I drive a 1976 Buick LeSabre Custom, it weights in at about 6000 pounds. I'm a senior in high school, and in order to graduate it's required I present an exhitbition on whatever I like. As my topic I choose to beef up my Buick a little. It has a bone stock 350(minus the a/c) and a rochester 4 bbl. I have about a grand to spend and estimate about 350hp and 415 tq when finished. Stock, it has 205 hp, and 300 tq, without the a/c I estimate about 215hp, and 315-320tq. Here's my current list of mods: 1) 2.25" dual exhaust with glasspacks 2)750 cfm edelbrock carb 3)holly megascoop 4)cam 254 degrees/264 degrees .533" in/.555" ex and solid lifters 5)wheel adapter plates so I can fit some camaro rims with 26" slicks. I really wanted some new headers but unfortunatly they're a little hard to come by, anyone know of a manufacturer? I'm also consitering a new rear end. It has a 3.08, but I want a 3.73 locker real bad. I was also toying with idea of converting to a foorshift, so I can have a b and m ratchet rifter. Any ideas would be appretiated.
I'm just beginning to order the parts, it'll be a step by step thing, since I have to document it all I'll be slowed down a little. Hopefully I can do the headers and exhaust in the next couple of weeks.
That combination will not get you the power you are estimating. Your stock numbers are also higher than they are. After the listed mods you *may* get 250 hp.... But that cam is way to wild, unless you are planning other mods. It is to wild for a heavy car like that. You would need gear, and a high stall torque converter. Even then, it's to wild for that big of a car. The engine would also need to be matched to that cam, high compression pistons, head work, intake. Also a solid cam needs a adjustable drivetrain, cheapest route is adjustable pushrods at $139 for the set. I'd go with a mild cam. If you just put that in with the listed mods, it would be slower than stock. Also being on a budget I'd forget about the megascoop. For $150 it doesn't offer much power increase. TAPERFORMANCE.COM has buick parts.
I'll have to check that site out. Perhaps instead of the megascoop I'll look into getting my heads ported. Any suggestions for the cam?
You'll need to go with a mild cam, perhaps the TA212. But the best way is call TAperformance (there number should be on the website, and tell them what you got, and they will recommend the one that suits you best.
As far as headers for a 350 Hooker makes super comp headers for $350....got them on my Skylark...the fit great with only 1 mod..I had to move the trans cooler lines...other then that it was an easy job...hope this helps :TU: Larry
I'd say for a cam, maybe the TA212. Trust me, you DON'T want to go too big on the cam, unless you've got enough "supporting hardware" to make use of it (i.e. big gears (4.10+), big converter(3000+), seriously ported heads, big headers, port matched aftermarket intake, etc) And some things you do to make better use of the power make it no fun to drive on the street (huge converter, big gears) I would think the 212 cam, a set of headers and some 3.73 gears would make a huge improvement over how your car runs now. If you have $$ left over after that, then you would probably want to consider a higher stall converter (probably 2200-2500), an aluminum intake, and mildly ported heads, not necesarily in that order. As far as the carburetor goes, I would stick with the Q-jet as long as it's in good working condition, and if it's not, get it rebuilt by one of the Q-jet buick guys around here. Most other carbs will not make much difference in HP, and you will almost definitely get worse gas milage. Good luck!!
I hate to say it since I like the Buick 350 so much, but I think a more cost effective solution would be a stock '71-74 455 with an OEM rebuild. Both of my 76 LeSabres started out as 350 cars. But to make either one fast, yet driveable required a big block. Both 350s found very good homes in smaller hot rods.
