I am sure this topic has been beat to death, but here goes... I have a 71 GS455, that at some point was rebuilt with stock components. I THINK it is stock, except for TA long tube headers, Edlebrock intake, and a Holley 750 (Also has a 3:42 posi out back). Guess what? I want more street munching power! I don't really have a budget yet, but I am thinking about having Gessler do the heads up reeeeaaal nice, and adding a little lumpier cam. I don't plan on racing, but would like to have a fairly nasty street machine. I have heard this is a low compression engine, so this matters...right? Let the Buick Gods speak!!! :3gears: :Smarty:
Dereck, even with the low compression pistons, good head work and a cam change will wake that thing up. Just make sure you keep things matched, cam, converter etc. Jim Burek
I couldn't agree with Jim more. Derek, my 71 has a COMPLETELY stock low compression short block, with an an old s-p2 cam, stock UN-PORTED Stage 1 heads, B4B ,Q-jet 3.73 gears & a 9'' converter from Earick Racing & ran a best of 12.68 @104.5. My 71 weighs in at 4050lbs. with me in the seat. I believe this is a good example of what you could expect without breaking the bank. Just think what is possible with a little porting & compression. Randy
Heads are definitely the key. A friend of mine has a 70 Skylark. He took a stock 70 SF 455 from an Electra and just ported the heads himself. With stock manifolds and cam he ran 13.0's. He also has a 3.90 gear in an 8.5" and an HEI. Granted this is a high comp motor, but you could get a similar result.
You could also have the heads milled .010 on both sides to help with compression if you are not disassembling the rotating assembly.
