Buick 455 big block could you teach me how to tune my car like a champ

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by Threeft, Dec 14, 2016.

  1. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    Hello everyone I am new to v8buick, heck I'm new to carburated engines. I had just got out of the army and stumbled across a garaged beauty of a 1970 buick skylark custom with a 455 big block from years 1972-1975(what I got from the serial number in the back).

    Now that you know my experience I am in need of learning how to time and tune my vehicle. Information on these engines for beginners is VERY hard to find. Took me 1 hour just to find the vacuum hose behind the carb because every instruction I found said that the vacuum hose was on the intake!

    The reason I need to know how to tune my engine, Drove my car to the skate park and ended up at a friend of a friends house that I let time and tune my car. He confused my big block for a 1970 and gave her a 12/1 running rich. Since then, I have gotten 6.5 mpg 75 miles total on a full tank. The guy confused my 455 for a 1970 which had a 10 or 10.5 to 1 ratio. After hours of research I have learned that my engine is supposed to be timed at 8.5/1 to prepare for lower octane gas. This motor is pretty much stock, besides the offy 360 intake nothings too fancy.

    Long story short I could really use step by step instructions, Im only 27 and though I'm an adult I really dont know much, because this technology was before me, BUT I am meticulous and ready to learn. Thought I had everything figured out this morning, but apparently the #1 spark plug isnt the one closest to the passenger like I was taught in auto shop. I was only able to see the timing line with my timing light every few seconds...

    Please let me pick you brain, everything from where to start with fuel to air ratios, to proper ways to rotate the distributers I'd like to know it all, This will be my daily driver because I really want to encourage those in my daily life to embrace classics. I am ready for this burden I freakin love this stuff please stick with the subject and do not go on a rant I WANT THIS but I just need some help :)

    If you are interested in my motors serial number it is 1241735
     

    Attached Files:

  2. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    1241735 is not what we call a serial number. It is a casting number. Look for the partial VIN and year model numbers for the donor car for that particular engine on the front of the block just below where head mates. If the car has power steering, look behind it with a light and a dental mirror.

    There is no way to know the CR for that engine unless you have the paperwork from a competent re-builder. The Offy intake tells us it may have been modified internally.

    Unless your friend changed the internals for the carb, he likely only changed the idle mixture.

    In order to set up the distributor correctly, its internals will need to be changed. There is a power timing thread posted on this Board with details.
     
  3. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Well first off, thank you for your service!! That's a sweet looking Skylark:grin:
    Awesome color too, its some form of green yes?
    Ok, I'll take a stab at this with the basics first.
    All reference to LEFT or RIGHT, is when viewed from the REAR of any vehicle.
    Drivers side is LEFT
    Passenger side is RIGHT
    The engine, #1 cylinder is LEFT front (drivers side)
    Cylinder order on LEFT side, #1 #3 #5 #7
    Cylinder order on RIGHT side #2 #4 #6 #8
    Firing order 1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2
    When standing on LEFT side of vehicle, rotate distributor COUNTER CLOCKWISE to ADVANCE timing
    Do the opposite to RETARD timing
    Distributor rotor rotates CLOCKWISE
    I hope that's enough to get yah started.
    I'm sure others will have more info as you go along:bglasses:
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Information on these engines is VERY easy to find, right here on V8buick. Everything you could think of is right here, you just need to use the search. First thing to do is get a Chassis manual. They are available used on Ebay, new in reprint, and even on CDRom. Here is a thread I wrote on ignition timing.

    http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?63475-Power-Timing-your-Buick-V8
     
  5. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    PHP:
    for a person in my situation (not the original motor of my carwhat do you guys think about this manual 

    http
    ://m.ebay.com/itm/1974-BUICK-CHASSIS-SERVICE-MANUAL-ALL-MODELS-SKYLARK-CENTURION-LeSABRE-ELECTRA-/132034550219?hash=item1ebddf59cb%3Ag%3A~HkAAOSwA3dYUY5t&_trkparms=pageci%253A6105cf8f-c258-11e6-a99a-74dbd1803155%257Cparentrq%253Affc072bf1580a2a474fefc68ffdb6b51%257Ciid%253A1

    Since my motor is a 1972-75 motor i felt a 74 would be a good choice.

     
  6. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

  7. john.schaefer77

    john.schaefer77 Well-Known Member

    That's pretty cheap. That can give you most of the basics like torques and clearances. The site here is loaded with stuff that is not in the books. You'll find everyone here is pretty willing to help and share info.
     
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    No, that is not what you want for one very important reason. You have a 70 Skylark. By 1974, the Skylark/Apollo looked like a Nova. You want a Chassis manual not just for the engine, but for the rest of the car. Things like suspension, brakes, and electronics. 1970, 1971, or 1972 will be fine. The 70-72 Skylark/GS was basically the same car.

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro....TRS0&_nkw=1970+buick+chassis+manual&_sacat=0

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk....TRS0&_nkw=1971+buick+chassis+manual&_sacat=0

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk....TRS0&_nkw=1972+buick+chassis+manual&_sacat=0
     
  9. john.schaefer77

    john.schaefer77 Well-Known Member

  10. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    But my motor is a 1975 455 after they made all the changes for emissions and nonleaded fuels... 1970 and 71 would be completely different information from what I have. 1972 possibly. Does anyone know if the 1975 455 was any different then the 1972? That way I could get a manual that will be helpful for more then just the motor?
     
  11. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    Ill get one for the motor and the body if need be as long as everything gets done right everytime haha
     
  12. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    I am only interested in getting the correct manual for engine stuff right now, this site you posted will be very helpful in the future thought honestly thank you for sharing
     
  13. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    No it wouldn't. The 70-76 Buick 455 was basically the same engine. It had less compression, open chamber heads, and a catalytic converter in the exhaust. The 75 manual wouldn't tell you anything about the 455 you couldn't get out of the 70-72 manuals.
     
  14. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    All of the 70-76 Buick 455's made are basically the same, and if any rebuilding was done over the years the specific year it was made may mean nothing now - what you need to do is determine

    1) what year block you have - numbers are on the outside

    2) What year range heads you have - numbers are under the valve covers, may need new valve cover gaskets if you take them off to find out

    3) what year carb you have - numbers are on the side

    If you can contact the person you bought the car from and find out any and all info about the motor and what may have been done, that would be a huge help. If it was rebuilt, perhaps he can give you the shop name it was done at - a lot of engine shops keep particular info on the builds they do

    Even if you cant find any info about what was done, Were you there when your friend "tuned" your car ? did he just use a screw driver on the carb and adjust the timing ? If so it shouldn't be too hard to get you back to where you were.

    Can you take a video of the motor .. air cleaner off, show us around a bit with it not running, then start it and just let it idle

    .. about 30 yrs ago, I new squat about cars .. got my first skylark and needed to work in it because I had no money to pay someone - back then the library was my "Internet". This isn't rocket science, and with the web and Us to help you .. it won't be long until you're competent at keeping your Buick running good

    TOOLS YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY OWN FOR TUNE-UPS

    Timing Light with dial back - http://www.sears.com/craftsman-adva...gclid=CI2Kx5qe9tACFQdYDQodlyQN5g&gclsrc=aw.ds
    Vacuum Gauge - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...se1-_-actron&gclid=COjV9dOd9tACFRtMDQodOhQOrA
    Dwell/tach/volt meter - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...se1-_-actron&gclid=CJPL_66d9tACFUtWDQodzXYASg

    Lastly, thanks for your service. We're a friendly group here - please put a location and a name you'd like to be called in your profile. You never know .. your new best friend may live one town over with a bitchin' Buick and all the knowledge to your car running perfect
     
  15. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    For some reason my phone isnt letting me post this video I made, totally spent 30 minutes to make sure I got a great 2 min video that covers everything in proper light and everything.

    All my buddy did was adjust the carb with a screw driver, adjust the idle and the timing.

    There is something I havnt found out yet, at what position do I set my fuel to air ratio on the carb to begin retarding this crazy advance the last guy gave me. I keep readin that it is best to start lean but I dont quite know what lean would look like in terms of turning my f/a ratios

    Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
     
  16. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    post videos / photo's to youtube, photobucket etc. and then a link here in your post to them.

    We need to know what kind of carb you have, but even without knowing this - you can not change the A/F ratio on any carb - EXCEPT AT IDLE - with a screw driver and without basically getting "inside" the carb and changing parts.

    Besides it getting horrible MPG's, how does it run differently than before the tune ?

    Sounds like he just (mis) adjusted the distrib. and messed with idle richness
     
  17. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Air fuel ratio is largely determined by the jets and rods in the carburetor. The idle mixture needles just control the amount of fuel/air mix allowed into the engine, and that has nothing to do with timing which is adjusted by turning the distributor.
     
  18. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    Im going to get that picture tomorrow for you guys. Currently its raining over here

    Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
     
  19. 70staged

    70staged Well-Known Member

    Where are you located, may have someone near you to give a hand. Or go there.
     
  20. Threeft

    Threeft Well-Known Member

    Im in west covina near where they have the pomona car show in california. What im really looking for is someone who would be willing to talk me through it, so that I could have a bit of experience under my belt. That way if I could get some of my buddies to pick up carbureted cars I could help them in the future. Im the only person I know thats my age and has a classic. If you know someone who wouldnt mind that, youd make my year.

    Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page