Buick 350 engine build

Well you basically achieved your goal of 400hp/450ftlbs. Congrats!

 

Thanks! You are right of course, but I’m still a little bummed that I didn’t quite make 400. Dieter thought that the engine could use more camshaft, and I’m sure an SP3 would help the top end.
The plan now is to get it into the car and see how it drives. If I want more power the intake is the obvious way to go. As it is, though, I’m going to probably double horsepower with the swap and increase torque by 50%. So we’ll see how it feels after it’s in the car.
Going to need a lot stronger clutch ...

 

I think the only reason you didn’t hit 415 hp is the rpm at 5000 rpm. Revving to 6000 would be an easy 15-20 hp gain. 6300 would be more. Yes a SP intake and big cam would your peak hp raise but you have a great torque curve and good hp. Nothing wrong with that!

I wouldn’t change a thing, drive it,

 

Getting started with swapping the new engine into the Skylark. Old engine is out, new one is in. Well, at least it is between the fenders! Headers Are in and attached with no denting and minimal scrapes. Boy, that lower header bolt in the middle is a real bugger!
Along the way, discovered that the new engine did not have a hole machined into the block for the Z bar pivot ball. A call to TA Performance confirmed that the thing to do was to get after it and drill the hole. A little nerve racking to be grinding and drilling a newly built motor, but got it done without any big mistakes.
Beginning to reinstall alternator, ac compressor, power steering pump and all that other stuff. Hoping to have it done in a few more days!

 

For some reason, today all the photos loaded sideways. Sorry about that.

 

It happens, not sure why.

 

http://www.wallaceracing.com/et-hp-mph.php

 

Is that rear wheel HP or crankshaft?

 

Looks like rear wheel. Add abt 20%.

 

Any update???

 

Seems I didn't give a final wrap-up on this - forgot somehow. Engine is in the car, has been since June. Starts up well, idles at about 1000 rpm. Definite lope to the idle. Been fiddling with ignition timing since it went into the car; at wide open throttle on the dyno it was happy but in the car, it has been pinging. So I've slowed and limited the advance curve to try and control the pinging. I need to start all over and follow Larry's timing instructions step by step and optimize ignition timing. Just need a good weekend to get after it.
As it is right now, it likes to pull above 2000 rpm. Under 2000 rpm it lugs. Makes sense with the 310 camshaft that in in there.
The 3 speed Saginaw is still a limiting factor as far as performance goes. It has a fresh rebuild and a nice Hurst Mastershift, so it works fine driving around. The gear ratios aren't all that great for spirited driving. That plus the 3.08 gears in back. Both are planned for updating in the next year or so. Probably switch to 4.10 gears. I have a T-5 that I'll send to G-Force for their performance rebuild. They rate their T-5 rebuilds at 500 foot pounds, more torque than I'm making.

 

A little nitrous can change that!

 

Maybe compression is too high. Looks like the heads have minimal chamber and pistons minimal dish.The pinging doesn't sound good to me. As far as intake it was shown to perform same as stock. Have you reflected on something that you would have done differently.

 

Following post

 

Update?

 

I installed the 4.10 gears a few weeks ago and that was a big improvement. The "lugging" issue appears to have been related to the old 3.08 gearset. The downside is that the speedo reads all wrong now and I'm turning pretty high rpms at highway speed. So the overdrive transmission swap is the next big step. Still planning to have GForce rebuild the T5 I sourced from an S-10. Planning a 2.95 first gear and a 0.63 overdrive.

 

that’s gonna be a great combo!