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Buick 322ci (1953–1956) specs: 322 ci 8-cylinder, 4.00 x 3.20 in (101.6 x 81.3 mm) bore and stroke, 8.5:1 compression. Rated 188-220 hp, 1953–1956.
The Buick 322ci (1953–1956) is oversquare — the 4" bore exceeds the 3.2" stroke by 25.0% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.2" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,500 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 40.3 ci (660 cc).
8.5:1 is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
3 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 188 to 220 hp across 1953–1956.
| Displacement | 322 ci |
|---|---|
| Bore | 4" |
| Stroke | 3.2" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 8.5:1 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.25 |
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Firing order | 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3 |
| Advertised HP | 188–220 hp |
| Years | 1953–1956 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. | Duration int / exh | Valve lift int / exh | LSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | gross | 188 | — | 8.5:1 | — | — | — |
| 1954 | gross | 200 @ 4100 | 309 lb-ft @ 2400 | 8.5:1 | 282° / 292° | 0.378" | 110° |
| 1956 | gross | 220 * | — | — | — | — | — |
Factory specification sheet. Durations are the factory's advertised figures at the basis printed on the sheet, not duration at .050" lift; lobe separation is calculated from the printed valve timing. * Not yet cross-verified.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.250 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,200 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 40.3 ci |
| Static compression | 8.5:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 188 hp | — |
| 1954 | 200 hp | — |
| 1956 | 220 hp | — |
2 factory vehicles, 1953–1956. Each year opens that model's engine table.