It only takes a few mods to get these cars running 12 second quarter miles. You can do that with a 400+ HP chevy 350 but you will get lousy gas mileage. Buick turbo cars give you both!
That whole gas mileage thing is not true about the sbc 350. My 350 puts out 400+ hp and gets 20 mpg quite easily. No i'm not running dog leg gears (373 auburn posi gears). You start getting poor gas mileage in a 350 when its not built properly. You get some of these thick headed guys who think bigger lift from a cam is always better, but its not. They don't consider cc size, heads, intake, carb, etc. etc. It's because of people like that is why the 350 has a poor reputation as a gas hog. Plus its cheaper to build a 350 chevy than it is a buick. See a lot more parts out there for a sbc than you do buicks. Just my 2 cents.
Don't forget the phrase "There's no replacement for displacement"
Thanks for all your answers.Its good to have some advice.
I would have liked to go with a 3.8 liters but I already went thay way with my 2001 grand prix(400WHP)turbo and intercooled and a lot of other goodies( lt1 maf ,corvette valve springs etc...) and I want to try something new.
I dont want NOTHING electronic neither the carb or the transmission.
The best way to go seems to be a 350 SBC with a 2004r in a Carlo or Grand Prix.
I dont know how to adjust a carb but i figure i can learn that.
The malibus seems a little harder to find than the carlo and the grand prix.
Thanks for all your advices again guys.
thoses are some vids of my previous car.(on that video i was only at 300 whp (10 psi)but i dont have video of my 15 psi setting. Enjoy
a lot of the g-body cars in Canada had the Chev 305 for a motor, just gotta make sure when you buy the car that you don't end up with the 307 boat anchor.
a lot of the g-body cars in Canada had the Chev 305 for a motor, just gotta make sure when you buy the car that you don't end up with the 307 boat anchor.
a lot of the g-body cars in Canada had the Chev 305 for a motor, just gotta make sure when you buy the car that you don't end up with the 307 boat anchor.
My 509ci Cutlass got 17.0mpg on a highway trip running 70 to 75 mph with 3.42s. It did this 3 days and no changes after running 12.5@110 full exhaust same tires etc. Neither of which are a hugh accomplishment but it is what it is. I think what made the difference between mine and the 10 mpg 455 Cutlass was 1. Overdrive brings the final drive ratio down to 2.29. 2. 2,800 stall lock up converter loses nothing to slip on the highway and saves about 300 rpms. 3. 800cfm Q-jet (small primarys vacume carb) is more fuel efficient than Holly double pumper. But she was still a little rich pushing a 3800 car at 110 in the quarter. 4 Big cubes didn't require a wild cam. And maybe 5 just the lightweight efficient 200-4r even used as a three speed sucks up less HP than a th400. But the stronger stock th400 is probably a better more cost effective choice for the way most of us use our gbodys.
All that said my GN would have gotten at least 22mpg on that same trip. Its been a fuzz quicker than the Cutlass in the quarter but a good drag racer tuner would pull several tenths and mph out of both cars. I like the GN better on road trips and the 442 better around town. Then again it sucks a lot more fuel horsing around town. Seen lots of 350 gen 1 Chevys in gbodys never seen one pumped up enough to run solid 12s (without spray) and get 20mpg or even 17. They are a cheaper engine to build but everybody and his sister has one. I rode a moped and a fat chick to but don't tell anybody. My appologies if I offended anyone they definately are a cheaper motor to build and rebuild and they are commonly known with parts everywhere and these are some viable things. Depending on connections experience and the amount of TQ & HP, fuel, useage goals, they might not always be the cheapest power to dollar. Think big block chevy at certain power levels on pumpgas for example. Anyway just build what you want to build and make sure that you are haveing fun with it. At the core that is what its all about.
Well, the 200-4R uses an electronic torque converter lock-up, so...
The only reason that my 442 doesn't have a 200-4R behind the 455 is that to get one to handle the torque costs upwards of $2000. I got my bulletproof TH400 for $800. That left a lot of money to buy other parts.
Someday when I have the funds, my original 200-4R will be built and re-installed.
Well, the 200-4R uses an electronic torque converter lock-up, so...
The only reason that my 442 doesn't have a 200-4R behind the 455 is that to get one to handle the torque costs upwards of $2000. I got my bulletproof TH400 for $800. That left a lot of money to buy other parts.
Someday when I have the funds, my original 200-4R will be built and re-installed.
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