I am wondering what the HP is on a stock 455, 430, 400 big block. thanx pat p.s. some day i hope to put a 455 in my lesabre.
In 1970 you could get a big body 455 rated at a gross 370 HP with 510 TQ. The same year a little more potent version (better heads bigger valves) could be had in a smaller GS (Skylark body)known as a Stage 1. But because of GMs self imposed maximum HP to weight ratios Buick rated it at 360 HP at a lower rpm. A 1970 455 Stage 1 with spot on tune could make about 400 peak gross motor HP. More importantly for a big heavy boat like yours especially with less than optimal read highway gearing is that the Buick 455 made more Torque than any other gas motor short of the Big Cadillac. Find you a whole unmolested brackets & all 455 out of a 70-76 Buick in yard somewhere and buy it for cheap. Then have a shop that specializes in Buicks build it for you. Check out Tri Shields site for some good info on setups & dyno pulls for excellent examples of what can be done. AMP in KY Earicks in OH PAE in TX TA Perf in CA Tri Shield in MN to name a few check out Buick Parts directory advertisement link above.
