Hello everyone! I recently became the proud new owner of a 69 Buick GS project. I have loved cars my whole life, but have never had the opportunity to work on or restore a car until now. My friend is going to help me with this but I am looking for some info on buicks and pics of other 69 GS's. My first is some help with motor rebuild. It has a '72 (I think) 455 M-21 (I think) 4-sp. I would like to make from 400-450 hp out of this motor and keep it on pump gas. Remember this is my first wrench job so you will need to be clear on parts, etc. I don't understand numbers listed with cams like lift, duration and same goes with valves intake and exhaust. I know that you just can't order performance parts out of a catalog and put them together and make them always work. The parts need to match up. Thats what I am looking for. Can any engine builder put together a buick just as easy as a Chevy, or does it take a little more knowledge of buick engines and parts to maximize performance?I am in Central Ia so if there are any engine builders around let me know. I would also like to get a ball park figure on how much you might think it would cost to build a motor in that horsepower range. I am also looking for sheetmetal and understand they don't stamp quarters and fenders, is this true? Any help locating them would also help me. Thank you so much for reading this extremely long post and look forward to chatting and sharing info and pics in the future.:TU:
I wouls not let anyone but an experienced Buick engine builder touch it. Cost for a rebuild like that is 4-6K I would say for a pro to do it. TA aluminum heads are the biggest single power adder, but you do not need them to attain the goal you have set.
Welcome Newbie, Good to see another 69 Saved. Jim is correct, you must first find a Buick Doctor near you, if the engine is running I would do the body first, so you can research the rebuilt and do it right the first time.
