranny to swap and how i would go about getting all the adaptions for it to work. ill be doing EVERYTHING myself because a i have empty pockets and i will learn what i have to on the way, but i just need help getting started. ..any and ALL tips are much appriciated. -riley

riley, I suggest you learn about engine swaps the way most of us did when we didn't know anything, read about them and learn from the mistakes that others have made. Engine swaps are not that difficult to do if you know WHAT NOT TO DO, particularly if you are bucks-down like you say.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

Personally, I'm partial to swapping in the biggest motor that I can find and physically fit into the engine bay. I see no sense in spending the time and money to swap in a little motor that I'm going to have to spend even more money on to make it fast. Your thoughts about a 472 or 500 c.i.d. Cadillac have a lot of merit in my opinion. It's hard to argue with 500 ft./lbs. of torque from a stock, OEM motor. Shop here for some of the pieces to help you with a Cad swap:
www.500cid.com

Great links there inspector, and good advice also. Sometimes you just gotta do some homework before you get started. I've go to say, I'm a fan of more cubes myself. You just can't replace cubes dude. Here is another link for 472/500 cad goodies http://cad500parts.com/ . These guys are always developing new stuff too. I have a friend who makes most of the header mock-ups and they make them for all kinds of crap.

thanks inspector. i gotta agree tho that if that caddilac 500 engine will fit, i might as well put it in. thanks for the links.