Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

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NasaRacing510
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Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by NasaRacing510 »

Im intersted in finding out if anyone here has ever seen/put in A Buick 215 V8 in a 510???
i saw an MG Midget racecar with one tonight. it is an all aluminum V8 that only weights 318 lbs ( Dry )
i reserched them and found stock 60's form they had 200hp and 240ftlbs tq.. ( STOCK ! )
this one had reworked heads and a cam and a 390 cfm 4-bbl !! it makes a gob of power from what he told me..
his guess was in the 300hp range.. let me know what you think???
Rodney Earwood
Gainesville , GA
1-404-374-5498
15 min from Road Atlanta ( gotta go to the 2010 Mitty ! )

1969 2DR 510 NASA PTB RaceCar
1970 2dr 510 Forsale !
1971 4dr 510
1970 4dr rally car Forsale !
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Byron510
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by Byron510 »

This swap was done quite a few times in the 80's, before the higher HP 4 and 6 cyl. motors became viable.
You are right, the bare motor doesn't weigh that much, but you'll have twice the exhaust system, and the transmissions tend to be on the heavy side. Transmissions also don't fit in the tunnel very well.
If you have access tot he UFO Reports back issues, there are a few Buick or Rover V8 motors featured in 510's. There were some really nicely done cars out there. i remember a couple that used to go to Shasta every year. It's hard to say what has become of those cars, but I'll bet they are still around.
So, it can be done, but it is very tight. Cooling was a major issue back then, but I think with aluminum radiators these days, it shouldn't be an issue.
But if you want to go V8, why not a newer Nissan V8....
Just pulling your leg! I wish it could be done, I really want to do this myself but research shows that the heads are just too big. I really doubt you'd get the Nissan V8 between the strut towers. And if you did, there definitely isn’t room for headers.
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S15DET
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by S15DET »

I think it's a fine idea. There's still good suport for these motors. Since these are period, the project could be done with a real vintage look and feel. Keep us in the loop. It'll be a total custom job with lots of fab work, but I'm sure you've already thought of that.
yenpit
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by yenpit »

The original Buick/Oldsmobile motors are getting harder to find, but the later Range Rover motors are quite plentiful in the wrecking yards, and rebuild & modification components are no problem. There are compact, tight-fitting block hugger headers (just like the Chevy & Ford V8's) and y-pipes available, amongst the British MGB V8 guys, that would keep the cost of fab'ing custom headers down. Here's ONE of many links.........

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/MGB-V8-Headers.htm

Qwik510 had one, so he will likely chim in here soon! I think the current owner of his old car is here on the forum too.
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NasaRacing510
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by NasaRacing510 »

thanks for the info guys...
I just thought for the weight vs HP for the little V8 that could would be a great fit.
I found Advance Adapters and they have trans adapters for just about everything! they have an adapter
for the 215 Aluminum V8 to a T-56 6-speed trans ! so with 300 plus HP with a 6 - spd
I think it would be a Rocket... Quick question.. what does a L20b with a 5-spd weigh?? i use to know it but i cant find it on this comp...


HERES THE MAIN QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS.....

WHATS THE CHEAPEST HP PER $$$$ TO STUFF IN A 510 ???

A V8 ? A ROTORY ? A TURBO LZ HYBRID ? A KA SWAP ? SR20 DET SWAP ?

I WOULD BE INTERSTED TO FIND OUT EVERYBODYS OPION ON THIS TOPIC !!!!!! :shock:
Rodney Earwood
Gainesville , GA
1-404-374-5498
15 min from Road Atlanta ( gotta go to the 2010 Mitty ! )

1969 2DR 510 NASA PTB RaceCar
1970 2dr 510 Forsale !
1971 4dr 510
1970 4dr rally car Forsale !
TONS OF DATSUN PARTS FOR SALE
Derek
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by Derek »

Whatever is in the car is free, so dividing by zero you get infinite HP/$.
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NasaRacing510
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by NasaRacing510 »

well the motor i have in the car/others here on the stands i can assure you were NOT FREE...
LOL 8)
Rodney Earwood
Gainesville , GA
1-404-374-5498
15 min from Road Atlanta ( gotta go to the 2010 Mitty ! )

1969 2DR 510 NASA PTB RaceCar
1970 2dr 510 Forsale !
1971 4dr 510
1970 4dr rally car Forsale !
TONS OF DATSUN PARTS FOR SALE
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hang_510
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by hang_510 »

NasaRacing510 wrote:I WOULD BE INTERSTED TO FIND OUT EVERYBODYS OPION ON THIS TOPIC !!!!!! :shock:
no you wouldnt :lol:
search each motor for them


what about a buick V6? seen them twin turbo'd rated @ 700+ CHP :shock:
i wanna a blown version :twisted:
byron wrote:I'd be all over that like a fat kid on a smartie.
okayfine wrote:Sense doesn't always have everything to do with it, and I speak from experience.
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510Freak
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by 510Freak »

I had a 510 with a Buick V6 in it ,in 92 0r 93 ,That thing would kill almost anything,Sure went through tires tho :?
Boy was them the fun dayz :mrgreen: :twisted:
Was a bit freakish in the corners tho, We used to run( :wink: ) the Mountain road in Nanaimo(paved) Late at night side by side a couple a cars,Gee those are some great memories,Kinda foolish but fun never the less :wink: (and I am still around to talk about it :mrgreen:
.
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okayfine
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by okayfine »

NasaRacing510 wrote:I just thought for the weight vs HP for the little V8 that could would be a great fit.:
I'd question the 300HP figure. At least for something streetable. And a 215 can put out 200HP stock, but that depends on which evolution of the engine it is, as in the early days they were 150hp engines.
NasaRacing510 wrote:I found Advance Adapters and they have trans adapters for just about everything! they have an adapter
for the 215 Aluminum V8 to a T-56 6-speed trans ! so with 300 plus HP with a 6 - spd .:
So, you want a 215 for "light weight" and decent HP, but you want to bolt on a heavy T-56? Not to mention how huge the transmission is.
NasaRacing510 wrote:WHATS THE CHEAPEST HP PER $$$$ TO STUFF IN A 510 ???.:
L-series turbo. There is no other answer to that question.
Because when you spend a silly amount of money on a silly, trivial thing that will help you not one jot, you are demonstrating that you have a soul and a heart and that you are the sort of person who has no time for Which? magazine. – Jeremy Clarkson
qwik510
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by qwik510 »

As someone that has owned a 510 with a 215 Olds all aluminum V8, I will chime in.

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I had always dreamed of owning a V8 powered 510 so I decided to build one. The 215 is a very lightweight, compact engine with the distributor in the front (like a ford) so firewall clearance is not an issue.

There are several shops that know these engines well and you can build one into a 5.0 liter by stroking it with a very rare cam from a Buick 300 and adding the even more rare aluminum heads from a 1964 Buick 300 (only produced one year) There are 5.0 liter versions of this engine producing 300+ HP but the original ones from 1961-1963 Buicks and Oldmoblies (and a few pontiacs running the buick version) were only making 180HP. The Olds turbo version of this motor made 215HP and was the first production motor to produce 1 hp per cubic inch of displacement.

The engine I had in my car was a 1963 Olds 215 and it had flat top pistons, an Isky Cam, custom headers, an Offenhauser 360 intake and a Holley 390 carb. I am sure that this produced more then the stock 180 hp. I would have to guess that it made approx 200-210 HP. It did have lots of torque. I had it mated to a B/W T5 5 speed on a stock 215 3/4 speed bellhousing. I never ran the car at the track but I did beat several cars that had run on the track and based on their track times, I figured that the car was good for high 13's in the quarter mile. I was running an R180 from a 240Z with a 3.36:1 ratio so a lower rear would likely put the car into the mid 13's.

All that being said, this swap is not an easy swap and not much support is available for it. Everything needs to be custom fabricated for it and this is a 45 + year old engine design that has some known issues from combining aluminum and non aluminum cylinder sleeves.

Yes the engine will fit into a 510 and yes it is lightweight but there are many better choices for a 300 HP engine that will cost you less to do, have more support, get better gas mileage, and offer you modern fuel injection too.

I loved my V8 dime but if I had it to do all over again, I would not build it. If you want a V8 Datsun, get a Z car. They are much better suited to the V8. After I built my 240Z with the LS1 motor, I decided to sell the V8 dime and build a new dime using a more modern powerplant.

If you are still convinced that you want to go with this engine, I can put you in touch with some of the companies that know it well.
Enjoy The Ride!
David
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oldschool80sguy
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by oldschool80sguy »

QWIK510, Love your build. was considering doing the same with my 72' widebody. i have tried to PM you about it. I have a rolling body 510 with extra strengthening and a stiffer upgraded suspension and full rollcage already done. I was hoping you could give me some insight as to the major components that i would need to locate for this build? I have a local selling a 215 complete and rebuilt, he wants $1200, i offered 600 cash. were at a stalemate for a moment. how did you modify your crossmember? did you go with a Muncie 4 spd? anything you could tell me would be appreciated. thank you.
dislexicdime
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by dislexicdime »

Nasa one thing you nead to take in to account is how rare parts are and how much a rebuild costs.

Sssr20det had a 215 v8 and he say's his sr car runs circles around the 215 v8 car
L series only have one header!

i need another garage mine is full of part's
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by qwik510 »

oldschool80sguy wrote:QWIK510, Love your build. was considering doing the same with my 72' widebody. i have tried to PM you about it. I have a rolling body 510 with extra strengthening and a stiffer upgraded suspension and full rollcage already done. I was hoping you could give me some insight as to the major components that i would need to locate for this build? I have a local selling a 215 complete and rebuilt, he wants $1200, i offered 600 cash. were at a stalemate for a moment. how did you modify your crossmember? did you go with a Muncie 4 spd? anything you could tell me would be appreciated. thank you.
Please re-read my post.
Enjoy The Ride!
David
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oldschool80sguy
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Re: Anyone Ever Stuffed a 215 Buick V8 in a 510 ??

Post by oldschool80sguy »

qwik, i have reread the post. its enough to get me started. thank you and excuse my ignorance.
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