350 front springs okay for 455?

Hi everyone,

I know the 455 engine wears more than the 350 engine - but during a 350 to 455 swap can I leave the 350 front springs in or do I have to immeadiately swap to 455 springs?

 

That's what I did, seems to work just fine.

 

I have done that also. No problems. BUT i have removed the AC and some other weight.

 

The 350 springs in my LeSabre are working just fine with the 455.

Keep 'em and see - easy enough to change them if needed, but why spend the time/money if you don't?

 

>>I will be keeping my air conditioning set up - I wonder if this will present a problem?

 

leave it as is and see what it looks like. if the front end sags, u can then buy new springs.

 

Couple of thoughts: Loosen and re-tourqe the lower A arm bolts at the new ride height.
Have the front end alignment checked at the new ride height.

- Bill

 

hey Chris,
you putting a 455 in the new vert? thats awesome if you are.
My car was originally a 350 2bbl with AC. the springs had to be switched to BB springs when it went to the BBB setup and I kept the AC and it worked great.

Mike

 

>>Thanks for all the info guys. Hi Mike, yep - I'm going to go for the 455 swap. I realized that I simply had too much stuff for my new house and have been selling odds and ends - might as well focus on the Buick with the extra funds. I'll have a 455 long block mated up to my turbo 350 tranny - so it will be a mild combo for now. Have been ordering parts for the swap - motor mount brackets, 455 throttle cable, and 455 fan shroud.

 

very cool Chris. let me know if you need a Stage 1 Fuel Pump. I have one from my 455 that was only on there for about 1000miles and its been clearenced a bit for double roller timing chain. was just on the limit for my combo so I went to a different pump.
$25 plus shipping

Mike

 

Thanks for letting me know about the pump Mike - once the engine is in I'll have a better idea of what I will need to add to it.

 

If you want to see how it will look, have a friend sit on the front bumper. That will simulate extra weight.

 

>>Good idea! Hopefully it will not make too much of a difference.

 

Been debating this for weeks. Am about to drop my new 455 w/o ac into my 71 skylark 350. I have 350 with a/c springs that are only about 2 years old. I hope I will be okay as well.

 

You can get away with not changing the springs if you put aluminum heads and intake on the engine to save a lot of weight with aluminum parts, and a lighter wallet. :beers2:

 

Good idea Nate - I think an auminum intake is a good possibility in the near future.

 

I've done it on a couple cars including my SportWagon, the 350 springs work just fine!

 

ran mine like that for a year... it was fine. I noticed a considerable change in handling when I upgraded to 455 springs. Sometimes the budget dictates upgrades..

 

>>Yes, I am definitely trying to work within a budget. I have a large front sway bar to get installed too so perhaps that will be done with BBB springs if I need them in the future.

 

just put in the 1 1/8 inch bar ....wow..again what a difference.