Your 350 build-up opinions requested

Ok guys, I just bought a '76 350 engine (LeSabre) on FeeBay last night. $200, includes TH350 trans and is supposed to run. Good deal?? (By the way, the trans will be for sale as soon as I pick it up).

I'll be tearing it down for a complete rebuild. It's destined for my Skyhawk, set up for autocrossing/street duty. Now I can finally get that damn Ch*** outa there!

The car is right at 3100 lbs, 4 speed, 4-wheel power disc brakes, so I only need enough vacuum to help the booster. Needs to run on available pump gas (93 max in my area). I'm running 15" wheels and 25" tall tires. The car has custom-built subframe/K-member connectors, so it should handle the new torque that's coming. The rear end is stock with 3:73 gears. The general consensus is that these will handle 300 drag racing hp before they die, but since I'm not shocking it from a dead stop (not a drag racer), I'll see what Buick power does to it. :Brow: If she blows, I've got a narrow 9" Ford to swap in.

I'm told it's not too hard to get 500 hp out of these, but I think I'd be plenty happy with at least 400 dependable hp, minimum, and all the torque I can get. I understand the T/A and Poston intakes don't add much power, but I'll use one for the weight reduction (with a Quadrajet).

So, my questions:

1. What needs to be done to hit my HP goal?
2. Cam recommendation?
3. Head porting necessary? Who is 'the man' for that job?
4. Bottom end mods needed? Stock rods and crank ok with balancing and normal prep?
5. Pistons? Compression ratio?
6. Poston or T/A intake? Preference?
7. I assume my 3:73 gears will now be too steep. Agreed? How about 3:42?
8. Is there any problem running remote oil filters on a Buick engine?
9. A silly question: what color will make it faster? Buick red, Buick green, or GM blue? :3gears: Seriously though, which do you guys prefer?

Anything else you want to throw out there, I'm listening.

Thanks, guys.

 

Reid-
Dont waste your time, do not pass go, do not collect $200--- GO DIRECTLY TO JIM BUREK!!!

www.paeenterprises.com

400+ [reliable] HP is easily atainable, but 80% of that power will come from the heads. Jim is the premier sbb head guy in my book.

Stock crank and rods will need the full treatment,,, side beams polished, ARP bolts, fully ballanced, etc.

Jim can hook you up with a set of the light weight pistons he used in Tubbed's motor also, and their worth the extra $$ over stock replacement 10:1 type slugs because the "light weights" will take a lot of stress off the rods [weak point in sbb's]

Oil passages will need to be opened up and massaged for a SCCA racer.

Light weight pistons, polished cap screw rods, and prepped and fully ballanced crank should have little to no problems running up to 6000 rpm's.

Cam selection, as well as rear gear ratio will be detirmined by what RPM the engine needs to perform it's best at, and Jim is the man with the plan in that dept.

Paint the engine flat black... Yes, it will make it faster because it will disapate heat more quickly. :3gears:

Your going to loose at least 100 lbs by ditching the chebby, so 3000 lbs with 400 hp, and buick torque is gonna be one wild a$$ ride.

BTW, hot rodders trick, mid 80's caddy's used an auxiluary vacuum pump to power the brakes... Find one in a junk yard for $50, and go as wild with the cam as you want!

 

I won't debate your recommendation there, Darryl. I've read enough comments on here about Jim Burek to believe he knows what he's doing.

I just noticed that Earick Racing is only 60 miles from me. Any comments on them?

I'd like to do as much prep work and the final assembly myself, to keep costs down. Head work, balancing, machine work obviously need to be farmed out.

This is the first time I've heard someone mention oil passage work, though. What is involved here? Is this something I can do? I understand I need 'correct' cam bearings, not just 'parts store' items. I'll also probably have Jim or someone baffle the oil pan sump for road racing. I know what Pontiacs need, but this is new to me.

I've done several Pontiac engines over the years, so I'm a novice here only where Buick power is concerned. Thanks for the tips. I don't think I can live with black, though...it's also a 'sometimes' show car. :TU:

 

http://www.buickperformance.com/oilflow.htm

 

Jim,

That article talks about mods to a 455.....is the 350 identical?