Sad about the situation in the world that cost us this year's nationals, as I just buttoned up the 9 inch swap in the car. Funny how going from 2.29 to 3.50 gear feels like a free 100 hp. This tired old SF 455 is ready for a fight now! The car drives like it's on ice now, which is fun, but not the fastest way from a to b. What's everybody's favorite meats for a street bruiser? The 225s don't like a guy putting more than 1/3 of his foot in it
I'm not sure how much tire I can fit under the car, I think a 275 is about it. I can't believe how easily the thing spins now. Must be Buick torque!
I put a nicely built 455 in an 84 Regal back in the early 90's. I put a T-400 in it and ran around with the original 7.5" open rear with 2:71 (maybe???) gears while I was looking for a 8.5" Grand National rear end. It was fun to drive like that but you named it perfectly; it became a Whole New Animal with a posi and 3:42 gears!! I took one of my younger cousins for a ride. He was just getting into cars and had never experienced anything close to Buick Torque. He just kept saying: " This thing is Violent! It's Soooo Violent!!" I ran 15" X 7" GN steel wheels with P245/60R15's on the front and P275/60R15's out back. They may have rubbed a little on the frame and inside wheel well but it was very minor. I wasn't as lucky with the Poston headers; they got flattened on a regular basis! Guess I should've upgraded away from the stock V-6 front springs!
Philip violent is a good word to describe it. I didn't expect that much, it is a completely original, never rebuilt '70 big car motor. Furthest anyone has been in it was me when I changed oil pickup tube and intake gasket. The car has lower control arm relocation brackets, and new shocks to replace the old floaty ride. I guess those two account for something because there's much more of a "shock" if you will than there was before when it does bite or break loose.
There aren't many truly "street" tires that are gonna hold up against good running BBB! Sure, the more contact patch the better, but it only goes so for with a tire that has high enough durometer rubber/all weather tread pattern to be consider a regular use street tires. If ya really wanna get jiggy with it, drag radials are a marked improvement, but that's at the STEEP expense of wet weather traction and mileage-based tread wear. I can tell you my 255-60 bfgs don't stand a chance compared to these.
I really liked the MT ET Street drag radials I had on the s10 in 275/60 15 flavor. Might have to bite the bullet on a set for it. I was hoping to avoid that expense until the new 455 was done and in, but it seems this old war horse is saying I'M A BUICK TOO YOU'RE GONNA NEED EM
good point. These are my street tires. 31x16.5-15 Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro. On 15x14” wide rims.
I'm putting down 508 hp/511 tq to the ground. Mickey T's street radials are horrible I'm spinning all through 1st and 2nd with adjustable four link and air bag suspension. In fact today I was in 3rd taking an easy corner and came up on about 5-6# of boost and went sideways. Nitto 555's are worse and the NT05's were better but not great. From what I've read the new MT ET street SS's are great; Hellcats ripping driveshafts apart on the street. The Hoosier ET streets are supposed to be better than the MT SS's. But both are expensive and won't last very long but I hate loosing to some slower car because I can't hook. Mikey
Hey Mikey, are your tires et streets or et street R's? When I was shopping, it was imparted on me that the R's were a vastly superior compound. I dont have a basis for comparison to draw my own conclusion however. But my R's definitely hook (they are also bias though for what it's worth)
Sounds like you’re having fun! I did the opposite years ago when my DD had 4.30’s in it. Luckily the speed limit back then was 55. The car sure was “happy” in town.
How can a guy NOT have fun sitting behind a big block Buick? I've learned pretty quick that there's no answer to that one. I have the ET Street SS on the s10 and they did well enough with the high winding small block and 3k stall. It has Caltracs on it too though, and I firmly believe that those work very well. Perhaps I'll put some rollaround tires on it and stick the radials on the car for now, as it is apart currently anyways. It did 9.1 at 78 in 1/8 with the stock converter, those god awful 2.29's, and some REAL rough looking rocker arms (new now). I don't want to grenade this SF before my blue block is done, but I do think with traction I could see over half a second out of the gear change. It feels ALIVE.
Many times when someone asks about doing mods to a 350 I have pushed the fact that a 200-4R and 4.10 gears will do more for performance than that cam and intake/carb they always seem to want. A 455 is a little different animal, yes, but still, here we have yet another testimonial.
When I first went from 2.56 to 3.90 I went slower at the track. 13teens to 13.30s. Wasn't even missing just not pulling on top end..... Realized I was taxing the stock fuel system to the limit with the 3.90s. Put electric pump in and bigger needle and seat and went 12.80s
Mine are just the ET Streets and they are horrible. I drive this to work a lot (reserved covered parking) and the R's are a big no no in the rain so they are out. I might try the SS's or just spring for the M&H Drag Radials (supposed to be the baddest of the bad for hooking on the street).
Gotcha. The R's are no big deal for me since this car doesn't wear them all the time and even then I avoid rain. Supposedly the R's aren't event really DOT approved, but since they look like dot slicks and say "street" on them no one questions it. Haha.
