Thanks for the replies everyone. It sounds like I should probably install the cam degreed straight up. I appreciate the other suggestions and understand them. I have completed head porting before on 455 motors and gasket matching, I don't want to do that tedious work again or pay for any of that. I am not trying to squeeze more HP out of it. The TA intake was recently installed that came with the motor and that is the only real reason I will be using it is for the weight loss. The motor was rebuilt in the 88, see picture below that had a tag mounted on the back side by one of the heads. It has less than 2000 miles on it and was just recently in another car. Apparently it sat for many years due to the owner passing away. The car was recently sold to someone and they decided to go 455 after installing the intake and the HEI. I will probably pull the heads off and measure the piston depth just so I know what it is. And probably install the TA front cam bearing while I am into it. I have had headers before on 350 and 455 Buicks, but I don't want to mess with them anymore. The trans is built and ready, but not set up for lock-up. I may check to see if I can get that feature added again. Stall is 2200. The rear-end, not yet complete. I am still shopping around for it and intend to do 4.10 gearing, but may go to a high 3 series. One thing I should have also mentioned my tires are 26" diameter. Right now with my current motor im doing 3000rpm at 70mph with TH350 trans.
I am doing 2200 rpm with the 2004 trans locked up in 4th at 65-70 mph. I run 373 gears and a 275-60-15 MT drag radial. I used the same size with a BFG TA Radial tires. I want to go with the 410 gear, I also run a 3000 stall convertor, but I am able to spin to 6200 rpm or so. My convertor is a Pro Torque and it did cost me 800 big ones. I imagine that is because I hit it with nitrous. Others may be cheaper but I never checked and just let my trans builder make the decision on that. your 2200 convertor with the 410 gear should work well together. The 410 gear will get it out and the low stall will let the torque work. Should be at 3500 instantly! Bang 2nd at 5200 and let it rip!
Because this came up today... Not getting into the semantics or splitting hairs here, just a reference of results from a hobbyist effort. Not trying to push anyone into head porting, just challenging in a friendly way the statement of a trans swap being the best improvement by whatever metric was mentioned. Just FYI. https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/350-head-port-polish-and-cam-swap.268581/page-7
I'm @ 2,400 r's @ 70 mph, locked convertor, 410 gear, 2004r trans, 255-70-15's. Can run with the dogs on the x-way.
I think a TA 212 straight up @70* (or whatever close to this it actually came out to be--68*-72* would be fine, it doesn't have to be spot-on perfect for this to work) using a 2200 converter in a 200-4r trans with a 4.10 gear would be a pretty powerful combination, regardless of compression (more is more, less is less, but relatively speaking). This gearing and stall would allow the cam to exist in its spotlight, with little to no bog down low since the 'low' would be very short lived with the gearing, along with the converter helping it to push past it. Even with no head porting or headers, the engine should produce no less than 250 hp, and probably closer to 275, with torque well in excess of 350 ft. lbs. This is with low compression running all day and night on regular pump gas. Higher compression and premium fuel using the same components would probably see gains of 20-30 hp and ft. lbs., but at the cost of an extra $0.75+ per gallon more. Personally, I'd be highly tempted to bump compression (if it were a new rebuild) and burn the better fuel, get another 2 mpg out of it, and probably bump the fuel economy it'll already have well past 25 (probably closer to 30) mpg. As is though, would be a strong runner and hella fun.
^^X2 got that right! That combo would be a fun combo the out of the hole launch would be nuts. You would have a car out on anyone that challenges you. If it can do a 1.70 60 ft at the track you would be deadly on the street. That 410 gear will keep anyone from catching you, then you got 4th gear just in case ha ha bye.
Sounds like a sweet little ride. That 212 cam will be a nice match. I once read that a non-lock up torque converter will add 5-8% increase in rpm for same speed with lock-up or compared to manual tranny (personally, I average it out to 6.5% and use that). With 26" tires, this will leave the engine spinning in the upper 2200 rpm range @ 60 mph.....not too bad. Bob
