I have a 1983, currently with a 4.1 litre V-6. I am planing a 455 transplant and need some advice on the electronic's end. My car is a Limited power everything. What are most of you doing for the computer and electronics? I have just removed the ac/heater and the box on the firewall with a block off plate and ditched the harness to the ac/heater area. This should open up and make room for the Big Block. I plan on an electronic distributor. Looks like there is wires from hell on the motor (smog/emission crud). Any advice before I proceed any further. I don't care for cruise and trying to get rid of that junk too. Do I need any emission junk to keep it legal here in Texas?. Will the Flat/ Stock hood work with a low rise manifold?. I will be installing a 10 pt. cage to stiffing the frame and performance is the name of the game. __________________________________________________ Tommy GSCA #2025
Tom As you know your ECM is located on the passenger side and all your engines sensors to control it are harnessed and run to it. Simply remove the ECM and the harness going to the engine bay, save it if you wish. The engine harness is located on the drives side and clips together with the front clip lighting harness. This harness is all you need. I would highly recomend removing the front clip for what you are doing. There is only 8 or 10 bolts holding it on and two people can lift it off hood radiator and all. GOOD LUCK
Stock hood will work fine, just cut out all the useless braces. As for frame stiffening, forget the roll cage... get the major fixes done first: Get a G-force-style crossmember Body bushings Add the front frame ties (jounce bars) Fab up a rear frame tie (Similar to a hitch) Box the C-channel ...all in all this will stiffen the frame significantly and cost less than a cage.
If you can't find the jounce bars check out the front end tie in pics in this forum for some pics of the tie ins for my 83 455 regal. Thanks Dustin
83 Bruzilla Thanks guys for the advice. I plan on running faster than 11 sec/quarter, so that is why I want the roll cage. I am aware of the other mods and have thought about those and they are good mods. Now about the 455 Big Block. I have been checking around the GSCA club and it seems the 455 is kind of pricey to have one done up. I have two standard bore motors complete and don't trust the local engine builders. All they know is the brand x. A Buick cannot be built like a Chevy or they will blow up. Prices so far are $5000 to $11,000 ready to drop in. These are from T/A Performance, Tri-Shield, and Automotive Machine and Performance. The guy from EL Paso did not Return my e-mail on the 455 or the new 500 c.i.d. he is help developing. I don't want to run a Chevy 572 c.i.d., but it sure is tempting for just a liitle more than the 455. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a tough argument. The chev is certainly easier to and cheaper to bolt together and work on. With better parts availability it'll be much easier to get to 11's with a BBC. The reason it's easier: Everyone Has Already Done It! BBB's in the 11's are few and far between. It takes some skill and work to make one of these puppies sing. Personally, I'm far prouder of my Buick than any other engine I've put together. It's the difference between art and paint-by-numbers IMHO.
My dad always said that if it had a trishield logo it had better have a buick motor. So i will never put a bowtie in a buick skin. Thanks Dustin
Tom, what do you expect to spend to put yourself in the 11's. This is not a cheap hobby and you usually get exactly what you pay for. If you do not have extensive engine building knowledge then you are better off paying someone who does.
