I'll be first

[Hectic]

Anybody out there working on cars that may make it down the track every once in a while?I'm working on such a car,it is not intended to be raced,it's going to be a street car at the performance level that was hot on the late '70 and early 80's.The car is a '79 Buick Limited,think Electra,with the factory 350 small block Buick(sbb),TH400 and bolt in axles,8.5 ten bolt rear.The car is triple black and has 2 drs.I've taken it down to JPG twice last year.It was a highway cruiser,my plan is to change that to a more performance oriented attitude:biggrin2: .I have done some work on the car already,front and rear oversized sway bars,shift kit, deep sump tranny pan,and external cooler in addition to the stock one.I've got new shocks,tires and wheels(15x7-16x8).This past Winter I decided to rebuild the engine and hopefuly it will be driven this Fall.Working a lot of OT and trying to find time for the car is tough,but I'm working on it and it will run some day:nailbite: .I also got a posi unit and some 3:42's that have yet to be installed,the engine goes first.I have plenty of pics and info on this build if anyone care to get the thread going.This is my first Buick engine after some 14 sb chevys and a couple of inline chevys,I'm very impressed with the Buick engine but the limitations are there(oiling and valvetrain),however they are the lightest of all GM produced small blocks,have very high nickel content on the blocks and heads and are very torquey(factory stroker).Anybody else working on something out there???:sleeping:

[Rick Rafferty]

Hey Hectic - Thank you for being the first to post a project on this forum.:cool: I am interested in hearing/seeing more about what your doing.

Unfortunately, I've got a project I will be working on soon as I dropped a
pinion ring on my 388 sbc, which was already bored 60 over, and it beat
my block up some and I'm gonna have to find a sbc soon.:sick:

Do you or anyone else out there have a 4-Bolt Main Block laying around?
With the 14 you have built in the past, hopefully you may be able to help.
Please let me know if any of you have a sbc available.

Thanks in advance.


Rick Rafferty

[Hectic]

If you are looking for a core engine to rebuild,there should be many out there.How fast do you spin your engine?I believe that general concensus is that a two bolt main is ok to 5500-6000 rpms on a regular basis when built with quality machining and attention to detail.Some people claim that the 4 bolt as delivered from the factory is weakened by having the adyacent bolt holes running parallel to each other,these people opt to start with a 2 bolt block and use aftermarket caps with the two outer bolts canted.If you are looking for a running engine, that may be hard to find and it could also be a gamble.You could ,if it is in your budget,buy a crate engine or a crate short block if you have some decent heads and don't want to do the rebuild yourself.I don't have any engines for sell,I just like to build the ones on my vehicles.

[Rick Rafferty]

I turn my motor about 6300 and have found a block.
My short block components are a Scat 4340 Crank,
Manley H-Beam Rods and 12.5:1 JE Pistons and run Dart Pro 1 Heads
w/ Victor Jr intake and Holley 750.
I'm going to get the block machined and reassemble with above.
Thanks for your reply and the information.
Hope to hear more about your project and I will post some more about mine.
I hope you find the time to get yours back on the road soon!

Rick Rafferty

[Hectic]

I turn my motor about 6300 and have found a block.
My short block components are a Scat 4340 Crank,
Manley H-Beam Rods and 12.5:1 JE Pistons and run Dart Pro 1 Heads
w/ Victor Jr intake and Holley 750.
I'm going to get the block machined and reassemble with above.
Thanks for your reply and the information.
Hope to hear more about your project and I will post some more about mine.
I hope you find the time to get yours back on the road soon!

Rick Rafferty

That sounds like the makings of a stout small block,describe your ride and goals for it.Glad you found your block.
I really bought this car to make it a '94-'96 Impala SS beater.I used to own a '96 SS but I really wanted a 2dr car,so I sold it after a couple of years and bought the '79 Buick.If Car Craft was to describe my car they would probably call it a "disco" car because of the year and I would probably slap them for it.Other people will call it a pimp car and they ought to be slapped too:biggrin2: .The car came with 32k original miles,tires,hoses,etc.I really didn't pay a lot of money for it so that will allow me to spend some more on the drivetrain.The goal is to have 500hp on the ground naturally aspirated and a little shot of juice for when I make it to the track from time to time. It will be a hot street car that I could drive to the track,maybe change rear tires,race and drive back.The Impala slap fest will have to wait for the big block and different suspension front and back.I already have a Buick 455 stashed for this purpose,the small block Buick(350) is being rebuilt because I'm expecting 6-8 years before I'm ready for the 455.During that time I will upgrade and replace the many things that will take to make the car meet my goal.Initially I was just going with different heads and a cam and all new gaskets,when I pulled the lifters about 4 of them were pitted some,so I decided to take the engine apart to check and replace all my bearings.Around that time I found some .030" TRW forgings on Ebay for $207.00 shipped to the house,I decided then to go all the way. My machining was performed by Mike Barrett and the fellows at Midland Machine,very nice people to work with and very knowledgeable machinists.The heads got the valve job and cleaning of the bowls,they were shaved enough to true them up and Comps springs spec'ed for my cam were installed.The block got line honed,squared and decked +/-.075" :nailbite: to achieve a true 9.5:1 scr,bored .030" and torque plate honed for moly rings.The rotating assy. was balanced and the rods resized with new ARP bolts.The cam is from TA Performance,one of a few Buick speed parts peddlers,and has .460" lift on both the In and Ex sides with 223*In and 230*Ex duration at .050" of lobe lift.It is ground with 110* of lobe separation and installed 4* advanced on a 106* In center line.I picked the parts myself so good or bad it was my call,but I hope that all the parts work together to wake the engine up.I'll write some more later,here's some pictures.

[Hectic]

A few more pics.

[Rick Rafferty]

Hey Hectic, thanks for the info & pics of your Buick project.
It looks like you have done a fine job!
Hope to meet you and see your car.

I bracket race my 69 Camaro and the picture and performance info
is listed under my user file info.

I'm in the process of reparing my motor.
The spiral locks came loose on #2 & #3 pistons causing the
wrist pins to tear up the rings and scar the block.:sick:
I'm sleeving those two cylinders and replacing the damaged pistons & rings.
Attached are few pics of the damage and work.
I'll report more as things progress.

Keep us posted on your progress, as well.

Rick Rafferty
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[Hectic]

The carnage!!It sucks when something like that happens at least you didn't loose the whole engine,another reason to buy the best quality parts that one can afford on the first round.I tried looking up your user file but I don't know where it is at,I clicked on your user name and none of the options that came up had a link or stated your car's spec's.I'm no good with the 'puter, other than the discussion boards and Ebay,I'm preety much lost.If you can somehow link it here I would be very interested on checking out your build.
Right now I'm working 7 days and 12 hrs. during the week so there's not any time left for the Buick altough I've been peddling with an engine test stand to break in the engine.I built the stand about 5 years ago but never wired it or used it.I'm dead set on running the Buick engine on it so it will be a while:eyeroll: .Here's a picture of the stand with only the work station attached to it.

PS. Are you running AL or iron heads?

[Rick Rafferty]

Go to Members List or just click on the users name on a post then click on
View My Timeslip will show any info posted.
Awesome looking Test Bench you built!:cool:
Hope you can find some time to finish your Buick and give it a test.
Please consider posting your name and location for future correspondence.

Rick Rafferty

[Hectic]

Found it!Man you need to post some pics of the car:biggrin2: .I filled most of the profile info but I can't get the name to appear with the posts,do you type your name every time?I'm thinking that there should be a way for my name to show every time that I post at the bottom.Actualy,I tought that the signature should appear every time,but I guess it's not set up that way.
Hector Flores.

[Hectic]

I've been working too much!!I wanted to make it for the TCI race but no dice.The Auto Fair is coming up this weekend and I'm trying to pull strings to be off,I'll try to make it to the track to check out the action,it's been a while.
I did manage to get the pan and the timing cover on the engine and found out, as expected,that the intake mounting holes were a little off from all the decking that took place.The intake flanges were milled to keep alingment but the holes were off +/- .032" at the most.I elongated all the holes on a Bridgeport about .045" and all is well now.I went ahead and made some thick washers to use since the ARP's didn't come with any:mad: .I don't know when I'll get back on the engine but I've been working a little on the stand also,made a trick fuel tank for it.
Rick,if I make it on the 16th I'll be sure to look out for you and if you're there I'll like to shake your hand.Later,Hector.

[Rick Rafferty]

Hey Hector, thanks for the update! Your motor is looking great!:cool:
I have my block & crank back and trying to make time to reassemble this week. Not sure if I am going to make it by the 16th but will be back for the 23rd. :nailbite: I look forward to meeting you soon.

[Mike Bradley]

Rick do you need me to head south and assemble that engine?LOL The Camaro has been absent too long! Hope we'll see you back at the track soon.

[Rick Rafferty]

Yeah Mike, it's been far too long.:frown:
I'm way past anxious to get back to the track.
My children have even asked "When are we going racing?" :biggrin2:
I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

[Hectic]

I'm still mocking up everything on the engine and have yet to plumb the fuel.Barring foul weather I'll be there Sat. to check what sounds like a good program of racing.I'll get to see the TCI series after all:biggrin2: .

[Rick Rafferty]

Hey Hector! Your motor is looking great!:biggrin2: I look forward to seeing
it propel your car down the track soon. Please stop by and introduce yourself
tomorrow. I park right in the middle of the lot behind the grandstands.
Look forward to meeting you.

[Mike Bradley]

Hey Hetic, there's a VERY important thing missing between what looks like a #3310, 750-cfm vacuum secondary carb and the intake manifold. That would be the NOS plate. J/K

Looks awesome. Can't wait to see it burning up the race track. This has all the makings for the ultimate sleeper grudge car.

Hope to see ya Saturday.

Mike

[Hectic]

Well, not four hours after I posted here about going to the track on Saturday I threw my back out:sick: .This year has been a tough one for leisure time for me.I try to make the NHRA race at Las Vegas every year and if my back is still out,I'll miss that this year also.I will get to come down there soon,I'm looking forward to meet you all and pick your brains for ideas and tips on how to set up the car and learning the ropes of organized/sanctioned racing.Later:cool: .

[Mike Bradley]

Ouch!! Take care of that back.

Hey, if you make it out to "Lost Wages", I mean Las Vegas the end of the month will you be staying for the SEMA Show the following week? I fly out October 30th for the show and may see you there.

Mike

[Hectic]

Mike,I thought that I replied to this earlier but I guess I didn't:eyeroll: .I won't be going,the back is doing better but I hate to spend the money and take a turn for the worst or going and getting hurt there with all the walking and partying:nailbite: .My plan was to get there Wed. before the race and be there during the SEMA Show and leave the following Sunday.I don't have any credentials to get in but some people that I know said that they may be able to fix me up with that,they get them every year.I'll stay here and work on the Buick,I really need to get it back running.A friend said that he can schedule me for paint this winter and I would really like to take care of that asap.Later.

[Hectic]

FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!
Finally got the engine and the stand together and started the thing yesterday.I have about 35-40 minutes of running time and a few issues.It's running rich,I set the float level at the bottom of the opening(sight plugs) but after I shut the engine off from idle(800 rpm) I can see the level rising,I'm using an hp fuel pump and think that I may need a regulator.My oil press. at idle is getting low 8-10psi,it's an external pump with new gears and set to specs.,no big deal to get to it.I'm wondering also if the fuel is finding its way to the oil pan after shut down and thining it.Any ideas?Anyway,it does sound good and as of yet I have no known leaks.The stand worked excellent,I'm glad I went that route.Here's some pictures.

[Mike Bradley]

Congrats on getting her running. Great attention to detail on both engine and stand.

I'll throw out a couple of thoughts on the fuel and oil psi questions. The Holley HP mechanical fuel pump typically wouldn't require a external fuel pressure regulator. But, you need to really know for certain the exact fuel pressure. Holley carbs can be finicky when it comes to fuel pressure. My experience is 7 to 7.5 psi is where they're happiest. The Holley needle and seats are pretty efficient so big fuel psi numbers aren't needed. If you have more than 8 psi or so I would say you might want to consider a regulator. Also recheck the ignition timing as low ignition timing will cause the fuel curve to become rich. Did you notice the exhaust getting excessively hot? If so that typically results from late timing and rich fuel conditions effecting both oil temps/oil psi and rich running conditions. Also food for thought, I've seen some of the moly based engine assembly lubes reduce oil psi as well. Once you get the break-in oil out and put in a good racing blend of oil the oil psi will possibly increase somewhat.

Can't wait to see it at the track!

Mike

[Hectic]

Mike,thanks for your input.The initial timing is set at 10* right now because of the use of the aftermarket intake manifold(Poston) prevents it from turning anymore,the clamping stud on the cap is hitting it.I'll have to clearance the manifold in order to add more timing.I will be recurving the distributor also(+/- 34* total by 2000/2400 rpm)which is about where the sbb's like to be,for the research that I've done.The exhaust is getting real hot,you may notice some discoloration on the muffler in one of the pics.I've changed the oil and filter once with the same results as far as the pressure.What has me baffled is that I can set the float level right at the bottom of the orifice on the bowls and run it for 10-20 mins. and the moment that I turn it off the level in the bowls will rise above the sight plug.I was wondering if the 3/8" hose that I'm using to feed the carb on the stand is swelling somewhat while the engine is running and when is not, the pressure is overcoming the needle and raising the level in the bowls.I pulled some of my plugs on the left bank yesterday and they had fuel on them.I can use a dbl. pumper that I have here to see how it acts but won't be able to try it until the weekend.Again,thanks for your input.

[Rick Rafferty]

Hey Hector! Looks like your making some good progress.
Your motor and the test bench look great.
Good luck getting the kinks worked out.
Hope to see you next year.

Happy Holidays!

[Hectic]

Thanks Rick,I looked for you at the Nov. 11th race but I was told that you weren't there.I'll catch up with you some time.