NOObe here....I'm new to the buick scene,I wanna learn more about them...I know plenty about chevys....but who doesn't?...lol,anyways I'm a diehard ford freak....but I enjoy working on everything....and I just purchased a mint condition 78' buick lesabre 1 owner 50K sweeet old car....before everyone starts laughing at the grandma ride.....I only paid 400$ for it...and it runs like a raped ape! I wanna know what the most beneficial cheap mods for these 350-4bl buicks are,I noticed it's got a serious case of part throttle detonation,it had some realy cruddy gas in it,when I got it....but I put 2 gallons of 100 octane pump gas in it,and it ''seems'' to be helping,I just installed a new aircleaner.....but I'm thinkin' the old Q-jet made need a once over,but not sure.....anyway,I'm wondering if it has an EGR problem or what?...any help would be great. Also I got a an oppurtunity to purchase a 10 bolt posi,w/3.73 gears for it,for extremely cheap....can anyone tell me for sure what kind of difference it should make?....night and day?....hardly noticeable? Also does anyone know what this hoopty had for stock gears?....I was guessing 3.08's...but thats just a guess. My goal with this thing is to make it a super dependable mid 13 N/A sleeper,so any help and info. you guys can offer,is greatly appreciated!:grin: also anyone within' a couple hundred miles of lincoln,Ne have any beneficial parts for this thing?....I'm also trying to find a decent set of rims for it,anyway near me got some? thanx,Drew
Welcome aboard. I'm into older models and can't help with parts, but you came to the right place to get some. 13s in that heavy beast make me scratch my head. It's good to have tough goals. That's how breakthough ideas happen.
lol.....it weighs less than a 4th gen f-body....it only weighs 3670 and thats w/spare tire, jack,half tank,and A/C......I'd be happy if I could make it run 13.90's......I would think it's obtainable....I have faith in the buick,lol.:grin:
Welcome to the V8 nieghborhood ! You will find a lot of information in the race forums and others on here .. Hope you find what your looking for and more !!!!! Have Fun .... :laugh: :laugh: :TU:
Let's see..... 78 Buick LeSabre probably had stock 2.73 gears. You could definitely help it out by putting a nice dual exhaust system on it with an X pipe.... Don't know if you can squeeze headers in there, but it may work just fine. www.taperformance.com would have the headers you need....more than likely. THey may be advertised for A bodies, but you can probably get them in without too many headaches. I would definitely rebuild the carb. Take a look here: http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/engine.htm It may have a few sites that you can browse and drool at Also, there is a page with a bunch of links to carb performance mods and such here: http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/carbs.htm um...... Aluminum intake manifold would be nice. Get rid of that smog crap they put on those cars too...if you can. I don't know how stringent your emissions regulations are. Or, you could build a 455 and drop it in:Brow:
I would say the similar body style Estate Wagons would be a source for a 3.23 posi. Towing package cars had good gears. However, the bolts pattern is larger so different rear wheels would be required.
ya....I got a 4th gen. f-body rear for it w/a 3.73 posi for a $100,I just have need to install it. does anyone know if they sell any suspension stuff for this car? if it did have 2.73 gears,does anyone know what kind of difference 3.73 will make? will it be night and day?,or what do you all think?
thats the plan down the road,but I'll do what I can with the 350 for now...since I have 2 other cars I'm workin' on as well.:TU:
:shock: Night and day doesn't even come close to describing the difference! The change from 3.07 to 3.42 was a real kick in the pants. Unreal how the thing got out of the hole with the shorter gears. You'll love it! Warning!!! The RPMs will be humming pretty good just cruising. On the interstate you'll be taching pretty good. Install a tach so you can keep an eye on it.
ya.......I was considering putting a 700-R4 in it for the overdrive,but I don't think I'm gonna...too much bullshit. do you think 3.73's would be too short for it,whats the tightest you should rev. these buick smallblocks?
