Cam/Converter

ok... i will be changing my radiator this summer probably sometime soon within the next month and a half or so... the idea is that while the radiator is out i might as well change the cam as it would make it easier. so, my question to you guys is this.. the engine is a SF code '70 455 and is completely stock. i'd like to go as radical on the cam as possible without having to change lifters, rockers, etc etc.. unless i can get that stuff cheap.. my budget on the car is about $1500 this summer (for now.. depends on the new job.. stupid $8/hr crap) anyway.. cam recommendations and possible torque converter recommendations as well. the tranny is a 375 and as far as i know is just a low stall stocker that came outta a electra way back when. i figure i'd get a big kick in performance by just changing the converter but was going to wait until i get the cam in. i do have plans for a HEI distributor too, waiting until after i change the cam for ignition man to do the build for me.

the idea is ... adam (smartin) has it out for me at salem.. no way will i let a centurion whoop on the skylark.. i'd like to hit 12's easy even though i've never driven at a track yet.. anyone care to give me some recommendations.. i'm not great with the cam stuff so anything is good

 

Hi, If you go with new cam you have to use new lifters too or you will have a ground up cam and a motor full of metal. Tom W

 

the carb is a stage 1 carb, 800cfm QJet attached to a edelbrock performer, the ignition is being tended to when i decide what cam i'm going to use, and the exhaust is poston headers dumping to 2.5" exhaust... if that helps any, it just has an RV cam in it right now

 

Do you have AC in that car, Kyle? If so, the condenser needs to come out to get the cam out.

 

ya, stupid AC... its fine though i imagine while all the stuff is out i can clean the engine bay up a bit too..

 

Our 226/238 would work phenominally in that. Don't need much converter for it either, About 2200 rpm will shred the tires off the thing. Jim Burek P.A.E. ENTERPRISES

 

i'm not sure what to go with yet.. i'd like a nice kit with everything included and TA seems to have that with their TA413 kit.. not sure if its still too radical or not.. i do plan to do head and intake work next summer so i'm trying to think ahead too.. converter i think i'm going with larry and looking at a 2500rpm stall.. i got a few names of people to check with and see what they have to say.. any other suggestions, recommendations, what have you...

 

I know heads are a real big thing to making power with Buicks. You may want to consider doing the heads first. You don't need to remove them anyway when doing a cam swap. But that will even helpl with whatever cam you're running now.

 

ya, i'm slightly backwards in my approach, the reasoning is that since i'm going to have everything outta the way due to changing the radiator that i might as well change it now while its going to be easier then do the heads later when its worth my time to do them right. i just have a comp cams RV cam in it now, lots of low end power but not a lot up top... the heads and intake will be done next summer most likely and i'm sure i'll see one hell of an improvement in performance combined with the cam and converter this time around. just so happens its going to be easier for me to do the cam now rather than later.

 

I would definitely consider looking into the 226/238 cam. We put that in my brother's car, once warmed up the idle is practically stock, and even with a stock converter we had problems trying to keep from smoking the P275-50-15 Nitto drag radials out back. (10 bolt 3.73 posi)

 

Well, just so you know that the greatest cam in the world won't do you much good if the engine can't "breathe", and that's through the intake and heads.

I'd suggest putting in your best cam choice. But your best performnce gains won't be realized until the heads/intake is done.

 

Kyle,
The guy doing my heads is in Clio. He does a nice clean up for $350. That would be bare heads. I will post pics when done. I think it is about $250 more for valve job and assembly. So I will have about $600 in labor.

 

226/238

I would consider the 226/238 cam as well
I have one in my skylark and it idles real nice when warm, and it is a load of fun to drive, I used it with the 2200 rpm converter like Jim suggested and it has been great, 3.73 gears and now I need new tires.

anyway I switched to a dual quad intake and a set of slicks and now I am going to try a 3000 rpm converter.

just to see if I can get this tub to move off the line a little better.

Joe

 

ok looks like i'm getting a loan this week and ordering the stage 1 aluminum heads from TA that are on sale for BPG members, i'm then going to get a TA 288-94H cam, with a JW 2500rpm stall .. he'll be doing bowl work and some other stuff as well... not sure what kinda hp gains i'm gonna get but it should be sufficient enough.. this is the plan anyway.. i might stuff it on the cam and say forget it but we'll see.. i do need a new converter.. but i might go with just stock heads too to save myself some money.. its expensive enough getting the heads... i'm gonna get a full total from Jim soon and see what it looks like and then go from there... whatever i decide to do i'm gonna take pictures and probably going to need to consult you guys on the best way to install this stuff... Jim says he probably won't get his hands on another set of heads for another couple weeks so i got time to think