Hi - I have the heads off my 4bbl 72 Buick 350 and I'm considering what I can do to boost performance as I am putting it back together. Engine seems to be in good shape. Here's my understanding, being new to Buicks (and a novice mechanic): One thing I've noticed is that he passenger heads are stamped 73, driver 72 but heads are the same both years. Big difference in hp is in the piston design - mine do looked "dished" so swapping to earlier design (10.1) would boost hp. If I wanted to do this, I'd have to completely remove the engine, right? Everything in Buick is really expensive: $450 for headers, 400 for intake, roller rocker setup over $600. I'd probably spend up to $1000 on the engine now but that's about it. Maybe a cam and pistons would be the best bang for the buck?
I'm thinking cam, "Home ported heads" kb pistons, lifters and port matched fac intake. Keeping the fac exaust manifolds and port matchin them too. Also rebuildin a couple q-jets as per cliffs book recipe. Oh and ta dual groove cam bearings
I'd suggest installing a mild cam and have the heads ported. If you are prepared to up the comp ratio (mill the heads) you could go to a bit bigger cam which will work well with ported heads. After that, put some effort into timing it properly and make sure the carb is up to the task
I think the headers, then a 4bbl intake make the most improvement before I rebuilt my engine. When I rebuilt it, I went with the now extinct Poston GS114 with .480 intake/.495 exhaust, bored it .030, zero decked the block, ditched the factory 8.5:1 pistons for 10.25:1 Hypereutectic slugs and 75 rods and crank, and rebuilt the heads with heavy duty springs and Competition Cams rockers and shafts (not made anymore either, I think) It was like night and day, and I think a well thought out selection of cam and pistons will probably make the best improvement, but youl'll be choking the engine if you don't put headers on it or maybe extrudehone the factory manifolds so the engine can exhale. If you want to save money, watch the message boards in the parts section. There's always someone selling a 350 intake, headers, etc. Good Luck :TU:
Personally, I wouldn't worry about the pistons right now. Then you would be talking bearings and all the lower end if you were going to take the pistons out anyway. If you have the heads off, I would stick with the top end. Cam would be the first thing, then maybe a mild port to open the heads up a little. I think that would give you the best results quick. I'm not sure if you can do the cam with the motor in the car, I haven't put 1 in a Buick yet. You will need to replace the cam bearings and lifters with a new cam. Anyway, that my opinion. Dan:3gears:
Hey we are on a first name basis here (usually friendly folks here) so tell us a little about yourself and the car. There are many good threads on 350 performance and most will involve cam change and porting of heads for performance upgrades. The change of the pistons will result in a performance upgrade, however there is much work to do to change them. If compression is good and the engine runs well the best bang for your buck will be the heads and the cam and possibly headers. Have you looked at shorty headers? Scott
Great responses already! I am reluctant to take apart more than I did already. I just bought the car about a month ago and hardly got to drive it. The only reason it's apart now is that I had an exhaust leak at the manifold, and the bolts broke fixing the leak. Ok more about me and the car... I'm from just outside of Philadelphia, and I work with computers so I'm a novice mechanic. I also have an 89 Trans Am GTA 350 TPI that I did a lot of work to - nothing too radical still looks stock. Daily driver is a 2k Grand Prix GTP (no mods yet) I don't know much about the history of the Buick except that I know the guy before me had it 10 to 15 years and he's from Reading, PA (owns many buicks) and he bought it from someone also from the area. I attached some pics of the car (not the greatest angles). It was originally a blue car. I figure the paint is "Saturn Yellow" and I can 't find it anywhere. thanks for all the suggestions- -Dan
Since you have the heads off I would look to get a reliable engine using what you have: I say spend $600 to have the heads rebuilt and ported a bit, mill the heads to increase compression to 9.0:1. Mill the intake to match the cut off the heads. Use adjustable puchrods, TA 212 cam and lifters, timing set, and rebuild the carb. Also be sure the dist. gear is in good shape. This saves you a bunch of cash compared to new alum intake, headers, and other bolt ons that do no good if your timing set is sloppy, or valves are burnt. There was a member recently who bolted on headers, intake, and high $ carb however was surprised to find the engine was a turd.... Start with a good foundation and you will be happy. Build a castle on sand and you will be disapointed. :beers2:
You won't get any better advice than that.. Learn what it takes to make some nice ported heads.. Sometimes less is more on the heads.. Don't want to find water..
