Landracing Forum

Fundraising, For sale, and Wanted => For Sale by Private Parties => Topic started by: Milwaukee Midget on February 08, 2015, 12:13:06 PM

Title: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on February 08, 2015, 12:13:06 PM
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bar/4952513557.html

Check the ad - and now here's the real deal.

I left the craigslist ad a little vague, because I've had mixed results with the format, and have had issues with flakes not following through.  I'd rather get a text or a phone call and talk straight up with a potential customer, find out what they're about and qualify them a little better.  My intention with the Craigslist ad is to get this stuff out of my basement/attic/garage.

Now with my friends here on LR.com, I consider you pre-qualified.  If there's something you need from either one of these engines, I feel confident enough with this crowd to spend some time and do some measurements, and dig a little deeper.

So yes, I'll part these out here, and accept reasonable offers, provided it makes sense for both of us.  And if something sells through here, I'll send Slim a check for 10% of the sale price.

PM me with any questions.

Cheers!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: NathanStewart on February 18, 2015, 02:08:18 AM
Would one of these fit in a midget?  Now that'd be a fun ride.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Dr Goggles on February 18, 2015, 03:52:00 AM
destroke for F-Class :cheers:
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Skip Pipes on February 18, 2015, 04:21:33 AM
Nathan, Yes, and there were 2 running in Southern California in the 70's. They had uncontrollable, brutal power. For something different, a friend cut off the front 2 cylinders of a 215 Buick to create a V6. That combo won some races. It was a work of art.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Frankenhealey on February 18, 2015, 05:20:40 AM
Would one of these fit in a midget?  Now that'd be a fun ride.

Muscle Sprout - still running today but with downdraught Dell'Ortos, hence the bonnet (hood) carbuncle

(http://imagehosting.rodsnsods.co.uk/45574d7e5b5cc46b1.jpg)

(http://imagehosting.rodsnsods.co.uk/45574f3e4186e1e7f.jpg)

(http://imagehosting.rodsnsods.co.uk/455750aab95430ee4.jpg)
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on February 18, 2015, 10:14:50 AM
destroke for F-Class :cheers:

Like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Buick-215-Full-Race-2000cc-V8-9-500-Redline-Hydro-Boat-Motor-NO-Hilborn-FI-/251841935461?vxp=mtr

Throw a set of 3:90 gears in the tank and add the F/GL record to your portfolio.

Would one of these fit in a midget?  Now that'd be a fun ride.

Not the Midget, but I'm keeping the good one (I've got three) for the Sprite. 

Driving it out to Bonneville in August, Nate.  I'll be the hunched over, crippled guy with the smile on his face.  :wink:

 
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Calkins on February 18, 2015, 10:53:23 AM
Driving it out to Bonneville in August, Nate.  I'll be the hunched over, crippled guy with the smile on his face.  :wink:
I will be on the look out.  See you there.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Peter Jack on February 18, 2015, 01:03:15 PM
"I'll be the hunched over, crippled guy with the smile on his face."

With a 90 degree bend in your right shin bone from that d*mn tunnel if I remember correctly from a couple of trips in bugeyes in an earlier life.  :-D :-D :-D

Pete
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Captthundarr on February 18, 2015, 06:32:00 PM
Man Chris, I've got a spitfire for them puppies. Mmmm.... :-D
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on February 18, 2015, 09:14:56 PM
Man Chris, I've got a spitfire for them puppies. Mmmm.... :-D

I shudder to think what 200 ft lbs of torque would do to the overly elastic IRS on a Spit, but hey, it's all a grand experiment!

Haven't gotten a call on 'em.

Make me an offer - I need my garage/attic/basement space back.  :-D
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Captthundarr on February 19, 2015, 06:38:52 PM
Who said anything about stock IRS. I'm thinking for my modified sport project that I'll hopefully start this summer. Checking the bank book......
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Podunk on February 19, 2015, 07:43:49 PM
Chris, if you make
 a profit on this stuff I think I should be listed as a sponsor on the Midget. On the other hand if you let me light the tires once I'll call it even. :cheers:
Terry
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on February 19, 2015, 10:03:51 PM
Who said anything about stock IRS. I'm thinking for my modified sport project that I'll hopefully start this summer. Checking the bank book......

Of the two, I think I'd use the Olds block as the basis.  It's got 18 head bolts - the Olds version was optionally turbocharged.

Additionally, the bolts go well into the webbing which - at least I believe - should give you a really stiff pair of cylinder banks for an aluminum block.

Buy now - if I have to spend 6 or 7 hours degreasing these parts, my inclination to accept offers will diminish dramatically.


Chris, if you make a profit on this stuff I think I should be listed as a sponsor on the Midget. On the other hand if you let me light the tires once I'll call it even. :cheers:
Terry

That should be easy - I'm thinking of going back to the stock tire size -

https://www.cokertire.com/520-13-firestone-2-whitewall-tire.html

I think the fat whites would look pretty gnarly with a set of Moon discs . . .

Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: fordboy628 on February 20, 2015, 09:08:39 AM
Hey Chris,

Give Fletcher a call.

He has a set of the Vega wheels you are looking for . . . . . . .

I wonder what takes up more storage space, a set of wheels or engine bits?

 :cheers:
Fordboy
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Stan Back on February 20, 2015, 01:04:23 PM
Here's something you could do with two of the Olds motors.  Chet Herbert engines had 180ยบ cranks with 5/8-in. strokers.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on February 20, 2015, 02:02:22 PM
7 liters the L O N G way!

Those two engines combined probably weigh less than an iron block 426 Mopar.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: salt27 on February 20, 2015, 02:30:00 PM
Those two engines and the iron block 426 Mopar combined probably weigh less than a flat head Cad V8. 

  :-D
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Jack Gifford on February 21, 2015, 01:14:05 AM
I wasn't aware of the Herbert twin. I hope he had better results than Mickey did with his twin-215 at the '62 drag nationals (but he didn't agonize much over it, since he took top-eliminator with his single-Pontiac-hemi dragster; it was so light that he added 90 lb. to make the minimum 1,100 lb. weight!).
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on February 21, 2015, 10:36:03 AM
Quick little update on these.

I am talking with a potential buyer, and he's asked for some more information.

So my Saturday is now shot loosening up the Buick and cleaning up the Oldsmobile.

If I find anything germane to this thread, I'll post it up.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Stan Back on February 21, 2015, 12:56:16 PM
Highjacking again . . .

With the stroker cranks they totaled over 8-1/2 liters.  Later they were both GMC blown.  Semi-successful effort by Herbert.  Hard to get around when parked across the return road at Fontana in the dark.  Herbert's best effort was Lefty's dual Chevys.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on February 21, 2015, 01:57:16 PM
I recall as a kid, when Wide World of Sports would cover drag racing, seeing the Herbert twin Chevy - probably at Pomona Winternats.

My dad, an avid Mopar fan and always disgusted with Chevrolet, simply discounted the car as being "twice as much trouble".

Still, getting two engines to run in concert is engineering beyond what I would attempt.
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Speed Limit 1000 on February 21, 2015, 02:46:41 PM
I don't think you ever take the easy way, why would you start now :cheers:
Your effort has been amazing
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on March 29, 2015, 07:06:14 PM
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bar/4952513557.html

Updated the craigslist ad.

Since I initially posted, I've been trying to get the Buick to turn over.  Been soaking the cylinders with diesel and WD40.  I'll probably give it a couple of more whacks tonight with a 2x4 and a sledge to bust it loose.

I dropped the asking price, but my concern isn't so much what I get for them as it is that I get them out of my basement/garage/attic.  I'll entertain all kinds of swaps, provided they take up less space. 

They're rebuildable, there's no movement in the cylinders (something I understand was a problem with these early on), and either one will make a decent starting point for a lightweight V8 project.

The big headache is getting them shipped - yeah, I know . . .

Anyway, I've still got 'em.   :cheers:
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: salt27 on March 29, 2015, 11:11:34 PM
Chris, I was told that some people use alcohol to loosen stuck engines.

No, they don't drink it, they pour it in the cylinders.   :roll:

I don't recall what kind of alcohol.

Anyone else heard of this?

 Don
Title: GONE - Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on November 13, 2015, 07:10:24 PM
Gone and gone - no cash exchanged hands, but I wound up with a late model MGB engine to toy with at some later date.

Gets me the hardened valve seats and the need to stop at O'Reilly's for another bag of oil dry - but that's the exchange rate.

And it takes up LESS SPACE!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Buick and Oldsmobile V8s, 215 Aluminum
Post by: Podunk on November 13, 2015, 08:39:02 PM
 :cheers: