Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 48 Buick 8

Wondering if anyone can give me a realistic idea of what a complete 48 Buick motor is worth. What are things to watch out for?

The short answer, almost always, is, "It's worth what one will give and the other will take."

All seriousness aside, there are two inline eight-cylinder Buick engines in 1948.

Special and Super series cars were powered by a 248cid engine--small bore, long stroke, good low-speed torque, but long and heavy for its cid.

The Roadmaster series is powered by a 320cid engine--larger bore, longer stroke. This engine is long and heavy, but it will make good power in a street-driven vehicle, and some intrepid folk have raced them with some success.

Your first task, it seems to me, is to determine which of these engines you are offered. Then you want to determine its condition--is it complete, is it undamaged, does it run?

If it's what you want, you can ask the seller what will buy it . . . or tell what it's worth to you. If you agree on a price, you have a deal. If not, you can keep looking.

If you're selling such an engine, then i should think that the 320cid Roadmaster is worth more than the 248cid Super/Special engines. There are fewer of them, and they make more power. You should know what it's worth to you . . . to keep it or be rid of it.

God's Peace to you.

d
Inliner #1450

I was going to say what is the current scrap metal price per pound, but....

Try looking up what the parts will cost you and what is available as well. There are adapters available to use them with newer automatics. Edmunds made a dual carb intake back in the day. The factory made dual carb intakes for some models as well.

Did you go to the Goodguys show in Madison earlier this year??

Nope, we did not make the GG show in Madison, if I recall we were off in another direction that weekend. Scuttlebutt has it that they have pulled that show which makes Des Moines or Chicago the only close GG show.

Now I will sound really bad, but is there an external way of knowing the difference in the two, or does one have to pull the head to determine the bore size etc?

I thought maybe you were there, as there was a really nice roadster there with a L8 buick and dual carbs. I'm sure it will end up in the Gazette, probably elswhere too.

Yeah, it's not on the schedule. Oh well. Go to Back to the 50's in St Paul. Better than anything GG or NSRA puts together...

Try getting the casting numbers off of the block. I can try to check them in my Hollander manual...

I.D.of these engines is very easy. The small engine was made in 2 C.I. 248 and later 263. Same engine bigger bore. This series of engine is 31" aprox. from end to end of exaust manifold and the log on intake is 24" end to end. The 320 series is aprox. 6" to 8"longer on the same parts. I went to the shop and measured the small series manifolds I have to be sure but I cant remember the big series for sure

If you decide to get into these engine I would be glad to give you the imfo I remember on these engines. I used to race the 320" s on 1/2 mile county fair tracks in IOWA. Not many speed parts back then and a poor redneck couldn't afforded them anyway. Thanks, 1 OL REDNECK

A good friend of mine ran one of the big Buick 8s in a dragster in Sothern Cal. in the late '50s early '60s I think. I have a picture somewhere but I can't lay my hands on it right now. According to Jeb it was fast. It ran home built injection and a Crower cam. I'll keep looking for the picture and if any one else remembers the car and has a picture I'd like to see it. So would Jeb. It was a really clean orange slingshot with a loooong valve cover. Thanks, Beater

In the end, we are trying to determine the type of engine we have because the guys from Springfield,Mo. that run an early 50's Buick on the salt blew up and are looking for a new motor to build. Car has been on the power tour and holds a bunch of records in various classes on the salt. If this low tech guy (me), could figure out how to post pictures, I would put one up for everyone. The motor we have is in a Flixible bus from the late 40's so if that gives anyone any clues, let me know.

Kurt, I help Mike C. with the 1950 Buick salt flat car. He only melted one piston and we are in the process of rebuilding it now. We are making some changes to the engine combo, new reground cam for the blower, new 6-71 blower, "O" rings in the block and changing induction to EFI.

Hi Kurt,

The engine that would be in a Flxible would be a 320 big block with a hydramatic. If the bus is in reasonable condition it is also quite a collector vehicle.

Tim