| Buick V8 engines | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 401 cu in "Nailhead" in a 1964 Buick Wildcat | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Buick (General Motors) |
| Also called | Fireball V8 (nickname) Nailhead (1953–1966) |
| Production | 1953–1981 Buick City (engine block and heads) Saginaw Metal Casting Operations |
| Layout | |
| Configuration | 90º V8 |
| Displacement | 215–455 cu in (3.5–7.5 L) |
| Cylinder bore | 3.5–4.31 in (88.9–109.5 mm) |
| Piston stroke | 2.8–3.9 in (71.1–99.1 mm) |
| Cylinder block material | Cast iron, Aluminum |
| Cylinder head material | Cast iron, Aluminum |
| Valvetrain | OHV 2 valves x cyl. |
| Compression ratio | 8.8:1–11.0:1 |
| Combustion | |
| Turbocharger | In 1962-63 Oldsmobile Cutlass only |
| Fuel system | Carter AFB or Rochester carburetors |
| Fuel type | Gasoline |
| Cooling system | Water-cooled |
| Output | |
| Power output | 150–360 hp (112–268 kW) |
| Torque output | 220–510 lb⋅ft (298–691 N⋅m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Dry weight | 318–467 lb (144–212 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Buick straight-eight |
| Successor | |
The Buick V8 is a family of V8 engines produced by the Buick division of General Motors (GM) between 1953 and 1981. All were 90° water-cooled V8 OHV pushrod engines, and all were naturally aspirated except one turbocharged version of the 215.
The Buick V8 family can be divided into two sizes, big-blocks and small-blocks (block size classification refers to the engine block's bore spacing and external dimensions, not displacement). All 1953–1966 Buick V8s and the 1967–1976 "big-block" engines shared a 4.75 in (121 mm) bore spacing. The small-block was produced from 1961 to 1981.
Some Buick V8s, such as the 350, 400, and 455, have the same displacements as V8s of other GM divisions, but they are entirely different designs. Buick Nailhead V8s can be distinguished by the top surfaces of their valve covers being horizontal (parallel to the ground). Later Buick small and big block V8s have a front-mounted distributor tilted to the drivers side (like Cadillacs), but siamesed center exhaust ports (unlike Cadillacs).