Go Fast(er) 350 Suggestions?

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by pbulski, Dec 26, 2017.

  1. pbulski

    pbulski Well-Known Member

    I've read through many of the threads on how the 350 is capable of making big power and I know everyone wants to go fast with little cash. I'm looking for your best suggestion.

    I have a '71 GS 350 which has been rebuilt 0.03o over, "mild street cam" (don't have exact specs but could probably get them), electronic ignition, and B&M shiftkit in the turbo350. Basic reliable refresh after a lot of miles. My intention is to swap with an LS3 and Tremec 6 speed but this won't happen until later this year or maybe next.

    I'm signed up for 3 of the Optima Ultimate Street Car events this year beginning in April and the 200ish rear wheel HP just isn't enough! I hate to spend too much on an engine that won't be around long and that's where I need your help. What crafty old veteran tricks do you have?

    What would you suggest would be an economical way to squeeze a few more HPs out without throwing away good money? Thanks for your help!
     
    8ad-f85 likes this.
  2. 8ad-f85

    8ad-f85 Well-Known Member

    If you consider using the Buick and not do the LS3 swap, you'll only invest once.
    My questioning the swap is based on suspicion of 'serious power or don't bother'...and the fact that LS aren't exactly cheap with serious power.
    Otherwise, head porting and more cam with a piston upgrade from low compression is a good starting point.
     
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  3. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Nitrous.
     
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  4. Houmark

    Houmark Well-Known Member

    Cheapest way would be a DIY port job, mill the heads for more compression and find out which cam is in it, and see if there's a more suitable one for the new compression..

    What do you have for exhaust and carb?
     
  5. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    Anybody can take the easy way out. My motor has lasted over 20 years now banging to 6 grand at will.
     
  6. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Make do till you can do the LS3 swap, there's nothing you can do at this point that will be cost effective, the money spent on porting will far out weigh the gain to be had. To do better than what you have you'll need a full build to see any real gains,....my suggestion anyway
     
    MrSony likes this.
  7. alec296

    alec296 i need another buick

    2004r and 4.10 gears. Which can work with the LS engine also.
    Or turbos.
    You have no clue what’s inside your current engine so you can’t gauge what’s really going to improve it. And everything is a combination that needs to work together not just more power out of the engine.
     
    Golden Oldie 65 likes this.
  8. ceas350

    ceas350 "THE BURNER"

    Turbos or nitro
     
  9. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    455 and forget about the LS swap
     
  10. alec296

    alec296 i need another buick

    You could recurve distributer for faster advance and a Quadrajet Power rebuilt carb and a 24-2600 small block rated torque converter. The torque converter will bring the rpm closer to the torque peak faster .
    Find out what cam specs are, what compression Pistons are, carb, torque converter and rear end gear is. There may be something else that can be done but you left out too much to gauge what’s lacking.
     
    8ad-f85 likes this.
  11. Houmark

    Houmark Well-Known Member

    My suggestion was only if topic starter could do it himself.. I've "ported" ( flow optimized ) and milled couple of post 72' heads myself, and power contra cash it's worth it.. Time consuming and messy, but inexpensive..
     
    8ad-f85 likes this.
  12. Buick#455

    Buick#455 Well-Known Member

    How much cash do you want to spend......
    Turbos are not cheap, can’t just slap one of two on & go.
    Trust me, I know!
    Nitrous is ur best bang for your buck.
     
  13. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    NITROUS.....You wanted☛CHEAP☚ and no trans or engine removal or dismantle✔.
     
    Fox's Den and 300sbb_overkill like this.
  14. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Yes nitrous is the best bet for your goals... you may even like the little 350 under the squeeze. There was a guy running mid 12s in the quarter with a worn out 8:1 compression 350 and a 150 shot all in a full weight skylark. He added a mild cam and headers at the end but it was in the 12s with the stock cam and manifolds?

    As much as I love the Buick 350 the LS engines are amazing. I have been doing lots of LS engines lately and it is fun and low cost. On the LM-7 (2005 gmc 5.3) I just added a cam and headers and it was up a hundred Hp and did not look any drivability.

    A quote from a previous post:

     
  15. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    Unfortunately the LS engine will probably beat out the 350 Buick. You will have to rebuild the entire engine and do all the mods that have been published here, especially in the oil department. This will get the Buick 350 up to the modern times of the LS motor, but, then again doing performance upgrades to the LS motor will probably beat out the 350 Buick motor.

    This crap all comes down to how fast do you want the car to go, Period.

    There is not a darn thing wrong with the 350 Buick motor, damn strong and takes good abuse.

    I have a built motor (blueprinted) that I have been racing on and off and drive on the street for over 22 years now and it still runs about the same 1/4 mile times. It has taken till now for it to slow down some. I still ran a 12.42 with a 75 shot of nitrous. That should keep the LS motor at bay don't you think? I run about a 13.60 otherwise.

    Stick a 455 with Jim Weise suggestions and no one will touch you. A Hellcat maybe...maybe. I have seen the 455's launch at the track plenty of time over the years, they rocket out of the hole..

    Why don't you forget that crap LS motor and stick a Turbo V6 Buick in there, there is a boatload of parts for that bad boy and I have seen them too go down the track and they leave black marks for about an 1/8 mile and that is with traction. Nobody can touch a GN.

    So pick your poison.
     
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  16. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    I must not "get it"
    I really like the 5.3 in my wifes Tahoe, quiet, smooth, mileage aint bad, better than the 4.3 in her old AWD Safari.
    Immediate low end torque is nowhere near the 350 in my GS, I'm sure the drive by wire has a lot to do with that.
    An LS in my GS Id find boring, it would lose its soul:(
     
  17. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    My LS6 kicks it pretty well, low to mid 12's stock. That's rowing the gears too.
     
  18. Donuts & Peelouts

    Donuts & Peelouts Life's 2 Short. Live like it.

  19. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Yeah, look at where the torque comes in on the engine Sean posted with the 2 different cams;

    Stock cam- 353 hp @ 5200, 384 lb-ft @ 4,300
    Crane Cam-442 hp @ 6,200, 412 lb-ft @ 5,000

    Max torque close to where the max HP was designed for the sbb 350!

    What low end torque? If it wasn't for the awesome gearing from the modern transmission behind the LS, it wouldn't be sh!7 off the line! Seriously, bolt a TH350 behind an LS with a 2.56:1 rear gear and lets see how well it keeps up with a sbb 350 with the same setup off the line pulling into traffic? Who do you think would win?:rolleyes::D

    Now to compare apples to apples, install a roller cam in the sbb 350, rods that will handle more than 6,000 RPM with pistons(and lighten them up a bunch) that gives it at least 9:1 compression and give it some air flow with coil on plug with fuel injection backed up with the same modern transmission the LS has behind it and then compare the 2.

    Adding stroke and bore is also an option with a sbb 350 to add another 20 to 30 cubes depending on what the sonic test results were. Doing this only makes the low end torque come in bigger and better!

    Here is a performance budget build that ended up making enough power to not even want to consider a me too LS engine swap("you swap in an LS, me too");

    http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/the-dyno-numbers-are-in.200499/

    All that power potential with a factory cast crank!

    IMO the LS engines are WAY over rated.:rolleyes: Its WAY cooler beating a car with an LS swapped in it with an old school engine than beating an LS swap with another LS swap.;)
     
  20. 8ad-f85

    8ad-f85 Well-Known Member

    The torque peaks being high suggesting (without much snopes or google to proof) that the CSA and head characteristics have much to do with that.

    It's tough to read this and not interpret, "I have a Buick that I really don't care enough about to invest in and will later do the bellybutton swap that everyone else does...and spend money on that instead".
    No disrespect intended, I like any kind of engine or brand.

    That does sound really fun to run your car in!!
    :) :) :)
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2017
    Mark Demko likes this.

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