Dear Team Buick big-block gurus, :shield:
I have been trying to get enough preliminaries out of the way so that I could start asking the really big questions about rebuilding this 430 engine from a 67 Electra 225. I think I have an overall plan for this job, but . . . there are a few minor details! I would greatly appreciate any thoughts on the plan so far and especially on the puzzlements I’m running into at the moment.
The general scheme is to have the block machined locally and have “Buick sensitive” work done by TA Performance. The parts list is roughly this:
At the local machine shop the following would be performed:
Back at Orinda Motors:
To look ahead at the final goal, this engine is going to be matched to a 200-4R transmission from California Performance Transmission and will somehow be squeezed into the family “Billy goat” (a 1965 Buick Special wagon). Details on this to follow in due time!
In addition to any overall observations from the big block engine gurus, I have some three questions (so far! :bgrin
Thanks in advance for your time and wisdom!!
Cheers, Edouard
P.S. This engine should be a high-compression (10.25:1) model (according to the Team Buick reference and it is - of course - always right! :thumbsup
I have been trying to get enough preliminaries out of the way so that I could start asking the really big questions about rebuilding this 430 engine from a 67 Electra 225. I think I have an overall plan for this job, but . . . there are a few minor details! I would greatly appreciate any thoughts on the plan so far and especially on the puzzlements I’m running into at the moment.
The general scheme is to have the block machined locally and have “Buick sensitive” work done by TA Performance. The parts list is roughly this:
- EGGE Pistons (L2255-8)
- TA high capacity water pump (TA 1537BHP - ??)
- TA reconditioned connecting rods (TA 1629A)
- TA cam (TA RV-12) and hydraulic lifters (TA 1406)
- Aluminum intake manifold (Probably Edelbrock Performer)
- TA Performance "Stage-1 street eliminator" aluminum cylinder heads. This application requires 2" Intake and 1.650" Exhaust valve openings. Also need 455 lifters and pushrods to match heads.
- TA aluminum valve covers (like TA 1327B) (ought to be worth at least 50 more horsepower! :bgrin: )
At the local machine shop the following would be performed:
- The engine would be first disassembled, hot tanked, and cleaned.
- Then the block and crankshaft would be magnafluxed.
- Next the crankshaft would be inspected and machined as required. The block would be then bored for the new pistons.
- The TA reconditioned connecting rods would be installed.
- The oil passage modifications would be performed.
- The TA RV camshaft and lifers would be installed.
- Then engine would be then reassembled with new freeze plugs, and the block would be rebalanced.
- Finally the aluminum heads would be cleaned and rechecked.
Back at Orinda Motors:
- They would install the aluminum cylinder heads and Edelbrock Performer intake manifold.
- They would install the high-capacity water pump and provide a new fan clutch and fan.
- Install new timing cover with oil pump built-in (some confusion here - see below).
- Change oil pan from mid-sump to rear-sump using 1971 or newer pick-up tube.
- A HEI distributor would be installed.
- The exhaust manifolds would be reused after cleaning and possibility porting.
- A new alternator with built-in voltage regulator would be installed.
- Finally either a rebuilt or replacement carburetor would be installed.
To look ahead at the final goal, this engine is going to be matched to a 200-4R transmission from California Performance Transmission and will somehow be squeezed into the family “Billy goat” (a 1965 Buick Special wagon). Details on this to follow in due time!
In addition to any overall observations from the big block engine gurus, I have some three questions (so far! :bgrin
- The only TA Performance high-capacity water pump that seems to fit on this block is TA 1537BHP. Is this going to give me a problem in fitting the engine into a 65 Special engine compartment?
- My notes from my last meeting with Orinda Motors are ambiguous with regards to whether or not to get a replacement oil pump. Given that this engine should end up at a nominal 500 hp, should the oil pump be replaced, and if so, should I go all the way to the TA Performance high-performance oil pump assembly (TA 1533A)?
- I have waffled between trying to go fuel injection and sticking to a carburetor. My last “zig” was toward a rebuilt QuadraJet. However, when I started to search the web for such a beast, they seem very hard to find for a Buick (yet again :angry and it seems for this engine configuration, I might want a specialty carburetor rebuild. The reason I started worrying about this comes from the QuadraJet rebuild products of JET Performance http://www.jetchip.com/Shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?sppp=10&catID=36. To make my life really miserable, they have 9 different flavors of the QuadraJet and none fit exactly what this engine will become. The closest is the: Stage 2 | Light Truck Part #: 36002 (bottom of the web page). Are these sorts of carburetor modifications really important or are they more effective at extracting money from unsuspecting customers? :clonk: Any thoughts about how to obtain to get a really thrifty QuadraJet so that this car can get as decent gas mileage as the 60s technology allows? If I end up buying new components such as a fancy carburetor and new HEI distributor, am I really going to save that much money over a throttle-body fuel-injection system?
Thanks in advance for your time and wisdom!!
Cheers, Edouard
P.S. This engine should be a high-compression (10.25:1) model (according to the Team Buick reference and it is - of course - always right! :thumbsup