I was told by a speedshop owner in Colorado Springs that I could build a 455, with good parts and get 650 hp out of it, running premium unleaded pump gas. He also said that it would redline a lot higher than most 455's went to with the beefier parts, this gave it the higher than usual HP rating. Has anyone done such a thing, and/or what is the most HP anyone has gotten out of a normally aspirated 455 running premium pump gas? His design used 4bbl FI, really tricked out valve train to handle the higher rpm's, forged everything on the low end, and a certain cam that let it pull through 8000+ rpm, while still retaining a semi-lopey idle. I have decided I want to find a 65 Special 2-door post and leave it completely stock looking from the outside and build a REALLY trick 455 for it. Dave
www.trishieldperf.com www.paeenterprises.com www.taperformance.com I've never heard of a 455 going to 8000 rpm before! (EDIT: Without grenading)
Better have him show you the dyno tape. If it does not have the new al heads not 600hp and there is a good bet that someone who would say that might not be 500 hp. There is no doubt though his engine will do 8000 rpms --they all will one time. The most hp I have seen made by a pump gas street engine backed up by a dyno tape is Jim Weise at Trishield Performance linked at the top. As far as I have seen normally aspirated engines full race have gone to 800- 900 hp.
It has been 20 years since he described the parts needed to get 650 hp out of pump gas with a 455... One of the links posted above shows a 455 that dyno'd out at 592 hp with stage one heads. I do remember that the buildup did require heads that flowed better than stage 1 heads. Most of what he said needed to be done was just basics, porting and polishing, balancing, lightweight rods and pistons, cam, alum heads, 1000 cfm fuel injection, a decent intake and headers, plus MSD ignition. Perhaps I'll just build it and then just see what it does.
Do a little reserch and look around for awhile on this site. Talk is cheap, the proof is in the pudding. I'm not knockin you but I see your new to this site, There has been a lot of progress with the Buick 455 in the past 20 years, do a little lookin around and get to know what works and what doesn't. Post your name so we know what to call you
Buick engine best! I just found this on a website which has some startling conclusions! The juggernaut Chevy 454 is not so awesome afterall... http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/72278/index.html Read up! Nick
Kenny, no offence taken, I posted this mostly to see if what he was telling me was bull-stuff... Well from what I've read it is possible to get 650 hp out of a 455. Just will take lots of dinero to do so. Might take me longer to get my future buick up and running... I always loved comparing my Buick engines to the Chevy and Fords, Nick... The 401 nailhead was 325 hp but 40 ft lbs more torque than a 325 hp 396 Chebbie.. at a lot lower rpm to boot!
