400 HP Buick 350?

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by WickedWay, Sep 28, 2006.

  1. WickedWay

    WickedWay Got Torque?

    I'm ashamed to say that in my 7 years of wrenching on customers cars, the closest I've ever been to rebuilding a motor was tearing down a Chevy 350 for a friend.. Now that I've got a little more money available, I'm wanting to take my 70 Skylark and turn it from a stock daily driver into a street beast. So...

    I'd like find out if anyone has any tech specs to make a 400ish horsepower Buick 350? At the moment I have a stock 350-2 barrel motor, which I believe to be the origional. Was disappointed to find out there isnt any stroker kits available for this motor, so I thought I'd ask someone who's toyed with one or more of these.

    To start with, I'll be having it bored .030 over, and adding a HEI distributor. If I can find it, a direct inject fuel injection unit.. Any suggestions on a cam, the heads, or anything else?
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2006
  2. TXGS

    TXGS Paint by numbers 70 GS 455 4spd

    Jim Burek Just finished up my 449hp 350.

    The most need Item on these motor in my oppinion is head work. (only option OEM Iron Heads)

    My Motor is 9.6 to 1 compression with ported heads and an 850 demon carb. The Power can be made pretty easily. I need to emphasis The power is in the heads.


    Noticed your also a Texan :TU:
     
  3. PlumCrazy

    PlumCrazy Psychotic Reader

    Buicks have more "metal" to them, so don't be afraid to bore them out....you can get a lot more piston than you can with a Cheby motor.

    The blocks are all pretty much the same as well as the heads between 4bbl and 2bbl
    Check the nhra.com for casting numbers and what the "base" hp for different years.

    There is TA Performance that may offer kits, but I know they have lots of goodies for us poor Buick folks.

    Wayne S
     
  4. pglade

    pglade Well-Known Member

    Start by throwing out your ideas about FI and strokers, etc.....you don't need any of that and for that kind of money you can get a good, "regular" motor built.

    Areas you will need to "improve":

    Intake -- Carb and Intake combo--check TA for their aluminum small block offerings...they have what you need

    Cam -- Same thing--talk to TA or like Phil, run one of Poston's grinds...if you use one of the engine builders that are on this board they will have a pretty good idea on cam choices

    Heads -- Already mentioned---that will be key to taking advantage of the other parts mentioned.

    Exhaust-- Headers and a good mandrel bent 2-1/2" system. TA, Hooker,etc sell these.

    You might consider contacting Jim Burek at PAE Enterprises in El Paso (he is on this board) for some ideas.

    Remember--you can get a NEW GM timing cover still for that motor--I think it's the V6 cover and works just fine--in case yours is well worn in the oil pump gear area.

    Once again--no need for anything exotic like alum heads, FI, stroker, etc.
    Check with Jim on cylinder bores---not something you want to randomly specify to an engine builder...just bore it the MINIMUM NEEDED.

    You are looking at a pretty basic buildup...keep it simple.
     
  5. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    FYI, that little 350 can handle more HP without self detructing than a 455BBB. How's 1000+HP sound from a stock block. It can & has been done.
     
  6. Matt Knutson

    Matt Knutson Well-Known Member

    350 Performance

    You should contact Mike T at T/A Performance. His wagon was originally a 350" car running 11's back in the '80's. I'm sure he can guide you thru the parts selection for your desired HP set-up.

    Matt
     
  7. 87GN@Tahoe

    87GN@Tahoe Well-Known Member

  8. 70aqua_custom

    70aqua_custom Well-Known Member

    400 HP SBB is easy. PORT the heads and everything else you can get off the shelf. Here's two combos from my archives...

    350 bored 30 over index ground crank&cross drilled
    Forged pistons w/valve reliefs TA Performance
    Reconditioned rods
    SFI flexplate
    Balanced assembly/ Torque plate used
    TA intake Port matched to heads, exhaust crossover is open
    1 5/8 TA headers
    New valves (stainless) larger heads ported Supposed to be 235 cfm intake 176 on exhaust.
    750 dbl pump holley 70- 78 jets
    1 inch open hole spacer Never experimented enough with 2 inch spacer
    did some but didn't notice much
    new TA front cover
    Oil Pressure 65-70 lbs hot @6000 rpm
    50-55lbs @3000 rpm
    395 hp At 5900 rpm TA510 cam
    370 Tq @ 4000 rpm
    373 rear gear 350 trans 3500 stall
    This gave me the best of 13.66 @100 mph
    this motor was dynoed before iput it in. This was in 1994.
    Today I have the GS club pop Mech. cam Comp Cam Pro Mag Lifters
    These work the best
    now car runs 13.50 to 13.80 did 13.33 as best 2 years ago can'get back.
    good compression 180 -190 leak down was 3-5 percent

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    9/8/05 quick note here on another little 350 Buick.
    Here's the combo, trw forged pistons, 9.4 to 1 compression, ported heads flowing 263 intake and 190 exhaust, poston 350-112 cam, TA intake, 1000 demon shop carb. it's the 1000 cfm race demon, street version with vac ports. They were around $800.

    Real simple combo, good power.
    It's just touching 400 horsepwoer at 5900 rpm and is in the 430 torque range at around 4400 rpm.
    Holds just under 75 psi at 6100 rpm.
    Nice running engine. Looks to be about 20 horsepower more with the demon than with a 750 edelbrock. Jim BurekP.A.E. ENTERPRISES
     
  9. Justa350

    Justa350 I'm BACK!

    Or you could just throw turbos on it heh heh.
     
  10. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Sonic test after 40 over on a Buick 350. There is no need to stroke it becausse it is already a square motor (close to same stroe as bore). A chevy has a way smaller stroke then bore and needs the extra stroke. 400 hp is easy, just pollish the heads and run a hot cam...
     
    Masher likes this.
  11. Boscoe

    Boscoe Well-Known Member

    How big can it get?

    How much can you usually overbore a Buick 350, and does anyone make stroker kits? Thanks.
     
  12. 87GN@Tahoe

    87GN@Tahoe Well-Known Member

    you can't stroke a buick 350... rods are VERY close to the cam as it is... come any closer with stoking it and KABOOM :eek2:
     
  13. AZ-69 Skylark

    AZ-69 Skylark Well-Known Member

    The 350 SBB is already stroked and as stated above, you can't go any further.
     
  14. Boscoe

    Boscoe Well-Known Member

    How big can it get?

    It makes sense that a small, light engine wouldn't have a lot of room for a longer stroke or bigger pistons. So, I take it the extra 5 cubes you'd pick up from an .030 overbore are about all you can get. Thanks.
     
  15. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    The first Buick build up belongs to me. I added a 125 shot of Nitrous. Look at my sig you can see some additions. Right now I am making changes to the trans governor then I will try to get to the track. See if I can go faster than 11.81.
     
  16. jamyers

    jamyers 2 gallons of fun

    I'll second the above comments, especially pglade's.

    Make SURE your oiling is good - good pump, good bearings and good clearances.

    Do some port-matching and bowl-blending on the heads, and POLISH the chambers. Danged detonation-prone open chambers are (imho) the worst part of the Buick 350.

    Get some headers, pick a cam, and go scare people! :TU:

    Also, there's lots of free power in tuning a 350 - I posted better times with my 150K mile kinda-tired old '70 GS350-spec engine than several 455-powered cars on this board, and I'm convinced it was mostly due to a good timing curve and a good Q-jet. If you're going HEI, search this board for the weights and center you'll want, and get an adjustable vacuum advance. If you use a Q-jet, send it to somebody like John Osborn and have them calibrate it specifically to your combo.
     

Share This Page