[Larry_Rarus]

I have owned a 4-cyl '62 LeMans for a number of years. I participate in this forum as well as the pontiacregistry.com. All of the discussion regarding 61-62 Tempests revolves around either the 1-bbl or 4-bbl four banger (of course the 326 Pontiac was available in '63). That's absolutely fine. However, it did make me curious. Does anyone out there have, or know of, a 215ci V8 '62. I've never seen one in real life or even pictures for that matter.

[mechanickeith]

Larry, Importsmasher on this forum has a very nice 62 with a factory 215. He is here in the Phoenix area also.

[jusjay]

I have been collecting parts for the last 7 years to convert my 62 4-cyl to a 215 V8. I have a buick 215 V8 but I am holding out for a true pontiac 215 ( I don't want to drill the crank for the rope shaft). I have everything else now.

[importsmasher]

As Mechanickeith said, I have one. It is in a 62 LeMans. It is not the original engine, but it is a factory Tempest 215. The engine is tired, and I plan to replace it with a Pontiac engine eventually. You can see a photo of the car (not the engine) at www.southwestv8.com.
Importsmasher

[importsmasher]

btw, MechanicKeith, the car isn't so nice any more. I used it to commute 86 miles round trip for a couple of years, so it is kind of worn out...
Importsmasher

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by Larry_Rarus

I have owned a 4-cyl '62 LeMans for a number of years. I participate in this forum as well as the pontiacregistry.com. All of the discussion regarding 61-62 Tempests revolves around either the 1-bbl or 4-bbl four banger (of course the 326 Pontiac was available in '63). That's absolutely fine. However, it did make me curious. Does anyone out there have, or know of, a 215ci V8 '62. I've never seen one in real life or even pictures for that matter.

They are pretty rare , but :
You can use a later British version (yes, BMC bought the tooling) which was made until 2002 I think. They made 3.5,3.9,4.0 and 4.6 versions.
One problem with the older blocks can be the corrosion from anti freeze sitting in the block to long.
Im building a 3.5 V8 for a Group 44 replica Triumph TR-7 now (the factory made a V8 version of the TR7 called a TR8) the bare block weighs 75 lbs, and is a real neat engine. A Buick 350 HEI unit drops right in and they do have a nice aftermarket for it also.
They had two versions in the beginning : The Olds which used I think 4 headbolts/cylinder and the Buick had 5. Olds even offered a Turbo 215 in 62-63 called the Jetfire.

[Larry_Rarus]

To jusjay: It sounds like importsmasher has your engine. His website says he intends to replace it with a 400ci.

When I ordered the build sheet for my '62 Le Mans from Pontiac Historic Services (they can go back to 1961, my particular car was manufactured on March 26, 1962), they supplied a ton of other production information. Here's what relates to the 215ci engine:

Code 91Z----Special Equipment Buick V8, 185HP, 215 displacement, 4-bbl, manual transmission, quantity built=90
Code 96Y----Export Buick V8, 185HP, 215 displacement, 4-bbl, automatic transmission, quantity built=103
Code 97Y----Special Equipment Buick V8, 185HP, 215 displacement, 4-bbl, automatic transmission, quantity built=813

That pretty much puts it into perspective. Only 90 were produced with stick shifts! Only a little more than 800 automatics were produced for domestic use. Compare that with approximately 115,000 4-bangers. It pretty much explains why we don't hear them discussed these days. I wonder if there's a lucky person out there with a 215 stick. Even more, I wonder if that person understands its rarity. Now if I can only find that barn it's hidden in............

To importsmasher: Was the 215 reliable? While I know it couldn't pull like a Pontiac V8 did it "feel good" when you stepped on the gas? Two more questions: Is it a 4-bbl? PHS lists only 4-bbl for carbs but I heard somewhere that a 2-bbl 155HP engine may have been available. Also, is it cast iron or aluminum?

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by Larry_Rarus

... To importsmasher: Was the 215 reliable? While I know it couldn't pull like a Pontiac V8 did it "feel good" when you stepped on the gas?... Also, is it cast iron or aluminum?

I'll let 'masher' answer for himself. But I owned a '62 Skylark for a number of years, and can give some of the answers. Yes, it was a reliable engine. And, yes, the 185 HP V8 "felt good when stepping on the gas"- even with the 2-speed automatic- a fairly "quick" car. All 215 engines were aluminum, with cast-in iron sleeves that were ribbed on the outside, so sleeves couldn't be replaced. Back "in the day", the engine had a reputation for overheating and warping stuff, mainly the heads. Mine cooled okay, and I've got my own theories about the problems-
1) A number of owners admitted they didn't use the correct coolant. Back then, you had to search out particular coolants intended for aluminum engines, to avoid excessive corrosion.
2) The idiot light for over-temp was almost useless. I got mine hot (boiled over a little) once, when I didn't realize I was slowly losing coolant from a heater hose leak. Afterward, I wondered why I hadn't seen the idiot light come on, so I replaced the sending unit. As is my habit, I put the new unit in a pan of water with a thermometer on the stove to check it. It wouldn't do anything! Then I looked up the spec on it- it's supposed to activate at 232`F! What good does that do anybody?! I wound up adding a small mechanical temerature guage under the dash.

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by Larry_Rarus

To importsmasher: Was the 215 reliable? While I know it couldn't pull like a Pontiac V8 did it "feel good" when you stepped on the gas? Two more questions: Is it a 4-bbl? PHS lists only 4-bbl for carbs but I heard somewhere that a 2-bbl 155HP engine may have been available. Also, is it cast iron or aluminum?

Millions of Range Rovers and Land Rover owners cant be wrong.
One of the reasons GM dropped the engine was 8 out of 10 blocks were scrap because of core shift.

[importsmasher]

Larry_Rarus, the car has been incredibly reliable. The issues it has now, at 160,000 miles, are a bottom end rattle at startup and it needs the carburetor rebuilt. I haven't been driving it much the last year or so. I do plan to put a Pontiac engine in the car, but it won't be for a couple of years. I have a 6 month old son and a major home renovation project keeping me busy, plus my wife is starting a business, so I won't be doing an engine swap until things settle down.

My engine is a 4-barrel engine, although I wouldn't call it fast. It is faster than my wife's 6 cylinder 66 Mustang. All of the literature I have seen shows the 2 barrel in 61 and the 4 barrel in 62. My literature also shows that the 215 was only available with the automatic transmission. Even the factory service manual says this.
Importsmasher

[jusjay]

Guess I'm still waiting for an engine. I will be pulling down my 215 this winter and will have the crank drilled for the ropeshaft, with any luck I will have a 215 running for next year. I would love to find a manual bellhousing!

[Old Goat Racer]

My Mom bought a new 63 F85 with a 215 2-barrel 3-speed auto. It could barely keep up with my buddies 59 Impala 283 2-barrel powerglide.

[oldcarnut]

Hate to hijack but if anyone is looking for a set of magnesium weber intake manifolds for a 215 buick. I have a set they a rare as rocking horse poop. I will post a pic asap.

[Joehook]

Originally Posted by Larry_Rarus

I have owned a 4-cyl '62 LeMans for a number of years. I participate in this forum as well as the pontiacregistry.com. All of the discussion regarding 61-62 Tempests revolves around either the 1-bbl or 4-bbl four banger (of course the 326 Pontiac was available in '63). That's absolutely fine. However, it did make me curious. Does anyone out there have, or know of, a 215ci V8 '62. I've never seen one in real life or even pictures for that matter.

Here's a couple pics of the one I'm building