Just curious to how much quicker it felt driving a 1970 Stage1 is over the standard 455? Over time iv'e read the difference is maby 14 hp more. Maby Jim Weiss can give some dyno number differences. I would think the regular 455 could be called a Hemi killer also?
Wow, really its that much. I have read instant low end torque is better on the standard 455 due to the Stage 1's more aggressive cam. I know the Stage 1 was a whole package of carefully selected specs that gave it it's reputation but never thought it pulled that much harder on the top end.
waiting to see what others say....then I'll ask my dad ... see what he says. As a kid, I remember a difference.
I need to log off but really curious to what other say also. I only owned a 70 Stage 1 for around 3 weeks back in 1987 and had 3 or 4 other different Buicks with the standard 455 but can't make a comparison as 1 was a 74 Electra's and 2 were 73 Rivs. But will say that standard 73 455 moved that 5,000+ lb really nice with its 2.76 rear peg leg.
I sincerely doubt whether you could feel any difference on the street between a 1970 455 and Stage1. They were both rated at 510 lb. ft of torque, and that is what you would feel in the seat of your pants. You would probably see something at the track. Now 1971 and 1972, you would see a HUGE difference due to factory spec'd ignition timing. Have a look at the difference. 1971, And 1972, The standard 1971 455 would have a maximum WOT timing of 24*, the Stage1, 34*. In 1972, the standard 455 would have a maximum WOT timing of 22*, the Stage1, 34*. Of course you could remedy that with a bump in initial timing, but it makes me wonder if Buick intended to neuter the standard 455 engine to make the Stage1 engines shine in comparison.
They were trying to keep people from blowing up std 455s on 87 octane I guess... On the other hand I think those specs are bogus....never saw a std 455 with timing all in at 2900.
I would bet most of the difference "felt" was in the gearing. We all know the stage cars got 3.64s or 3.42s. I looked at a non stage 70 GS 455 that had 2.93 gears.
Bogus? Came right out of the chassis manuals. Still see plenty of people on this site who think they have to initially time a 72 350 or 455 to 4* BTDC even 50 years later when the distributor has been changed multiple times.
Back then,it felt like a lot. Now,I keep thinking it’s down on power because what WAS a lot of power back then is considered underpowered now.
Larry....that was just where the dealers checked timing. Every distributor I've checked (stock) had more timing coming in later. Maybe GM didn't want the dealers to be revving past 3000 on stock old lady cars that were not well maintained.
That's not true Bruce, I've seen numerous distributors from 1971 and 72 350 and 455's that have very little mechanical advance. You can see how short the advance slot is compared to late 60's Buick distributors. Those distributors actually work really well for cammed engines that require a lot of initial advance.
Yep. Back in the day, especially after the gas/emissions mandates turned gold nuggets into turds... I put an Olds 330, 10.25 @.060 over, 425 heads ported and intake matched, a W-31 cam with a Qjet with 4 speed and 3.08 in a 2964 Special. 3000 lb car and just a good mix of parts. We spanked about everything there was in the late 70s, old, and new, except 3 cars. A '70 545 vette that was warmed up, a '67 442 with a 455 stuffed to the gills, and some damned front wheel drive Caddy that was new, someone told me they had a turbo. I remember it was Champaign colored had two guys and two gals in it and they laughed when they left me, after I had the hole shot on them and stretching 2nd, about 55mph they came past me and went into hyperspace... And Goose said; "Where did who go?..."
1112077, 1112109, and 1112110 are the numbers to look for. Some of them had a bushing, but a lot of them just had short slots.
I put the 1112110 in my 400 with the Kenne Bell cam. Made a big difference compared to the stock distributor that had a bunch of mechanical advance, in being able to run 11-12 degrees initial timing.
