Be VERY careful when removing and installing the cams as you do not want to knick the cam bearings with the cam lobes
We should definately meet up some time to talk cars or work on them and maybe when the sun comes out we can track down those elusive buick opens and other car shows.
I think I'm going to save some money this round and just do the pipes from manifolds back and the cam and timing chain and intake. I will skip the headers so I can pay some dreaded bills. I'm sure I will get them sometime though.
A TC swap can be awful fun too, since your changing your cam. Id say it once of the best updates you can do for a big diff seat of the pants feel that will have ya grinning ear to ear.
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you still have the doggy 2.56 rear gear in your car? First thing I would do is get a steeper gear for that thing! First, find out what type of rear diff is under there. Post a pic on here. 2nd, pop the cover off and find the stamped numbers on the ring gear (should be a bigger number and a small number, ie. 41:10. Divide the big by the small and that is your ratio, the example I gave you is a 4.10:1 ratio. Yours will work out to a much lower number, like 2.56, 2.73, etc. Now put in fresh gear oil! I bet it has never been changed since '72. Since you already have a posi, then it should save you some $$$. Now we just need to find you a nice 3.23 gear, unless you want to go steeper, but hiway driving will be limited. Think of you upgrades as a package. Intake, carb, headers, exhaust, convertor, and gear swap. You don't have to do it all at once, but your car won't reach it's full potential if you skip one of these parts! Keep us posted!:beer Brian
I dunno gears aren't that big of a deal when you got a Buick. Cheby guys need gears but you can find plenty of post around here with guys running just as fast in the 1/4 with highway gear as 3:42, they actualy picked up mph in the 1/4 going back to highway. He probably has 2:73
On mild builds, gears IMO are not worth it. Especially if you already have a posi. My car was fast off the line with 2.56s and stock converter.
I would put my money on any car that is running the same engine combo on the 3:42 geared car over the 2:56 any time. Gears are a big deal on a SBB. You're pushing a max of about 375 lb. ft of torque, which isn't terrible, but with 2.56 gears you ain't no rocket. There is a very noticable diff between a 2:56 and 3:42 gear coming off the line. Also, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON 3" PIPES on your SBB. 3" pipes are saved for high hp Big block cars. And putting them on a mild build SBB is a waste and you won't notice any difference other than the lack of extra $$ in your wallet and maybe a lack of power because of the loss of back pressure. 2.5" is plenty. You could get away with 2.25 for that matter. That's my opinion on the subject.
I know for a fact that the posi is factory, because that limited slip tag is still on there and has never moved that I can tell. I was going to go with 2.5" for the exhaust. I will let you guys know what I get with my tax return, likely just intake, exhaust and headers(less cutting) and then a cam also. My buddy told me to replace the lifters at the same time, but im not sure if I can find an extra $80 or so to do it. I want to be able to cruise on the highway real nice, but I want to kick ass at inbetween stop lights too. The only strip racing is probably just to get times, no brackets or anything.
im not sure if this will help and but i use a 3.73 in mine and i drive it every single day! lovely too when you want to get up and leave the traffic behind you at the red light
I've been hearing from friends and school mates, to go with 3.73 or 3.80 or 3.90 somewhere around those.
Well, then cam and lifters for sure, intake and timing chain. I can wait to do my exhaust when I start working again at the end of this month.
