Just finished boring another Buick block to 4.350 last night. Got to thinking (I know that's dangerous) if Buick had made the block strong and the oiling better, this engine would have been the SBC of big blocks with good heads. Considering the large bore to stroke ratio.
Yup.. it was all about the lack of cylinder head flow, and the thin wall casting. It did exactly what the designers and engineers wanted it to do, efficiently move a heavy car around, but it's design parameters were not the most conducive to serious performance mods. That's probably why we chase the HP 455, it's a challenge to work with something that is not "easy". JW
But still stock or Stage 1 455 heads outflow stock Olds and Pontiacs, right? Larger Buick bore allowed bigger valves. And the shorter stroke allowed higher revs. For years I shifted my mildly modified 455 at 6000 and an Olds guy would try to tell me to shift 5000-5500 and I'd go quicker like he did with his 455 Olds. Mine was always quicker shifting at 5800-6200.
I'd talk to Rick Alexander from Ta. Well he is the port development programmer. He mentioned a few thing's that blew my mind. One, Jeff Strube! He knows bbb heads in and out like no other. If I'm correct he holds a GS record ;-) number two, Chris Scaling. This three men are always finding serious power in bbb, more then any N/A person. Here is a secret, the ports are to short! Now figure out the rest. Three other highend engine builders and for other highend cylinder head people all agreed on it.lengthen the port it makes power as you port and polish. Remember I said I was doing my homework. I wasn't lieing was I. There is more Im learnin. Good luck y'all.
