350 roots blowers

Discussion in 'High Tech for Old Iron' started by Michael Kise, May 23, 2002.

  1. Michael Kise

    Michael Kise Member

    I have been looking for a sight like this for a few years now. I am building my own roots style blower kit for my 72 Skylark. This is one of the smaller 144 B&M style blowers. I basically used the long nose off of the Ford B&M blower kit with the offset drive assembly to clear the distributor. I have the manifold figured out also if I can get the spacers finished up, I can use a small block Chevy blower intake. The port alignment from the SBC and the SBB are only about 1/16"-1/8" different. I can drill the spacers and use Weiand remote thermostat housing and plumb it in. I am setting this up to make 7 psi boost, due to I am using this for a street car and will be running pump gas. Has anyone attempted this before that you have heard of. I know the centrifugal style blowers are easier to mount, but I have had quite a bit of roots style blower experience. It also falls back to "Dare to be different". If you guys have any ideas or suggestions please let me know:grin:
     
  2. Stg1Regal

    Stg1Regal Yep Traction Issues!:)

    Michael
    There has been one fabbed Ive seen I beleive the guys name was "Bill Kennedy?" he drives a Red 37 Buick.
    From what I remember it was a either a Edlebrock or Offy intake used cant remember sigle or dual plane:Do No: but a intake none the less for a Buick eng (his case a 455).
    No intake machining needed to be done to fit it to a eng.
    He also used a offset snout from a Ford but notched it so the rad hose could fit through with being squeezed between his HEI and the blower snout.
    The top of the intake where the carb did mount was machined to
    adapt the blower case ( a B&M 177) other than that is was a straight foward install , other than rerouting the heater hoses and such .
    He also fabbed a crank pully from some other brand of make it did fit just had to be machined and redrilled to fit over the Buick crank and bolt to the dampner.
    That particular "blower" was on a 455 ( specs not known) in a mid 80`s Chevy short bed pickup that was lowered, went around 12`s at or over 110 .... not shabby.
    As I recall it ( blower set up) was for sale a couple of years ago at the nats .
    Maybe someone here on the board knows him and can get you in touch with him.
    My self been pondering the Idea but leaning toward the ATI procharger for boost on my Regal 455 but any way you look at it THE BOOST will help no mattaer what , besides that it looks COOL.
    Never know I still might try that since you can pick one up for cheap and a dime a dozen at a Chevy meet.
    I think B&M line no longer exsitis I beleive it was sold to Holley for their Mini Blwr line, I know Weiland still makes those small ones simular to the 177.
    Good luck in your quest and let me know what addtl info you find
    heres a link to a company that makes the BIGGER roots blowers for Buicks that fit and bolt on maybe you can go the BIG route or just get the pulley drive for the crank.

    http://www.hamptonblowers.com/
     
  3. GSXMEN

    GSXMEN Got Jesus?

    Larry Bell was the guy with the red 37 Buick 2 dr. sedan. I believe he was from Illinois.

    He used to have the blower on the 455 in his Chevy truck. He tried it in the 37, but there isn't alot of clearance in there - ran into alot of heat issues.

    Mike Tweedy is working on a kit (blower, brackets, etc.) for the 350 Buick engine using the ATI Procharger w/wo an intercooler. Intercooled boost is the best way to go - keeps the intake charge temp. down so you can run pump gas even when you're running a good amount of boost.

    *As for being 'different', you're running a Buick - that's already different!:Brow:
     
  4. blownsmobile

    blownsmobile Member

    I'm in the process of putting a 671 blower on my olds 350, I got the 671 on trade for doing a set of headers on my buddies 66 lemans. I am going through hampton for the intake and drive kit. he is a great guy but I have been waiting for my stuff since mid February, I dont blame him I blame me for ordering in the springtime like everyone else. should be running in a few weeks and should be like you said different.


    :blast: naturally asperated
     
  5. Michael Kise

    Michael Kise Member

    Thanks for the replies.I'm sorry for the delay, I just got back from working the NHRA race in Joliet and am trying to catch up. I looked at modifying an aluminum TA intake, but I did not want to use a dual plane. Of course nobody makes a single plane intake for the 350. I got the idea of using a small block Chevy intake from a guy up at Norwalk a couple of years ago. He runs a 68' GS California with a 350 and he had a Chevy tunnel ram on it. He made the adapter plates for it. It looked pretty slick. The B&M blower line was bought by Holley about 3 years ago. I am the blower tech at Holley, That is why I decided to use the 144 first just to see how it will all work out. I planned on being a lot farther along, but you know how it is, work, wife, kids, and house. This deal looks good on paper so I think it will work out fine. The only thing I do not think there is a class at the GS Nats here in BG that I can run it in when finished. Anybody have a set of 73' and up rods they want to get rid of? I have 4 engines and they are all 70'-72'. Thanks again!!!
     
  6. GSXMEN

    GSXMEN Got Jesus?

    Well...depending on how fast you're running - should be a couple of classes you could run in. Bracket 1 or 2 or even Q 16 if you get that motor in a light enough body. No matter what, there will be a bracket class for you!:)

    Are you in R & D by any chance? It would be nice to have a little 'inside' help, getting a blower manifold for the 350 Buick.:grin:
     
  7. Michael Kise

    Michael Kise Member

    Scott, Thanks for the info. I am in Tech service, but I deal with the engineers all the time. I brought this blower deal up to them before I started on it. They said "NO Way"I am not getting any help from Holley on this. I am doing it on my own. I talked with Mike Tomazewski at TA Performance a year or so ago and he said he would be interested on me keeping him updated on my progress, but It is slow going at this point. I sort of have the car on hold until I get some other stuff done. Holley is like many of the other aftermarket companies out there. They feel there is not enough market for the Buick products. If it will not bolt to a Camaro or Mustang they will not mess with it. :ball: Thanks again, Mike Kise
     

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