old info. But not everyone has seen it: http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/new-buick-350-sp3-intake-testing.294886/
Thanks for the link! I'm planning on swapping my TA dual plane for an SP3 simply because I will be running throttle body EFI, and by all accounts I've read EFI gets along better with a single plane.
I'm planning on installing EFI as well. Would a 72 assumedly stock 350 benefit going to the SP3? Currently has a Poston S-divider (previous owner installed), TA headers 1-5/8" and a recurved Mallory distributer with MSD 6AL as only known performance upgrades. My reason for going EFI is the ease of starting after the car sits for a few weeks and whatever drivability improvements I might achieve. I'm also planning a total rebuild in the next year or so once TA is done developing the aluminum heads and having a system installed prior would be a plus.
A stock 350 wont benefit from the SP3 The SP3 wont hurt drivability either on a stock 350 EFI would be better with the SP3 I doubt you'll notice any drivability improvements over a properly set up carb. To set up EFI properly, it costs a lot of money.
holley came out with a new efi recently. so I questioned them how it would work with the sp3. back and forth emails and holley recommended to stay with the d/p. the efi wasn't made for a s/p. go figure.
FITech, SP3, TA 290-94 cam is a perfect combo. Had a 750 double pumper and it was a pig off the line. Quick fuel just wasn’t there...starting sucked....warm up sucked. Now it starts and idles perfect immediately and purrs like a kitten. I do miss the lopey sound...but the performance is crazy. It’ll get sideways at 25mph when I floor it....with 265 tires. Traction from a dig is non existent.
That is one thing I can say about the SP3 I can go out and pump that 750 dbl pumper 4 times at least 2 good pump shots of all 4 shooters, wait about 15 seconds and turn the key and the car is running at idle, I don't even have a choke, No issues.
Gary and I are thinking hard about a Buick 350 "Test Mule". We already have a "street" bottom end combination that would be a great short block for most driven 350s. The test mule would be set up to take advantage of TA's 350 products coming out and not be a performance limiting factor for most "street" builds. We have a few sets of iron heads and intakes from Buick stock to Herche super stock. We are going to baseline this test mule with different configurations and then hope to get TA to allow us to do some additional product testing with OOTB TA 350 products and same TA products with performance mods to provide performance details/improvements about our findings. I'd like to think there is value in this, but, it will cost Gary and I lots of time and $. Does this group consider these performance tests valuable or should we not waste time and money? Who wants to contribute to a Test Mule by donating some short block components and/or $, or commit to a Herche performance 350 build that replicates our test mule and get ready to bolt on these TA parts? Sorry to get off topic, maybe this should be a new thread with a poll? Troy
I would think this would help TA with sales as well as increase business for Herche . If I was Mike at TA I would give you a set of heads to put the test and help them with further R&D. It would help lighten there work load to develop more 350 parts. Lastly, I for one would be interested in a Herche performance 350.
I ran the atomic efi(similar to fitech and the Holley sniper or the 4150 terminator system) and it did not like the single plane intake at all it would go way lean and then be way rich at idle and I tried every A/F target I could think of to help it. Went back to a holley 750 and it works a million times better. the SP3 would looove multi port efi though, the bosses are already they just have a machine shop cut them shouldnt be more than a couple hundred dollars. its just the cost of everything else to get that to work would be expensive.
I have been Test Mule ing this thing for 25 years now banging it at 6-6200 rpm. I guess the strength issue has been solved Nitrous tested that. It all sounds great but I don't think anyone is going to contribute to this cause There have been people on here talking for 10 years about testing this and that and so far not much has been tested. Want to know who has been testing this motor? Go read gsjohnny's threads on "our little 350" on the BPG site before it goes away, you have to go to pg 2 to get the other thread where he really talks about doing things different and he can't even get answers to his questions. There is your test mule. If anyone is out there sitting on 4-5 350 Buicks maybe one should be built and stop sitting on it. whoops, did I say that, quick, go hide.
when the bpg site goes away, that's it for my posting any info. tough part is I use it for my lack of memory. I don't keep any notes or pics. oh well.......
This is interesting, I guess I was wrong in assuming the Holley Super Sniper I am planning to use would be best with the SP3. Seems like I should email Holley for their recommendation before deciding on an intake. Actually a DP would be better for me as it would give me more hood clearance. I wonder if the fact that mine will be a blow-through setup will affect which type of intake the EFI likes . . . Were you using the Holley EFI on a naturally aspirated engine?
