Part just ordered for my Stage-1 Buick Regal

... Fed-Ex is scheduled to deliver the mini-starter tomorrow, and the Derale dual electric 4,000-cfm 13" puller fans are out of stock (Summit), and will be shipped to me @ 2nd week in May. :TU:

The FINAL PARTS needed (based on my reality-list ... this is my 3rd Buick 455 Regal;THIS TIME DONE CORRECTLY) are as follows;

1) MSD-6AL 2) TCI Rachet Street Fighter Shifter 3) TH400 Transmission mount 4) Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials (MTT-3754R x2 measuring 275/60R15) ... AFTER THE MOTOR GETS IT'S FIRST 500-MILES UNDER IT'S BELT!!!

I am DYING for my motor!!!:rantmy friends tell me it's racing season ... and I should realistically expect my motor after that).

So-Far-So-Good.

 

Re: Parts just ordered for my Stage-1 Buick Regal

" ... The-starter's-here!!!" :tu:

 

what you got done to your motor?

Cody

 

MY TH400 TRANSMISSION. Took these pics today after work at the shop.
I was told it's a 1970 Buick th400 short-tail that was behind a Buick 455 (???).

The ID plate on the passenger's side has this (70-OB) on the left side of the ID plate, and (8798) on the right side of the ID plate (96% sure that is what I see on it).

I was also told the bell housing has RIBS for added strength ... ???

 

... bored .030-over, TA290-o8H cam & TA heavy-duty rocker shafts, stock iron 1973 Buick 455 heads were converted to Stage-1 heads, attention to oil passages, TA street-strip fuel pump, 1973 Buick 455 Rochester rebuilt/rejetted, recurved/rebuilt 1974 Buick 455 H.E.I.,Edelbrock Performer port-matched to the heads, TA long-style stainless-steel headers with true 3" duals ending in Thrush mufflers, 2800-stall converter in Buick th400 short-tail (built), and 1984 Buick GN posi with factory 3:42's. Simple, and on a very limited/tight/microscopic budget. :3gears:

 

Re: Parts just ordered for my Stage-1 Buick Regal

lol, you better rip that PROFORM (pro form ) sticker off that starter before you are banned from this site.

Long story. Let us know how the starter holds up. Where did you find it? I might buy one.

Looks like your almost ready to start burning up some rubber :bglasses:

 

and on a very limited/tight/microscopic budget

haha ya i can relate to that

Cody

 

Re: Parts just ordered for my Stage-1 Buick Regal

(lol, you better rip that PROFORM (pro form ) sticker off that starter before you are banned from this site.)

Jesus-Christ; pleeeeease tell me this brand/type Buick 455 mini-starter (Summit) is the bestest-starter-ever!!! (lollll) :shock:

I honestly got terrified reading your reply ... worrying WHEN will I have the stinking shipping $$$ to return/exchange it to Summit.

... NOT FROM AN IMPORT/CHEVY/FORD/MOPAR/OLDS/PONTIAC/AMC COMPANY????ou:

 

Cool build but a couple of suggestions/questions.

1) MSD= If youre buying a new MSD box, forget everything and buy the MSD 6AL2 Programmable. It has almost everything that the full MSD 7AL Digital has, except the datalogging memory, and has boost capability as well. Its not that much more money, but you get ALL the goodies with it, probably good for squeezing about 10 more HP, and mounds of torque out of any engine.

2) Let me know how that starter works out. Im assuming youre running headers. I can tell you it will be "fun" to install. Im just curious how much fun.

Cheers.

 

online170,

Thanks much for the MSD-411.:TU:

The next two/last items on my 455Regal-List were the MSD-6AL box, and the (still stands) TCI Street-Fighter Mega-Shifter.

I will check it out in a few.

Thanks again.

 

" ... AND ANY INFO ON THE PROFORM BUICK 455 mini-STARTER IS WELCOME EVEN VIA PRIVATE-MESSAGE, GENTLEMEN."

Thanks.:TU:

 

The MSD 6AL youre after is about $200 vs. $350 for the 6AL2.

Its a $150 difference, but wouldnt you rather have 20 more ft/lbs of torque?

If youre answer is, well i really just need the MSD 6AL, then my question is why? Its just a rev limiter.... you can do that for much cheaper. If you just need the MSD 6AL then you dont need an iginition box, save your money.

With the MSD 6AL2 you can build a custom curve. With such a big cam, you will have to find a "comprimised" ignition curve (yes even with a recurved distributer). With the 6AL2 you can retard the timing while its cranking to be nice to your starter, you can advance it back up as soon as it fires to idle like its stock. You can have MAX advance applied through to 5000rpm for max torque, and then retard it a couple degrees after 5000rpm to get MAX horsepower.

In short, it will idle like a stocker, and give you MAXimum power throughout your powerband. If your budget is tight, just drive with a light foot for now, and save up the extra $150 for the 6AL2, you wont regret it.

 

Sorry, didnt mean to scare you about the starter. The first post about it was more of a joke, "proform" has become a bad word on this board for other reasons (your starter has nothing to do with it). Do a search and you can find out why.

As for my comment, my buddy bought a 455 (olds) starter for his big block olds with headers. In short, it was alot of fun to install because the big chunky aluminum mounting peice hit EVERYTHING!. He is running an aftermaket Lakewood SFI bell, and long tubes, so your case may be different.

Im curious to see if you have clearance issues. We ended up cutting off a bit of the aluminum chunk to make it fit. I would also advise you get some heat wrap for the starter to protect it.

Other than the install and clearance issues, its a very nice starter, works great and is very powerful. He decided to buy his after eating 3 new stock starters, and finally spent his money on a high torque version.

So sorry for the scare, wasnt intended that way.

 

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</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- / user info --> <!-- message, attachments, sig --> <!-- icon and title --> Re: Part just ordered for my Stage-1 Buick Regal
<hr style="color: rgb(159, 178, 184);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> The MSD 6AL youre after is about $200 vs. $350 for the 6AL2.

Its a $150 difference, but wouldnt you rather have 20 more ft/lbs of torque?

" ... YES! YES-I-WOULD-LIKE-THAT, OKAY!!??? (lollll):TU:

I WILL DO-THE-RIGHT-THING ... (geez, you drive a hard-yet-senseworthy-bargain!)

Thanks for the Reality-Check.:TU:

 

ou: ... It's cool. I appreciate the 411. The tranny-guy told me I should consider a new Buick 455 flex plate from Jeg's ... ??? Do you suggest that? he said with his Pontiac 455 he had 2 -starters rip up the stock plate.

 

" ... You got it. Thanks again." :TU:

 

Not sure, you may want to ask someone with a bit more experience than me.

I know buick had a "light weight" version of a flexplate that had three :wings: on it, try to avoid that one. But i really dont know, id ont think it should matter. o No:

 

Re: Parts just ordered for my Stage-1 Buick Regal

Ya, I was just kidding about the starter as well. But I think I might buy one here soon and give it a shot. My 100lb (not really) stock starter is too big. I have to drain the oil to get it out due to the scavenger oil lines and all. My old mini just slid right out.

Good luck and thanks for the posts!
Mike