I have a spare 70 455 motor laying around that I'm thinking of rebuilding this winter. Plan would be to have the car look stock, sound and also drive as close to stock as possible. Would also like the car to run in the deeper 12s upper 11s if that is possible. Anyone have any ideas they can give me for this build?
http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/post-your-11-12-second-455-combos.275366/ Also, post #44 on this thread shows the qualifying times for all this year’s BSA cars. If you search the names or message the guys (and gal) on the list, they’ll likely share their build info with you. (BSA is Buick Stock Appearing-no headers, no Holleys, etc. as per the rules in the earlier posts). http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/buick-stock-appearing-bsa.366921/page-3 Patrick
The secret is good head flow. That's the only way you are going to get there unless the car weighs less than 3000 lbs. If you want it to look and sound more or less stock, and run in the 12's or 11's, you'll need nicely ported iron heads, or aluminum heads.
I’m currently having such a motor built. Totally stock appearing with the TA aluminum sleeper heads. I’ll share the info after I install it.
I built an essentially stock motor with 10:1 pistons, 218/230 cam and minimal bowl clean up that ran 12.7 first time out. Won my shootout this year at PSMCDR against a 72 455 HO Trans Am, and that was only my 3rd time out. In better air with a little tuning I expect this will pull easy 12.5's in a 4000 lb car with 3.73 gears
I know a lot of guys don't like the Rhoades lifters, but I've been running them for a few decades and they really tamed my cam at idle, more quiet & smooth. I also gained about 0.1 sec because of the better low-end torque (running very tall gears though, with a 13" VP converter). If you don't mind a loud / aggressive idle and a more aggressive converter then you don't need them - but in my book this goes away from "sleeper". -Bob C.
How stock looking? You okay with headers? Painting aftermarket aluminum? Quadrajet needed? Whether you want to just bolt-on & go vs more labor & love will determine which way you’re gonna head.
Jenna’s 455 is really basic but it runs 12.30, 10:1 factory bottom end, ported iron heads, unknown cam (but it’s not too wild), edelbrock intake, 850 Holley, headers and full exhaust, built TH-400 and built rear with 3.73 and 275 drag radials
Build a short block with 10.0-10.5 compression and zero deck with notched pistons. Install ta stage 1 heads or very well ported iron heads. Use a cam about like the ta 288-94 and run 12.10 at 111 mph in a 4000 lb convertable. That's what Gary Steele "buquick" did with his 67 GS and he had IRON heads, intake, and exhaust manifolds. And that was with a switch pitch converter and 3.55 rear gear.
I BUILT A .038 OVER 455, Wiesco pistons, 0 deck with stage 2 SE heads, SP1 intake with HP 950, 2 1/8 headers with 3 inch exhaust out to bumper, 290H TA cam, 3:90 gears with a 4 grand convertor. 10.95 motor pump gas has gone 11:12@119.5 in 70 skylark sedan.
Damn.... that's moving a big gal pretty good. sounds like a more ideal cam than the one I have installed in my car? Mine's kind of grumpy. I bet yours is just "aggressive" and runs well? ________________________________________ Product ID: TA_290-08HL 455H.560"-238'/.550"-248',112' The “525 HP Street Cam”. Good bracket cam but still streetable. Strong mid-range, top end power. TA roller rockers required and valve springs recommended. 2500 -3000 stall converter recommended. Fair idle. 9.5:1 or more CR. Idle Quality: Smooth Idle - just like stock Good Idle - mild lump, but doesn’t impair driveability Moderate Idle - nice performance sound Fair Idle - heavy lump Rough Idle - very lumpy race type idle VALVE LIFT STOCK 1.55 RATIO: IN: .5423” EXH: .527” TA ROLLERS 1.60 RATIO: IN: .540” EXH: .560” DURATION AT .050 IN: 238 EXH: 248 ADVERTISED IN: 290 EXH: 308 LOBE CENTER: 112 POWER RANGE: 2000-6000 _________________________________________________________________ Mine is this beast according to the paper work I've dug up with the car. We don't have a race track any more around but I'd like to know what the car would run. It's a beast. Product ID: TA_608-455 455H.595"-258',.601"-272",108' Serious bracket cam, but still streetable with all the good stuff. Ported heads highly recommended. TA roller rockers and valve springs required. This cam makes serious Power. Rough idle. 10.5:1 or more CR. Idle Quality: Smooth Idle - just like stock Good Idle - mild lump, but doesn’t impair driveability Moderate Idle - nice performance sound Fair Idle - heavy lump Rough Idle - very lumpy race type idle VALVE LIFT STOCK 1.55 RATIO: IN: .576” EXH: .582” TA ROLLERS 1.60 RATIO: IN: .595” EXH: .601” DURATION AT .050 IN: 258 EXH: 272 ADVERTISED IN: 296 EXH: 310 LOBE CENTER: 108 POWER RANGE: 3500-7000
Iwent with vthe 290H because I had stock rockers and did noy want to stress them with spring pressure. nice Idle and brakes. convertor helps. just bought 290HL now that I have rollers. Lift is always good.
