You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
What do you do about the intake manifold gasket? Are new ones available somewhere? How about reusing one that looks good? Anyone have one std piston for an olds block I could get? I could use a distributor, complete or just the body.
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NixVegaGT Nicolas Wiederhold Minneapolis, MN (659 posts) Registered: 10/16/2007 05:30AM Main British Car: '73 Vega GT 4.9L Rover/Buick Stroker |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Are you talking about the tin valley cover? I got an OEM stock replacement. I think they sell new ones for Rovers on RockAuto.com or the like. I gave a bunch of spare parts to one of my H-buddies up here in MN. Tony? You out there?
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Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4598 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
The steel valley pans are still available from Fel-Pro. You should be able to get them locally through Carquest or NAPA... but possibly not the discount places.
Rover dealers offer a "composite" valley pan, which costs twice as much but which is reportedly much quieter. (I used Fel-Pro.) I keep my old Delco-Remy distributor as a spare, and I used a Mallory Unilite. A Pertronix conversion for the Declo would've been cheaper. I think the Rover versions came with different advance curves over the years. A little more useful info may possibly be here: Rover distributor: [www.britishv8.org] Buick distributor:[www.britishv8.org] |
BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6508 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
That Rover valley tin is the only thing I would consider using. Much better sealing properties, well worth the cost.
Jim |
Phillip G Phillip Leonard Kansas City (395 posts) Registered: 02/03/2008 04:12PM Main British Car: 1992 MG RV8 Rover 3.5 |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Machinist,
Bill Lunbom, I just broke down an Olds 215 engine. Bottom end looked like new - and probably standard, though I can't guarantee it. I'm using the block and head and pan for mock-up work on the engine compartment of my ... B chassis to SCCA RV 8 project. I would be happy to mail you several of the pistons and rods and rod ends - still together - at no charge. Let me know. Phillip G |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Phillip,
I would be delighted to get 2 assemblies. I also need the set of the 8, 6" head bolts and a distributor. I can initiate payment with PayPal when you know the cost, if that is suitable. Yours truly, Bill Lunbom at 25411 79th ave SW, Vashon, Wa, 98070 206 463 3259 |
Phillip G Phillip Leonard Kansas City (395 posts) Registered: 02/03/2008 04:12PM Main British Car: 1992 MG RV8 Rover 3.5 |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Bill,
I mailed to you today 2 Olds 215 rods and pistons from the engine I recently broke down for parts. They are yours at no charge. I hope they are of use in your project. Do let me know that they have arrived and, later, that they have been of any use to you. The Olds 215 engine looked fine except for the cam. Seems we always find flat cam lobes. Phillip Leonard |
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Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Philip,
I t was swell of you to send me those pistons but unfortunately they are not Olds pistons. You have a Buick block apparently. So I still need one or two pistons. Thank you for your generosity. |
Phillip G Phillip Leonard Kansas City (395 posts) Registered: 02/03/2008 04:12PM Main British Car: 1992 MG RV8 Rover 3.5 |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Bill,
Sorry about that. Are the Olds pistons any different than the Buick pistons in the 215 blocks ? Could you use 8 Buick pistons in the Olds block ? If you can, I would trade you all 8 (6 more) of the Buick pistons for your 7 Olds pistons - if that would help. FYI - I am using the completely bare and light weight Olds block for a mock up of my Rover block while assembling the RV 8 chassis. Again, I am sorry the Buick pistons will not work for you. Phillip G |
Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4598 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Buick (and Rover) 215 pistons are "dished", wherease Olds 215 pistons are flat-topped with recesses into them for valve clearance. Here's an excerpt from an article that will run on our next issue. It explains the design differences further:
Quote: |
Phillip G Phillip Leonard Kansas City (395 posts) Registered: 02/03/2008 04:12PM Main British Car: 1992 MG RV8 Rover 3.5 |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Curtis,
Great info. With that in mind, Bill Lunbom could use the Buick pistons in place of the Olds pistons. - living with a slightly higer compression ratio. Curtis, how can these Buick cast pistons hold up to the extreme compression ratio (25 to 1) like a diesel and not fail in blowing out at the top of the piston ? I thought that was why forged pistons were necessary. I love this stuff. Phillip G |
bplus Tracy Moore Jacksonville, Fl (40 posts) Registered: 11/24/2008 06:36PM Main British Car: 71' MGB GT 350 Chevrolet |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Bill, I have a set of olds pistons. I've got to go
out of town on business tomorrow. Please send me a PM with your contact info. We can coordinate delivery when I get back in about a week. Tracy |
castlesid Kevin Jackson Sidcup UK (361 posts) Registered: 11/18/2007 10:38AM Main British Car: 1975 MGB GT Rover V8 4.35L |
Re: You guys with the 215 Buicks and Olds engines
Alternatively you could use the Buick pistons with composite head gaskets to bring the compression ratio down to a resonable level.
D&D would have what you need. kevin. |