Buick 350 build ideas.

[William Wilson]

Has anyone here done a mild build on a Buick 350?

Right now my Skylark has a 350 2bbl motor that has a TA 4bbl intake, a petronix points conversion, and a 570 Street avenger on it.

I'm thinking of upgrading to headers, and maybe a larger cam, a small bump in cam size, and new rings if I need them.

Right now the motor seems to be out of breath around 4200 RPM and I'm not too interested in pushing the peak RPM much higher.


Anyone have some words of wisdom?

[milkovich]

How long until we get a buick only child board? :D

My buddy has a 72 'lark that runs 14.0s all day with a cam/headers/edelbrock 600 and home ported heads. That's with grandma gears and a stock converter. Most guys at the track think he has a tame 455 under the hood.

The problem I see is that you'll have the same amount of money tied up in a basic rebuild for a 350 as a 455 and you can still find 455s for less than $300.

They're not bad motors but they have a longer stroke and narrower bore than a chevy so they really are a "cruiser" engine in my mind. They're like a tiny big block.

[TheSilverBuick]

I would have been building a Buick 350 if it weren't for god placing a Buick 455 on a tire at the end of a row at the Junkyard on 1/2 price day.

I would start with a good torquey cam (~.450" lift? That's all my 455 has) to keep the power band around 5,000rpm and I'm sure headers wouldn't hurt. Try and pick a cam that will work with what ever compression you are running.

[Mr4Speed]

FWIW a buddy of mine had a 69 GS350 years ago. 350-4 barrel, four speed, 3.64 posi, BONE stock untouched original. Exhaust manifolds, air cleaner, everything. Ran 14.20's.

[William Wilson]

They're not bad motors but they have a longer stroke and narrower bore than a chevy so they really are a "cruiser" engine in my mind. They're like a tiny big block.

I hope we get that child board soon, and I like my 350 right now because it'll drive from Ottawa to Barrie (375 miles) with no problems what so ever. It also likes sitting at 80 mph which is a shame because 70 is much more cop friendly with the 62 speed limits.

And I agree that long stroke is nice. I wonder do the modern Rover 3.5 heads fit on the 350? Or is it just dreams and wishful thinking?

[CTX-SLPR]

Ports are in a different order and you'd need a custom intake. Theoretically it would be possible but I think the 350 has better heads than any of the Buick/Rover aluminum V8s ever did. There are a few out there making over 400 NA and atleast 2 making over 1000 with twin turbos but those are well beyond bolt on motors. Limitations stock are the early nut&bolt rods like yours, crappy compression, and an overall lack of effort put into making them run at thier peak due to the availability of the BBB. If you want to hop yours up I suggest getting a set of the later rods, some 70 4bbl pistons, a good cam, and if you are really into it a set of ported heads to match your current intake. Also pay close attention to the oiling clearances and the condition of the oil pump in the timing cover. Welcome aboard and yes I want my Buick child forum!

[Wicked Chicken]

Ports are in a different order and you'd need a custom intake. Theoretically it would be possible but I think the 350 has better heads than any of the Buick/Rover aluminum V8s ever did. There are a few out there making over 400 NA and atleast 2 making over 1000 with twin turbos but those are well beyond bolt on motors. Limitations stock are the early nut&bolt rods like yours, crappy compression, and an overall lack of effort put into making them run at thier peak due to the availability of the BBB. If you want to hop yours up I suggest getting a set of the later rods, some 70 4bbl pistons, a good cam, and if you are really into it a set of ported heads to match your current intake. Also pay close attention to the oiling clearances and the condition of the oil pump in the timing cover. Welcome aboard and yes I want my Buick child forum!

CTX is right as we are both usually over at the V8buick.com website quite a bit. The rods are a shortfall, but I would not even consider changing them until you start spinning over 6500 RPM.

The biggest kick in the groin with your setup is the compression. If you swap to a .020 head gasket from TA...that would give you more needed compression. While you have the heads off mill 'em....that is even more compression. You should be close to 9:1 by that point. The Lunati Voo-Doo or TA 212 are decent camshafts for the SBB. The main thing is to get more air in there. You need to spend a couple of afternoons and a few cases of beer porting the heads. (do not mix those up) Headers are not needed as there is a factory 2.5 inch exhaust manifolds on full size Buicks with a 350 motor. Plus they can be ported and will not leak or blow out gaskets.

Hope this helps my Buick brother...if you have any more questions hit up the Buick site and the answers are most likely there.

[msc66]

Props for sticking with your 350. Some good advice here so far so I can't really add anything but do check out the smallblock section at V8buick.com.

Also, check the parts for sale section there and keep a look out for people moving up to the 455 as you can scoop up there old 350 stuff.

[Page2171]

New guy here....

I agree with the others who have said to check out the small block Buick board at V8Buick.com. It wouldn't be a mild build, but I would love to build a turbo 350 like a couple guys there have.