Ruh, Roh! V8 Questions

[DCEPTCN]

I've become interested lately in the 455s. I'd like to learn more about them but I'm coming up with very little in the way of simple build recipes. I joined v8buick.com but apparently they're not the type to approve memberships before the end of the fiscal year. Does anyone know of where a guy could find detailed info on rebuilds/performance recipes?

[Wrecked Em]

I can send you some info. How much do you want to spend? That will tell you how much hp you want to make.

[ULYCYC]

It's a infomerical to buy, but some good info to start with.
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/buick/bigblock/0607em_buick_engine_build/index.html

[DCEPTCN]

I can send you some info. How much do you want to spend? That will tell you how much hp you want to make.

I don't anticipate having any money until my next life, but when I do I'd love a 500 horse that was somewhat streetable and would last past Wednesday.

[SuperSix]

I would like a 455 in a cool truck for towing - but I would need to mortgage my house to afford to put gas in it.

[DCEPTCN]

I would like a 455 in a cool truck for towing - but I would need to mortgage my house to afford to put gas in it.

That's the beauty (the ONLY beauty) about my job. All the cars stay low mileage.

It seems like there is a good deal of dispute over what it takes to hop a 455 up mildly. Some guys would have you believe that you need to spend a fortune and other say they run 12.2X's with headers and a friggin' K&N.

[SuperSix]

It's not rocket surgery. It's a V8

[DCEPTCN]

It's not rocket surgery. It's a V8

This is true, but I'm reading conflicting opinions on cam and converter choice (re: their compatiblilty) and nevermind bringing elevation into the picture. Furthermore, many folks say that the oiling system in a 455 sucks. Just wondering why there are eleventy million performance recipes for the turbo 6 and not so much for the v8.

[ULYCYC]

Old builds but most info don't change.
http://www.buickperformance.com/EngineBuild.htm

[DCEPTCN]

Now *that's* straightforwar d! Cool, thanks. Like I said, not doing anything anytime soon but would like to know what I'm talking about once the day comes.

[Wrecked Em]

Oiling upgrades are helpful. If you build the engine to not rev above 6k it should live a long and happy life and be relatively inexpensive. If you want to rev beyond 6k you will start talking about rods, block girdle, etc.. Iron heads can flow and keep costs down but you can flow well with aluminum head, get the lost weight advantage, and run a little higher compression on the same fuel.

Let me know and I can email you some info I have.

[Racer X]

'bout damn time you came over the... umm... un-Darkside!  V8s are the best power plant a kid could ever ask for!

[Charlief1]

If I remember right there's a difference in the years of the blocks as well. I think it was 74 and later (correct me if I'm wrong) the blocks had more nickel content in them and are considered better for performance builds.

[DCEPTCN]

So...starting with a later, lower compression engine might not be all bad?

[Charlief1]

Heads make the difference, but I believe the later blocks with the earlier heads are the better way to go. I've got a good set of 455 heads sitting here that have been cleaned and crack checked but I haven't ported them yet. The block has been frozen up due to water in it. I was planning to put them in an old Jeep Wagoneer that I've got here but haven't had the cash to do it yet. The other option is to go with a Buick 350 which will give me more power and a lighter package than the factory 360 AMC engine. :supz: