Since I'm killing some time on here tonight, I'm going to make some statements about a deal I got myself into over the last 6 + months. I'm not sure if anyone knows who I am or if they care or it even matters, but I have been involved with Buicks since 1995. I actually was involved with Buick in 1967 as I worked at a dealership and bought a GS340 new. Now that the history is out of the way, I will explaing that my only interest with Buicks are going down a Drag Strip. I do have a 2002 Regal street car but thats for Sunday church going. I don't want a street/strip car, I just want to race. All my Buicks since 95 have been for that. I started with a 68 Skylark with a 350 and soon installed a 455 that ran 10.60s in the 1/4. I then built a 67 to run NMCA NSS and it has ran a best of 10.15. @ 130+. During this time I aquired a 83 Regal that I intended to build for my wife and daughter to bracket race to get some training. I first put one of my 455s in it and ran it with Drag Radials, but it was a handfull for beginners and I got the bright idea to build a 350 Buick for the Regal as I had a couple setting around. I thought this would be a lower torque, safer package for the girls. Got everything and off to the machine shop. Got it all back and getting the rest of the parts to assemble this engine and realize HOW much I spent on an engine that will never do much. If this thing makes 375hp will amaze and for the same cost of machine work I could have made 600+ with a BBB. What I'm getting to with all of this is why do we really fool with these Small Blocks. Hope you will excuse my rant, but just venting! Jim Netherland
And it is... Careful what you wish for.. You could always do a budjet build with low comp and turbo it.. All the money is really in the turbo and carb, which can be used over and over, or re-sold. The blocks and pistons are cheap. And really, wouldn't it be more fun to spank a BBB with a small block that can take you out to dinner later.. Maybe a cruise to the beach..You can dial the power as you wish..
I appreciate the comments, you're not going to hurt my feelings. The only regret I have with the 350 build, I should have spent a $1,000. for a custom piston/ring package that would have got me the compression I wanted and lighten the rotating assemble up a bunch. I'm stuck at about 11 to 1 with heavy piston and not the best rings. I was starting out budget, got into the heads and spent money and time there and then had to cut the deck a bunch and on and on. I do hope to be surpised. I just want to make it live and make laps. Not interested in a turbo, but some aluminum heads and a lighter rotating assembling so you can turn some rpm and make power would be find. I see the turbo point but just not interested in it but hope the ones doing it have great success. Jim N.
It was a smart move to go with a 350, nearly everyone I know who had a 455 even just stock in one of them small regal or Olds body cars lost it and wrecked it good from to much torque in such a small car on the street. Real eay to get away from ya. And if I can muster up big grins from my 350 in my pig of a wagon, you should have plenty of fun.
If you built it anywhere near decent it should live forever basically. I'm sure with your years of experience you will get it tuned nicely and safely and it will get the job done. I would expect in a light package your regal should be able to run in the 12s just fine and will get your family members the safe step and good experience to step it up from there.
Jim, I built a pretty tame 350 with TA 10-1 CR pistons, stock intake, pocket port head job, Posten GS112 cam, 800 quad and I made 368hp and 398lbs of torque. It did not cost me that much however I know how you feel now that I built my 455 with 455hp and 520 lbs of torque for a little more money but what a difference the extra power from the BBB makes on the road. Good luck with your car!!! Tim
Again thanks for the encouragement. I was getting a little upset with myself as I totalled up the cost of the 350 and the outlook for what it will do. Like any gearhead I got a little carried away once I got started on it. Bigger valves max compression and the best porting to heads and intake. I do wish I had went for a better piston/ring package. I think it will go mid to low 12s right off as the car is setup rather well and has been lighten about as much as possible without going crazy. Has a 9" with Moser axles and 4.10 gears and the frame rails have been moved in and mini tubed and has a 10 point cage. I know this is over kill for the 350 but will keep them safe. May add an anti-roll bar. Jim N.
The reason you are disappointed is because you are not taking advantage of the strengths of the 350, which is block strength. I know I do not have nearly the engine experience as you, but come on lets debate.:beers2: Trying to make a 350 N/A combo that will whoop up on big blocks and be streetable is very expensive and difficult. Doesn't take much to realize that. I have never seen a BBB make 900-1000 HP. Otherwise, I sure it would have been well advertised on this board. However, I believe the record for the 350 was 1400 HP and that wasn't even with a full block girdle. The next car I buy will be a 1971 Riviera and I am going to do what everyone else would HATE for me to do, which is I am throwing the 455 in the DUMPSTER!:bla: In it's place, a single turboed 350 sporting the BEST rotating assembly money will buy and a full girdle. I am going to run over 20 lbs of boost and keep the A/C! I also want a SP 400 trans with a trans-brake, but still keep the automatic shifting. If that's possible. Now this will not be an easy project, but it will be well worth it in the end, and it should run circles around everyone elses GS 455s. I think it's funny because I made a thread about this project and I've bumped it many times and I've only gotten two responses! :laugh: This car could even be a daily driver!! A Riviera running 10s and daily driven! :Brow: That will be an all out project, and no expense will be spared on the drivetrain. Just look at my spending habbits on my current 350! With all the knowledge you have, you should be easily be able to create a killer 350, and make all the guys who only know how to open a TA catalog for BBB parts look silly!:beers2:
Jim ---Do you think you could have detuned a 455 enough to perform the same as the 350 without hurting the engine? If you could do that by retarding the timing and a throttle stop, you could bump it back up as needed. Carson --Sonny Seal in Tweety Pie may have run quickest Buick 350 car. I think he ran an 11.06 with no blower. It was the quickest 350 A body I have ever seen. He spent years and dollars to get that level of performance. Some 455s without a blower run in the 8s --again with a lot of time and dollars spent. The peple who bult those 455 are the best in the business. If they felt a 350 or any other Buick engine could be built to run faster than a 455 they would have done so. History has shown over and over that for the money spent the 455 will win over a 350 every time.
Jim, I think you picked the right engine, but maybe went over board on a the wrong things. First off part of the bracket racer is the ablility to make lots of passes without needed work. I believe a 400hp 350 will do that and drive to and from the track no problem. That means you can enjoy teaching the family to drive instead of working on the car. The money you spent should have went into the heads and rotating assembly. That said you have already made the foundation for the next step when the family wants to go faster, but not light speed fast. My favorite part about this is that you are doing this as a family event. Very Cool. Good Luck.
When is the near future?? We have been hearing BS for the last 2-3 years and have not seen much except from Bill M.... Talk is cheap...Lets put the money where the mouth is...two words..."Prove it" the 350 is better..I want to see factual proof not a bunch of blowhards guessing at things...I agree with Jim Lore,there is no replacement for displacement...period!
actually with the new block coming from TA i think YOU are the one in for a rude awakening. i wouldn't be talking to much smack with your high dollar 13 second 350. maybe after you get a few 12's under your belt. :Brow:
And how many years have folks been working on the 455 stuff 20+ from whatfolks have done in that short time is already amazing. Give us 20 years of major part supplier support and it will be very clear.
