BUILD THREAD JRP's '87 Regal Thread

[MrSony]

Retarding the crower lvl3 4* from zero nets 30hp. Doesnt loose much if any torque. I really like my crower.

 

[joesregalproject]

Retarding the crower lvl3 4* from zero nets 30hp. Doesnt loose much if any torque. I really like my crower.

I'd be happy with either one, just a matter of which one is better matched to the rest of the engine and drive line. The iwis timing chain makes degreeing the cam really easy, I think both cams call for setting them to 4° retarded.

 

[MrSony]

Using my handy dandy desktop dyno program (which has been pretty accurate +/- 20hp for me), a 9.5:1 350 with stock untouched heads, manifolds, 800cfm carb, etc. (all specs including flow of stock heads has been entered), would make 295hp @5k and 372ftlbs @3k with a 284 retarded 4*.
Crower is at 290hp and 399ftlbs, also at 4* retarded. Port them heads, and add headers, TA intake, it's over 350hp/400ftlbs. The real limiting factor of the SBB (for now) is the cylinder heads. Over on the v8buick forum Mike (the founder of TA Performance) has been diddling with his set of AL heads, and these are the numbers he got:

...........2.02"....1.60"
LIFT.....INT......EXH
.050...38.1........26.0
.100...67.5........50.9
.200...125.9......95.3
.300...177.2.....144.3
.400...225.6....181.6
.450...249.2....190.3
.500...267.1.....196.9
.550...282.4....200.9
.600...289.8...203.4
.650...287.5....205.3
.700...284.5....207.5
.750...283.9....208.7

He said he didn't port the exhaust, that's as it comes machined. Putting those numbers in, it's about a ~50hp increase. These numbers aren't the final attempt at porting, and are subject to change.
For fun: an 11:1 combo with large tube headers (1 3/4 I assume), with a level 3, (retarded), single plane intake, makes 432hp at 6000, and 442ftlbs at 4500. This program is fun to theorize and play with. The combo I'm going to be running will basically be that, but a more streetable 10:1, and a dual plane, which is a detriment of 30hp, and 20ftlbs. 😀

 

[MrSony]

And don't forget, an aluminum top end SBB will be as light, or within 50lbs as an aluminum LS.

 

[joesregalproject]

So if those numbers are for stock heads, they should be pretty conservative estimates when you take into account the work that is going into my cylinder heads. With all the money I just dropped in these heads, I really have no desire to go with aluminum heads at this point in time, but the intake is a possibility. The weight isn't a huge deal to me since I'm not chasing super low ETs or anything. It's a cruise night car, it might see a drag strip for fun every once in a while. Aluminum or iron, it's gonna make noise and burn rubber just fine either way.

Also I got my back seat back in the car today. Finally no more faded ugliness at the rear package shelf. I just need to vacuum all the dust out of the rest of the interior.

 

[MrSony]

In your situation I'd stick with the irons too. With the release of the AL heads still TBD, no sense in waiting god knows how long just to build the rest of the engine. If there's guys that can get deep into the 12s with stock heads, intakes, tweaked carbs, and stock cams, in full bodied, all steel skylarks, there's hope yet.

Curious, is there an engine dyno shop anywhere near you? Not very many people have dyno'd their Buick 350s out of the car, and I think it'd be interesting to see what it makes "unburdened" with stuff like a full exhaust and a driveline to turn. With all that you're doing with your engine, I'd expect NO less than 300hp/375ftlbs at the flywheel. A Buick 350 will never just outright make the raw HP a SBC would in the same tune with similar parts, it's just not how they're built. Long low runners and a long stroke promote torque. Chevies have short tall runners (generally), and a small stroke and big bore. Therefore, easy HP. The dyno programs are nice to mess with, but don't take em as gospel. One wrong figure, and suddenly you have a 7000hp Buick 350 lol. At the very least, you should get it chassis dyno'd, for a comparison. Very scientific. Plus, if you "win", you get bragging rights. 😛

 

[joesregalproject]

Exactly, I don't want to hold off the rest of the engine waiting on TA to release the heads. And even when they do release them, I don't want to have the very first set off the production line, I'd rather wait until they've made a hundred sets or so and got any bugs worked out.

Bob had the one of the previous Buick 350s he built engine dyno'd, I'll ask him where and what they charge to do it. There is a good chance I will have it chassis dyno'd at some point for curiosity's sake more than anything else. If it makes 300 HP/375 Ft/Lb at the flywheel I'd be over the moon.

 

[pagrunt]

Bob had the one of the previous Buick 350s he built engine dyno'd, I'll ask him where and what they charge to do it. There is a good chance I will have it chassis dyno'd at some point for curiosity's sake more than anything else. If it makes 300 HP/375 Ft/Lb at the flywheel I'd be over the moon.

The one shop in Clarksburg, Indiana Co. does dynos but said it would be at least $700. That stopped me in my tracks for my SBC 350.

 

[joesregalproject]

The one shop in Clarksburg, Indiana Co. does dynos but said it would be at least $700. That stopped me in my tracks for my SBC 350.

$700?! For $700 my butt dyno is accurate enough!

 

[MrSony]

Cost me $80 for a chassis dyno session for a 1 and done. Technically it was 3, a test run to make sure it was working, a power run, the the guy got curious and said power was still climbing. So we made another. Shouldn't cost too much more. It was one of the dynos with the drums in the floor, not the ones bolted to the hub.