running engine, dont know miles or condition other than it was running 2 months ago and stored inside since, complete with all brackets and accessories, trans included. whats this thing worth?
What year, could be a switch pitch 400 trans which are getting hard to find. Regardless if switch pitch or not, it should be a turbo 400 trans. As for the engine value, it is a big block Buick and has a lot of potential. The 430's have a few oiling issues that need to be careful of the way they oil the top end. I say the engine and trans value, knowing it is a runner but not any condition is probably $3-400 range. Also depends on if you really need it or just trying to pick it up cheap. For all the Buick info you could want check out www.v8buick.com
. Just to add to what Terry said, the 430 is the predecessor to the 455 and uses a B.O.P. turbo 400. It wouldn't be an st /sp 400 type tranny, which would bolt up to a nailhead (401-425).
It's definitely not scrap, rusty, these things are one of the best, if not THE best engine ever made.
To my knowledge (and I'm wrong occasionally just like everyone else, so I definitely don't want to come off with an argumentative tone), the changeover from the st/sp 400's to the BOP pattern th400 coincided with the switch from the last nailhead (401-425) to the new 400-430-455 series, which was 1967 (last nailhead in 66).
I guess that explains those 1967 bop cases I have that I swiped the orifices out of to put in Chevys.
Just did some investigating, and I stand corrected. Mr Squirrel, you are indeed correct. Variable pitch available until 67! I learned something today!
That's a point that's debatable, and niether here nor there, but... I let one go to junk about two years ago, complete '69 Riviera and all, because the car was rotty and it would have been damned near impossible to winch it off the hill it sat on. It was parked nose-in and the frame was bad in the back. As was the trunk floor. We got another 430 and trans with a '54 Buick from the same guy and no one seems to care about it one way or the other. So to me it's just like anything else - buy it for a scrap price and you're a lot less likely to lose money on it. The car I did buy, I paid about scrap value for.
430's can be had cheap, real cheap around here. 455's will bring $400-500 in running condition and are more desireable. With tranny I can get them for $200-300 in good running condition.
my dad pulled it a few months ago to avoid it going to the crusher, with the intention of selling it. How can I tell the trans from switch pitch to th-400. It came out of a 68 electra so its most likely a th-400 from what you guys have said. the frame was shot, the bottom half sheetmetal was gone, but it still ran, pulled some of the decent trim etc off of it before sending it off. I think he was wanting $400 out of it, just didnt know if that was reasonable.
$400 aint unreasonable for a running 430 with a trans... however if the oil pump housing/timing cover is leaking oil you are in for a REAL friggin treat... NOT an easy fix and not cheap either
I paid $500 for a 430/Th400 from a 68 Riviera,already cleaned and painted with new starter,fuel pump,chrome trans pan,etc.I thought it was a steal at this price.
v8buick.com is the largest buick performance forum. selling it depends where you are at. some of the 430's had the big heads/manifolds. switch pitch made 65-67 on the 2 and 3 speeds. drag racing use a switch and you have basically a 4 spd auto. 2 low and 2 lockups. the only issue with bbb's is the oiling system. a set of alum heads and it will weigh less than a sbc with big torque. i have been the bbb route. i run a sbb in my dragster. less worries at 7k.
Pulled from driving 67 buick wildcat convertible. 10.25 compression 360 hp, switch pitch trans. Freshen Up and mild upgrades, drive it.
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