Am I CRAZY???

[GenAudio]

Hi everyone, just joined, looks like a geat forum.
Anyway, on to weather I'm crazy or not. At the moment I have a '84 Buick Regal with a Buick 350 (bored .030 over, comp cam 268H, forged flat top pistons @ 10.5:1 compression), true 2-14" dual exhaust, Saganaw 4-speed, custom built Ford 9" (3.55 w/detroit locker posi).
In the next month or so I will be ordering an intake and headers from TA Performance and getting a street strip port/polish job done on the heads by a local speed shop.
Now for the part were I may be CRAZY. About a year ago I got this crazy idea that I would like to build a 455 intercooled twin turbo, so I started collecting parts. So far I have the block and a set of turbos out of Grand Nationals. Now money is only a minor obsticle when it comes to this project, with time I can get everything I need. I plan on using the following basic parts:
- TA stage 2 head w/extra bolts
- TA block girdle
- TA stroker crank (why not stroke it to 523 since I plan on buying a new crank anyway, right?)
- TA roller rockers
- Holley Commander 950 fuel injection
Everything else I am still figuring out. The whole thing is more for
a "wow" effect than true performance (full custom interior and large stereo (I sell car stereos :) ). I plan on using a Richmond 6-speed and mini tubbing the rear to accept 315 17" tires and rims. My bigest fear is the tuning when its all together. Does anyone think I'm being dumb by attemting this?
In the end I plan to put the 350 in a Jeep YJ for some 4x4 fun (some day anyway).
So what is everyone opinion?

[68Electra]

While a GN turbo is great in a GN, you may want to contact a turbo company with the specifics of the motor and car and they sell you turbos that might better match your specific application. They might also suggest a good cam to use with the turbos.

[bobc455]

Yeah, you sound a bit crazy, welcome to the club!

Anyhow, It certainly can be done. It will take a lot of time & effort & money, but the results certainly will be cool.

I had a guy quote me about $7k to add two turbos to my 455 (I already have FI, which is a big part of it). That includes intercooler, custom headers, etc. You should have your turbos sized by someone that knows turbos, and not just grab what is convenient.

I haven't heard of anyone mating a Richmond 6-speed to a 455, but that probably can be done too. For overall reliability, etc., I think you'd be better off with a well-built TH400.

I would recommend you get your work (head porting, etc.) by a place that knows Buick's- I had a Chevy guy do my heads and they flowed WORSE than stock after he was done, this is not uncommon. In fact you could even have TA do it.

I recommend you get the FAST instead of the Holley- the FAST is a great unit, and you'll like tuning it a lot better!

While you're at it, have TA grind you a custom cam- they are very good at designing cams for your specific application. Don't forget that TA can put FI onto their intake manifolds also, might be a good idea to just order the FI setup from them.

-Bob Cunningham
bobc@gnttype.org

[btc]

Would I be crazy to maybe suggest keeping the 350 for your twin turbo project ? An injected, twin turbo'd 523 with good heads plus the 455's inherently weak block may spell trouble even with modifications, (girdle, etc). I don't know how much power a 350 block (or crank) can support, but very few guys have ever blown one up. Maybe mention it in the 350 forum. PLus it would save weight.
Then again, maybe the only reason I'm suggesting this is because I wanna see someone make crazy stupid power with a 350 :Do No: . In any case, talk to Mike T from Year One. He mentioned something about Turbo kits in development.

[Ed Leaman]

Why not? i think that there would be lots of ways to use the new technology that is out there. Two options I have wondered about, the supercharger(is it Magnusen) that is found on top of the 3800 ultra and the whpple charger that is built for other applications.How complicatd would it be to adapt one of those??? Also understand that KBelle has gotten into charging Mustangs. With their experience why would they not be helpful in a Buick application??? As far as all of the major mods that you are thinking of doing internally to that engine, Unless you plan to do major rear suspension mods it is probably unnecessary. Properly and mildly boosted Either the 350 and especially the 455 will probably be more power than can safely be put on the road through a stock suspension.. What I would like to see is a bolt on deal that would work with a port injection set up.Should be able to run on a stock and cheaply available lo compression engine from like a 75,76. should be a way to make a fair amount of power without going deep into the motor. Of course if you do alll those internal mods and develop the power to use them LOOKOUT It should be able to really moove!!
Sorry for rambling
Ed

[alan]

Probably two of the biggest things I can suggest is first to build the engine for strength. Let the boost build the power. I don't think the extra cubes will be necessary and offset grinding the crank won't make it stronger! :grin: The second thing is to get an EFI system from someone that knows what they are doing and let them tune it. This will save much time and hair-pulling! It's actually easy to put the parts together for a system that will make well over 1000HP. The tricks are tuning it to make the HP and keeping the engine together!