New TA 455 Aluminum Block, What's up!

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by TA Perf, Jun 6, 2006.

  1. buicksstage1

    buicksstage1 Well-Known Member

    Are you planning on going prostock racing with a buick? OH ya that won't work it has to be cast iron to run prostock:grin: Chris
     
  2. bob k. mando

    bob k. mando Guest

    no, totally different direction. the 1993-2001 TVR Griffith is designated a '500' because it's got a "5.0 Liter" Rover ( Buick ) aluminum v8. there's a guy over in England road racing his and calling it a "TVR Monster". http://www.tvrmonster.co.uk/

    it's put me in the mood to jack an aluminum 500ci engine into a Griffith and show him what a real "Griffith 500" would look like. :laugh: :3gears:


    now all i have to do is buy a Griffith. and an aluminum block. and aluminum heads. and bore/stroke it to 500ci ( cuz a stock BBB crank doesn't have enough stroke to get 500ci with a 4.50" bore, much less a Nailhead crank ). :Dou: :shock: :spank:
     
  3. Kerry s.

    Kerry s. Is Jesus YOUR Lord?

    Bob...actually it CAN be done with a stock 400/430/455 crank IF you off-set grind the rod journals down to BBShivvie 2.200 and use the appropriate rods. That would be 3.955" stroke.

    4.500 X 4.500 X 3.955 X .7854 X 8 = 503.21ci! :TU:
     
  4. bob k. mando

    bob k. mando Guest

    actually it CAN be done with a stock 400/430/455 crank IF you off-set grind

    that's why i said 'stock'. i was thinking about the Nailheads as a fairly inexpensive source for forged cranks. won't get the job done though. not even close.

    it is good to keep the BBC rods in mind.
     
  5. alan

    alan High-tech Dinosaur

    Boost! :laugh:
     
  6. bob k. mando

    bob k. mando Guest

    Boost! :laugh:


    :Dou:

    is this where a chick pipes up and tells me it's not the size of my tool, it's my skill using it? :idea2::eek:
     
  7. STG1Buick

    STG1Buick Well-Known Member

    I have a question about the new block concerning the bolt pattern for the transmission, is it going to be a BOP pattern or a Chevy pattern. If it were a Chevy pattern, we can still use a TH400 or we could use the later 4L80. Just a thought since some would like to retrofit an overdrive transmission.

    Thanks, David
     
  8. Kerry s.

    Kerry s. Is Jesus YOUR Lord?

    A few pages back David....:TU:

    Hope this helps....:)
     
  9. STG1Buick

    STG1Buick Well-Known Member

    Sorry about that, got caught in all the posts and skipped a couple. Thanks Kerry for the help in answering my question. :TU:

    David
     
  10. Kerry s.

    Kerry s. Is Jesus YOUR Lord?

    Glad to help David....:TU:
     
  11. killrbuick66455

    killrbuick66455 Well-Known Member

    I cant wait to get my hands on a new block and try to put it to the max W/15.1 Big Roller Cam Stage 2 heads And ALOT of N20....:TU: I Have the Connecting rods,Cam,Pistons,Waiting to go in....
     
  12. street rep

    street rep Well-Known Member

    ATT MIKE @TA PERF.the future of more hardcore buick racers is lookin pretty dismal.Just got back from ne cecil county buick meet and it seemed like racers were blowing blocks up left and right.guys that want to go faster have obviously reached the limit of the block wich will eventually lead to loss of interest and new and up and commers are seing and hearing about all the horror stories and its pretty freakin scary.I personally am in the market for a block,i,m using no girdle,no fill and wont build another motor with equal or more power when this one fails cause i dont have a bottomless pocket and time to keep pullin these things out and re-doing them.MIKE ! GIMMIE MY BLOCK,[PLEASE]!
     
  13. street rep

    street rep Well-Known Member

    ATT. willing to give an up front deposit
     
  14. Jim Blackwood

    Jim Blackwood Well-Known Member

    OK, I've got a question. How much lighter will it be than the stock block? In fact, with the alloy heads and intake how much less will the engine weigh than the stocker? I think this engine could open up an entirely new direction in the MGB-V8 conversions we are doing. We already have one guy who spent well over $100K doing one of these cars with a SBF and the cost of the block is not such a big issue for guys like that. If it comes in a couple hundred pounds less than stock then we could build a sub 2000 lb car with it that will handle extremely well. Something to think about. I really believe there is an entire group of big block enthusiasts who would lust after something like that, and 500 hp would be more than plenty. In this case it's the weight, not the power potential.

    Jim
     
  15. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Here is my approach to that question in the past in an old post :


    "What would a bare all aluminum 455 block weigh relative to a stock iron 455? Perhaps the figure can be approximated by extrapolation using the relative weights of a stock 231 iron block versus the aluminum TA 231 block. According to the TA website the weight savings of the TA aluminum V6 with sleeves is less than 100 pounds. All other things being equal one might estimate the aluminum V8's weight (100/.75)=133.3 lbs."
    __________________
     
  16. Jim Blackwood

    Jim Blackwood Well-Known Member

    So 30 lbs for each head, 30 for the intake and 45lbs for the block? Has to be more than that.

    Jim
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2007
  17. britt'sStage 1

    britt'sStage 1 A Lone Wolf In D.C.

    Mike,i've read a lot of the opinions 'from the senate'on what it is that you and T/A Performance should build as far the new block is concerned...I'd like to give you my take on this(if I may...) I'm one of the little guys who wanted to be different when all the Buick faithful took what Buick decided to be a premier divison of GM and made it special,and Mr.Manner did some great things taking R&D to the next level with the 400-430-455 BBB engine,it's a shame that the Buick 525 wasn't developed,for THIS would've given us insight to where BUICK might be.I really applaud your effort by taking on this task,for it would seem that you know what back alley to meet that "spook that sat behind the door",a BullDog Block would hard to come by.But to what some of the FASTER Buicks are concerned,YES they should have their needs met because the NHRA(no disrespect)has a class called PRO-STOCK where their is neither PRO,or STOCK...none of those engines are PURE Chevy/they resemble certain design similarities in excess of thousands of dollars...When did PAT MUSI start calling Pontiac Motors based on the Chevy big-block(I think someone else covered that as well...Less we forget,MOPAR did a P.S.A. thanking all those who run a "funny car"no matter what body style,for using a HEMI( a design,that DODGE,PLYMOUTH AND CHRYSLER developed)these are the standards that I think bring on conflicting points of view.Yes,Mike thanks for taking the reins on this one,build it right,build it to the needs of all who continue to be "BUICK FAITHFUL",but build to the degree that it serves to keep us interested in the factory no longer builds but set the high standard for BUICK.I would not like to see the Fast Buicks have to settle for DRCE-copies/and more thing...we need to urge BUICK to think on the next performance car,just in case there a PRO MODIFIED BUICK in anyone's future.Thanks,for reading and listening Jay B.Britt,Jr. P.S.When the Block is done,if I cannot buy one,I'm sure there will be a few 700-750 HP BBB around.It's time for T/A Perf to take its place beside of,or this case in front of BUTLER Perf(TN.)
     
  18. CarolinaDrifter

    CarolinaDrifter Well-Known Member

    What's the chance of a average guy being able to afford one??????????
     
  19. bob k. mando

    bob k. mando Guest

  20. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    On the other hand can you name another manufacturer of a 400-500 cid factory block that you can still buy for $300 used, rebuild, and make 500 hp for the street? There are few who really need more than 500 hp with 600 foot pounds of torque. .

    Now if you want a bunch more from a Buick without an impractical street cam you can build it with this new block. It will cost you to go higher wilh a new aluminum block but at least now you have an option. The big GM aftermarket blocks, 572 cid or thereabouts, and the factory repalcement big Hemis cost north of $15K.
     

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