DIY 455 Single Turbo

Discussion in 'High Tech for Old Iron' started by Sebambam, Apr 30, 2022.

  1. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    hi Guys
    i decided to catch up on the topic BBB single Turbo. There has been a lot of talk, ideas and How to do it over the years but nobody really put it into reality.
    I think its very possible and with the help of some great Forum Members i was able to collect good parts.
    I am a fan of affordable Power , means i am always on a Budget or lets say thats how i see Hotrodding, make it work with what you have/ can afford.

    The Boost setups have become so much easier nowadays with full timing control; EFI ; E85 ; and AFR monitoring.
    That said i am sure Stock internals are OK up to a certain Power Level.
    So i am aiming at around 650hp at max 6k rpm

    i got a
    Virgin' 70' 455/th400 combo that was a running motor/trans out of a Big body ( no stage 1 )
    20220407_154547 (1).jpg
    i knew i wanted to get into the Bottom end and check parts and possibly replace.
    So ROCKAUTO is your friend.
    I replaced and gapped all the Rings to .026; .028
    i inspected all the bearings which seemed good to me.
    I did some of JWs oiling mods on the Block such as the main feed enlargement to 5/8 and the LH Deck oil hole plug so the headgasket doesnt have to do this job.
    i also did the timing cover Oiling mods by enlarging and blending the 90* turns
    I installed a 5/8 TA Oil pickup
    Installed a KB 113 (thanks Mark)
    and i have a old style SP1 intake ready (Thanks Wes)
    20220422_210022.jpg

    i wait on TA Stage 1 valves + i have the Stage 1+ Valve springs already then i can drop off the heads at my machine guy who will clean, mill, assemble the heads .
    I am trying to decide if i want a port or if i go "budget"

    on the Turbo setup side i will build a LOG manifold to T6 90* Vband Elbow that feeds under the trans area to the Stock manifold on the other side.
    20220410_085239.jpg
    After researching the turbo i opted for a T6 S475 96/88mm 1.32 AR that should be efficient in terms of power and backpressure. (VS racing has a Sale right now on this guy )


    in terms of Fuel management i am planning on SNIPER EFI as for now i have my Super sniper on my 68 to use however i hope there will be a E85-boost Version down the road that would help to control charge temp.

    regarding examples and Data i am following the only real data there is so far which is Richard Holdeners Youtube / Dyno testing , where he boosted a stock 73' 455, blew a Headgasket and repaired it to go at it with
    9.2psi and got 504hp and 740 ish ft/tq at 25* timing and 5000rpm; with the wrong size turbo ( gt45) which is pretty impressive for what it is.

    COSTS:
    i will document the whole DIY build and will also include the costs of this build ( no discounted or wholesale parts, just how you can buy this parts too)

    I do not have a real project for this yet so i build it as a spare for my 68 GS
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 6, 2022
  2. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    After honing the bores, and a lot of cleaning
    the Pistons where inspected ( good)
    and New Rings where gapped and assembled
    20220422_210201.jpg

    Oiling Mods on Block and Timing Cover
    20220422_210127.jpg

    20220421_194937.jpg 20220421_194959.jpg
     
    breakinbuick11 likes this.
  3. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    Another round of cleaning , then piston installation
    Cam (KB113) install
    new Timing Chain, New Gaskets, Packed the timing cover with Vaseline and installed
    20220429_180315.jpg 20220429_190510.jpg
     
    docgsx, D-Con, FLGS400 and 1 other person like this.
  4. 67nitrouspig

    67nitrouspig Well-Known Member

    This is awesome! I’ve always wanted to see and/or do a budget big block(or small block) Buick turbo build. I’ll definitely be following this and hopefully get some ideas from it as well. Can’t wait to see the progress.
     
    sean Buick 76 and Sebambam like this.
  5. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    Thanks I'm on it
     
    sean Buick 76 and 67nitrouspig like this.
  6. D-Con

    D-Con Kills Rats and Mice

    Should be fun to see how far it will go. I think the single turbo and not having huge HP goals will go a long way to making it work.

    I got the impression that Mike T/A discouraged Holdener from trying a turbo redux with the better hard parts and head sealing. Holdener's work got me wanting to turbo a Vortec 7.4 or 8.1 in a truck; not for big HP numbers but diesel like torque. And with a good stock block and long runner intake.
     
    Sebambam likes this.
  7. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    Well we all know the "restrictions" of the 455 casting, at least we think we know. The common knowledge is that anything above 600hp and above 6000rpm needs at least a Gurdle, but that is mainly for a NA application with a forged steele Stroker crank and its weight?
    i look at it very Analytic if i throw 8-10 PSI at it and i get 600+ Hp 750+ ft/trq at 5000 Rpm ( which seems realistic i think) i achieved a goal which would have been 10-15 years ago ( before LS turbo area) a Beastly Street engine at a below 3K investment= Very good!

    Nowadays everything seems to have 4 digits which is cool , but anybody that has driven true 500Hp(without electric management systems) on the streets knows that it is a handfull.

    PS: the Vortec BB turbo setups would be very cool i think , especially the possibility to get good performance parts for cheap compared to BBB.
     
    67nitrouspig likes this.
  8. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    @sean Buick 76
    You the man ,
    thanks alot for the support from the North
    20220502_184749.jpg
     
    sean Buick 76 likes this.
  9. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    No problem, those are handmade NOT CNC or water jet flanges. I think Mark had a few hours into those!
     
    docgsx likes this.
  10. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    thats a Big Chunkster
    VSRacing S475-88/96 1.32AR
    20220503_155802.jpg

    I also started Fabbing
    I keep it simple and it clears the Alt Bracket Lol>
    the design is not perfect but surly good enough for what i am doing
    Inked20220503_110613_LI.jpg
    20220503_181328.jpg
    20220503_181339.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  11. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    That’s the amazing thing about turbo headers and manifolds, they don’t have to be equal length or even efficient looking. Once the boost gets to the turbo it’s a home run.
     
  12. Buick#455

    Buick#455 Well-Known Member

    Where you going to place the waste gate?
     
    Sebambam likes this.
  13. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    who needs a wastegate LOL, mine are set at 25 psi.
     
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  14. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    actually waiting for it i ordered a 60mm i will place it as close to the turbo as possible so basically close to the 3" v-band


    TA also delivere me the STAGE 1 Vlaves and Valve springs i am dropping of the heads at my "head Guy" today

    PS: to keep on annoying the ANTI LS guys ... i picked up a project ...that actually my wife wants , 1980 Camaro Z28.
    i will slap a 4.8 LS in it that is sitting in my shop . it got a cam and new bearings already. Perfect for the car.
    i might have to source a 4L60e becuase all i have is a TH 400 and 350 (both definitly good) and since it should be a "driver" a 4 speed is prefered. BUT the budget always restricts what you want lol
    20220507_171500.jpg
     
  15. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Anything new?
     
    D-Con likes this.
  16. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    Hey bro.

    I am waiting to get the heads back from the machine shop ;)
     
    sean Buick 76 likes this.
  17. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Did you decide to do low buck or mild porting?
     
  18. Brian Albrecht

    Brian Albrecht Classic Reflections

    Cool plot to your story and nice work so far! Very curious about the pistons, though. You kept the stock, cast, high compression pistons? Isn't that expecting a lot on a turbo charged engine, or can todays technology accomodate that?
     
  19. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Those pistons only net around 9.4 to 1,..plenty safe
     
    Sebambam likes this.
  20. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    The beauty of the E-85 fuel that he is using is that it is VERY detonation resistant. I'm planning to run over 10:1 compression with E-85. My modified Holley carb is setup for E-85 and it made over 1000 HP to the wheels on a 11:1 compression 5.3 LS with good heads.
     

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