Next Block will be a Tomahawk !

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by nickbuickgs, Nov 24, 2017.

  1. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    The 455 Buick blocks that you can successfully bush the lifter bores, are few and far between. I have seen a couple.. maybe. Not to mention the fact that the Lifter-tru hardware from BHJ does not exist, as far as I know, not that they can't make it, but don't expect your local shop, that does lifter bore bushing, to have it. Be a shame to spend all the money to bush the lifters, and not be able to dead nuts correct the location.

    I won't discount that this has been done in the past on a 455, but I certainly have never seen it, generally accepted theory is that whatever gain you might get with an optimum lifter/bore clearance, you would lose in strength. I am sure that is why Fernando when thru what he did there, to match lifters to bores to get his desired clearances.

    JW
     
  2. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Thanks Jim that makes sense...
     
  3. Bluzilla

    Bluzilla a.k.a. "THE DOCTOR"

    Good point Jim. Back in the early 80's a fellow board member .... Dave Senderhauf had his 455 lifter bores bushed by the now defunct Pontiac Machineist Guru "Dan Whitmore" of Waukesha Wisconsin. I believe they went a slightly different route as he used small OD bushings for a Ford small block application. That way they didn't have to remove as much material from the block. Can't recall for sure but I think they picked out a Ford lifter that fit their objectives. What a hassle that would be now with all the roller lifter issues finally sorted out.
    Maybe Dave (Daves 67 GS) can chime in to confirm if this is all correct.

    Larry
     
  4. nickbuickgs

    nickbuickgs nickbuickgs

     
  5. nickbuickgs

    nickbuickgs nickbuickgs

    Jim my guy Did one on board members race engine Tom R .874 ford lifter. Buick era 75 block . he has an RMC CnC he had no issues and plenty on material .
    Worked out well
     
  6. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

    Are you referring to Tom Ricks? He is the guy that informed Dad & I about the GSCA. Way back in the fall of 1987!! Jeez, that was a long time ago!!:eek::( He lived in Galesburg, IL then.
     
  7. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Yup, I am sure someone had done one somewhere.. and there certainly are blocks out there that it could be done but even with a 1" OD sleeve, your not going to be able to move the bore to correct location. At least not very far... then again, maybe they did not have to be moved..

    JW
     
  8. nickbuickgs

    nickbuickgs nickbuickgs

    That's Tom Rix . But not the Tom R I was referring to .
     
  9. TurboCrazy

    TurboCrazy Well-Known Member

    Oh!:oops: You are right! My bad! I should know better!?? That's what I get for posting after I get home around 2:00 am in the morning.:rolleyes:
     
  10. alvareracing

    alvareracing Platinum Level Contributor

    Jim, thanks for answering the question....you are dead on. As thin as the lifter bores are, we won't dare cutting then any thinner. Yes, we would love to move them but not on a stock block. We have considered buying an aftermarket block un-machined and we would add all the holes where we want them and sized. Like I have said, if someone would offer an oversize lifter it would help our Buicks tremendously. I notice Mellings sells a .005 over flat tappet, I've never have used it but I will next time I do one.
    Something Robert Fulco (my machinist) suggested that we could bushed the bores down (not cut) but make smaller and use a .500 solid mushroom lifter like out of a Y-block. First you are not weakening the bores and two, you can restrict the oil to the top by drilling your own hole. You have to think out of the box when you play with these darn Buicks.
     
  11. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Her is a company that makes .002" oversize lifters sold at Competition Products;

    http://www.competitionproducts.com/...ers-Chev-SB/productinfo/PVT8097/#.WiWqFmeWxjo

    They are for a sbc, but is the same GM size .844"(plus .002") as every other GM engine. The difference would be the link bar would be to short for the BBB or to long for a sbb. BUT for the sbb crowd, the slot can be lengthened towards the other lifter to make them fit in a sbb block with a little simple pencil grinding(that goes for any link bar sbc roller lifters for a sbb). The BBB would need a longer link bar all together. Perhaps call Power Products and ask them for a longer link bar for a BBB? GL
     

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