1955 Buick Engine Fuel and Exhaust Systems Specifications

1955 Buick General Fuel and Exhaust Specification

1955 Buick Carter Carburetor and Choke

IMPORTANT: Calibrations are governed by the CODE number on the attached code tag.

1955 Buick Carter Carburetor and Choke Calibrations

1955 Buick Stromberg Carburetor and Choke Calibrations

IMPORTANT: Calibrations are governed by the CODE number stamped on air horn directly above the fuel level sight plug.

1955 Buick Stromberg Carburetor and Choke Calibrations

3-2 DESCRIPTION OF 1955 BUICK FUEL SYSTEM

1955 Buick Gasoline Tank, Feed Pipe, and Filter

The 1955 Buick gasoline tank is attached by two strap type supports to the body under the trunk compartment, where it is seated against strips of anti-squeak material. Two internal baffles spot-welded to the upper half at centerline of tank at the support seats act as struts to maintain the shape of tank and prevent flexing due to weight of gasoline and pull of the supporting straps.

The filler is soldered into its opening in the upper half of tank and the inner end is supported by the left baffle. An internal passage and a groove in the upper end of filler, where the cap seats, provide a protected air vent for the tank. See figure 3-10.

The feed pipe connects to the 1955 Buick gasoline gauge tank unit at top of tank and is supported on the left side of car frame by clips. The front end of feed pipe is connected to the fuel pump by a rubber hose which provides the flexibility required by movement of the engine on its rubber mountings.

A Moraine gasoline filter is located at the gasoline inlet of the carburetor for the purpose of removing any dirt and water which may be present in the gasoline. The filter contains a porous bronze filtering disk and is provided with a plug for draining out the accumulated dirt and water.

1955 Buick Fuel Pump, Carburetor, and Automatic Choke

The combination fuel and vacuum pump is mounted on the right side of the timing chain cover and is actuated by .a hardened, chrome plated, stamped steel eccentric mounted on front side of the camshaft sprocket. The fuel section is mounted above the vacuum section, has extra-large valves, and has a built-in air dome with diaphragm to dampen out pulsations in the fuel stream. The pump construction and operation is described in Section 3-D.

Engines of all series are equipped in production with either a Carter or a Stromberg down draft type carburetor. Both makes are considered standard and it is not intended that these units be interchanged to provide “optional” equipment.

Series 40 engines use a 2-barrel carburetor and Series 50-60-70 engines use a 4-barrel carburetor. All 1955 Buick carburetor assemblies include automatic choke mechanism and an accelerator vacuum switch. A thick fibre gasket is used between the carburetor and the intake manifold to insulate the carburetor from the heat of the manifold.

The 1955 Buick Carter carburetors are described in Section 3-E (2-barrel) and Section 3-F (4-barrel). The 1955 Buick Stromberg carburetors are described in Section 3-G. The accelerator vacuum switches are described in Section 10-E.

1955 Buick Air Cleaner and 1955 Buick Intake Silencer

All series engines are equipped with heavy duty oil bath air cleaners combined with intake silencers. The 1955 Buick air cleaner removes abrasive dust and dirt from the air before it enters the engine through the carburetor. The 1955 Buick intake silencer reduces to a very low level the roaring noise made by the air as it is drawn through the intake system. The cleaner and silencer also functions as a flame arrester in event of “backfire” through the intake system.

The 1955 Buick Series 40 air cleaner and silencer is mounted on top of the carburetor. Air enters the cleaner first and then passes through the silencer.

The 1955 Buick Series 50-60-70 inverted elbow type air cleaner and silencer is mounted lengthwise on top of the engine. Air enters the silencer first and then passes through the air cleaner located directly above the carburetor. See figure 3-1.

1955 Buick Air Cleaner and Silencer Assemblies

The 1955 Buick air cleaner consists of an oil reservoir and a cleaner element containing a filtering mesh which nests down into the reservoir above the oil level. The reservoir is filled with S.A.E. 50 engine oil to a predetermined level.

Incoming air passes downward through the passage between the oil reservoir and cleaner element, impinges on the surface of the oil and turns upward into the cleaner element. The air carries oil into the element to coat the finely divided filtering mesh. The air thus exposed to a large oil wetted surface to which the dirt and impurities adhere. The cleaned air then passes through the silencer and into the carburetor. See figure 3-1.

When the throttle is closed, any excess oil on the filtering mesh drips back into the reservoir carrying the collected dirt with it. This dirt then settles to the bottom of the reservoir.

1955 Buick Carburetor Throttle Control Linkage

The 1955 Buick carburetor throttle control linkage is designed to provide positive control of the throttle valves through their entire range without being affected by movement of the engine on its rubber mountings. The linkage also serves to operate the accelerator vacuum switch when cranking the engine.

The 1955 Buick accelerator pedal rod is connected to a lever on the lower end of an equalizer shaft which is mounted between the body cowl and the rear end of engine. Movement of the pedal rotates the equalizer shaft, which actuates the carburetor throttle shaft through an upper lever and connecting rod. The throttle return spring is connected to the equalizer shaft upper lever and to an anchor bracket on engine. See figure 3-8.

On cars equipped with Dynaflow Drive, a dash pot is mounted in position to be contacted by an arm of the carburetor throttle lever as the throttle lever closed. The 1955 Buick dash pot cushions the closing of throttle valves to prevent sudden shut off which might cause the engine to stall when the accelerator pedal is suddenly released. The throttle linkage also actuates a separate lever and rod connected to the stator control valve in the Dynaflow high accumulator.

3-3 DESCRIPTION OF 1955 BUICK INTAKE AND EXHAUST SYSTEMS

1955 Buick Intake Manifold and Heat Control

A low-restriction, dual (2 section) intake manifold is bolted to the inner edges of both cylinder heads, where it connects with all inlet ports. The end branches of each section run at 90 degrees to the connecting middle branch, thereby forming a T-junction at the dividing point which assures a uniform division and distribution of fuel to all cylinder inlets. Each manifold section feeds four cylinders-two in each bank. See figure 3-2.

1955 Buick lntake Manifold Distribution

The Series 40 2-barrel carburetor feeds one barrel into each section of its 2-port manifold. The Series 50-60-70 4-barrel carburetor feeds one primary and one secondary barrel into each section of its 4-port manifold.

The 1955 Buick intake manifold is heated and hot spots are provided at the T-junction dividing points by crossover chambers cast along the outer walls of each end branch. These chambers connect to the two middle exhaust passages in each cylinder head. See figure 3-3.

1955 Buick lntake Manifold Heat Chambers

Hot spots located at the dividing junctions aid in vaporizing the heavier particles of fuel which are swept against the outer walls due to their greater momentum. The heated intake manifold also aids in obtaining a uniform fuel distribution.

A heat control valve with a bi-metal thermostat is located in the left exhaust manifold. See figure 3-4.

1955 Buick Manifold Valve View

When the engine is cold and the thermostat closes the valve, the resulting back pressure in the manifold forces exhaust gas through the crossover chambers in intake manifold to the right exhaust manifold. As the engine warms up and the thermostat releases the valve, the flow of hot gas through the crossover chamber is reduced. Restricted openings in the metal intake manifold gaskets further reduce the flow of gases through the manifold when the engine is warm and the heat valve is open.

1955 Buick Exhaust Manifolds, Pipes, and Muffler

Each cylinder exhausts through an individual port into a separate branch of the 1955 Buick exhaust manifold, which is mounted on the outer side of each cylinder head. Use of individual exhaust ports instead of the customary “Siamese” type of porting permits valve timing that improves engine efficiency, minimizes exhaust valve burning, and effects more complete scavenging of exhaust gases from cylinders.

The left 1955 Buick exhaust manifold contains the valve which controls the supply of heat to the intake manifold, as described above (subpar. a). The right 1955 Buick exhaust manifold contains an alloy steel heating tube which is connected by an insulated pipe to the automatic choke thermostat housing. The heat tube is mounted horizontally inside the manifold with the entrance end opening into a heating chamber located on the outside of manifold.

Both 1955 Buick exhaust manifolds discharge into one front exhaust pipe. This pipe crosses under the front of engine from the left manifold to meet with the right manifold in a “Y” joint that provides a common, low-restriction connection with the rear exhaust pipe attached to the muffler on right side of the frame.

The 1955 Buick muffler is an oval-shaped, dynamic flow type having very low back pressure. It is double wrapped of heavy gauge sheet steel with a layer of asbestos placed between wrappings to aid in reduction of noise transfer and prevents any “oil-canning” effect. The 1955 Buick muffler and exhaust pipes are supported by free hanging, rubber-fabric mountings which permit free movement but eliminate transfer of noise and vibration into the passenger compartment.