Suggestions on a Pro-touring 350 Buick build?

I am wanting to build up the 350 in my wagon. It is going pro-touring. Right now it is getting the front suspension done.

So I am looking for recommendations on what to do with the motor. Looking for higher horsepower, not sure about forced induction. but not apposed to it. Keeping it automatic. Something that would be drivable yet still have performance.

TA heads
Roller rockers
Already have a set of Hookers on her
310 or 413 Cam with Rhoads lifters to tame it a little.
SP3 intake.

Other recommendations?

Thanks,
Tim

 

I would use a SRE oil pan, stock stroke, TA forged rods and pistons. Make it rev really high.

 

Get the clean up porting from ta at least.
both cams are decent, I would like the 413 cam myself. Should make plenty of power, but does like a lot of converter and mid 3 series gears.
About 10 to 1 measured,should be decent on compression. I currently have the 310 in my convertible,about 9.8 compression, will see how that is soon, swapping up from 3.73 to 3.42 currently. And a jegs 2700 converter. The convertible has a dual plane intake and Quadrajet, so the milder 310 would be better for a cruiser with a bit lower rpm band.
If it’s a 71-72 , get a distributor or send yours to Everyday Performance from rebuild, recurve,points conversion.
Apparently the sp3 with a holly type carb seems easier to tune.

 

Roller cam from TA.

 

Yes and no. Got to know how to prep block . A few people on here have had issues.
if he’s going roller cam, then get a level 2 port job .
Roller rockers.

 

I was advised by Mike Sr that the level 1 port job and bowl blend is the way to go beings they made some changes to cam design. My machinist also agreed. As for cam mods I went with the V6 cam plate from TA. Just tell them when order cam so they’ll machine the cam to work with the plate.

 

That’s good. That’s not for me, my Carrillo rods will need too much clearancing to go roller.

 

I figure, Why not go with roller rockers since with using the 350 Stage 1 heads you can use a set of less expensive chevy ones. Thought of changing to a TH200r4, also.

Tim

 

My machinist strongly opposed going with Chevy rockers as originally planned. The exhaust valve relocation puts the rocker arm on an angle. At the time TA didn’t have push rod guide plates available. Machinist told me the side load on the push rod and guide plate would be to much especially beings I’ll be spinning this motor to 6500 rpm.

 

I agree!
My reason is shaft rockers are superior in every way to the stud and nut.
Every hi-perf, or heavy duty (diesel) engine uses shaft rockers.
Chevy engines are cheap to buy, source parts and build compared to better designs.
The offering of "Chevy style" rockers is only offered to help take a bit of the sting of paying more for Buick heads.
Same as the offering of the Edelbrock heads for the Buick big block, TA even says the Edelbrock heads are not as good as their heads performance wise, its the low cost way to get aluminum heads for your BBB.

 

I know it’s expensive but I would go with TA roller rockers. They can modify them to Center on the valve stems.

 

Done but didn’t know TA had a kit, but then again I bought the heads & rockers from them they should of told me.

 

I don’t want to speak for TA however my understanding was that they were going to offer a kit for those of us with roller rockers already to modify ours for low cost. I also thought they were going to offer the roller rockers already corrected to work properly on the alum heads. I would call them to discuss.

 

I think TA is a bit overwhelmed, at least that’s the impression I got from Tim last I talked to him, poor guy sounded like he just finished running a marathon

 

You could be right. I wouldn’t bash TA in any way. My machinist is very impressed with the quality of TA’s products and the effort they put into the 350.

 

I’m pretty sure no one is criticizing, I know they fully intended to offer a kit to retrofit the rollers to line up perfect but maybe they haven’t been able to get it done. I do know for sure that they figured it out on a set.

 

I found this old quote from Mike JR:

• When using TA roller rockers, the exhaust rocker will not sit directly over the exhaust valve, it will be off to the side. This is normal, due to the exhaust valve being moved from the factory location to allow the use of a larger intake valve. This won't pose any issue to performance or reliability. If you want to correct the exhaust rocker location, a retrofit kit is available for $65.

 

Wish I saw that before my machinist spent time reworking the shafts. No one ever said build a Buick it will save you money LOL!

 

yes the whole thing is a huge challenge with Buick’s. In the past 3 years while I’ve been ducking around with my 350 with all custom parts my neighbor has produced about a dozen 1000+ HP cars with $500 LS engines on boost.

 

If I wanted to build something cheap. I would build a POS Chevy SB.