Performance enhancement for Newbies - any good guides?

[elagache]

Dear Buick performance enthusiasts,

Guess what, all this talk about performance enhancement is infectious . . . . . (surprise, surprise! )

However, not everyone has all the years of engine tinkering that lots of gurus on this forum has. If you are a Newbie, you don't even know what are the sort of things you should be asking about.

I sure would love to find a "Engine Performance Enhancement" 101 book, website, or something. Is there something folks around here would consider at least a "not too lousy" introduction to the sort of techniques that can be used to enhance an engine's performance and what are the trade-offs involved?

One book that's out there is: How to Build Max-Performance Buick Engines (S-A Design) (Performance How-To) Amazon has it here: http://www.amazon.com/Build-Max-Perf...4085024&sr=1-1 The reviews are mixed, but it seems like it might be okay for Newbie type. Any thoughts from this crowd? Is it worth trying to ferret out of the local library?

Thanks for all the good stuff about them wonderful Buicks!

Cheers, Edouard

[carmantx]

That book is a good read. Has some good thoughts and ideas.

Start by telling us what you have, and people can suggest stuff. A budget is always a consideration.

Probably the best advice is to save up money for a complete performance makeover. You can waste a bunch of money buying one thing at a time and putting it on the car, and never really feel a big difference. Gather all the items and make all changed at one time.

[njlimbaugh]

One thing I have noticed, not only on this site but several others that I frequent, is questions which indicate that the writer lacks quite a bit in understanding the basics of automotive design. We oldtimers started by simply repairing the crap that we were forced to drive because most of us were dead broke most of the time! If the basics aren't understood the principles of souping up an engine or improving handling don't stand a chance. The first thing anybody should do is school themselves on basic theory; either through books which are available in most libraries, or by getting help and advice from somebody who has been working on cars for a long time. After that the improvements will begin to make sense.

[elagache]

Dear carmantx,

Thanks for responding!

That book is a good read. Has some good thoughts and ideas.

Okay, that's a good enough recommendation for me to try to figure out . . . . exactly how do you get stuff out of a public library anymore?? Otherwise, heaven forbid, actually spend money at Amazon?

Start by telling us what you have, and people can suggest stuff. A budget is always a consideration.

Probably the best advice is to save up money for a complete performance makeover. You can waste a bunch of money buying one thing at a time and putting it on the car, and never really feel a big difference. Gather all the items and make all changed at one time.

Well the car is a 1965 Buick Special wagon. You can peek at my blog for pictures and stuff (http://www.teambuick.com/forums/blog.php?u=18743). Right now I'm torn between trying to rebuild the car's existing 300 cid V8 and considering something else: either a 350 V8 or the "more" 455.

The performance enhancement question really boils down to can I coax enough out of the existing 300 V8 to make the car a fun car to drive, or should I give up on a historic, but rare, engine in favor of any engine that will be a huge step up - before I start enhancing the performance.

I'm really torn between the history of the 300 and the fact that I've actually lived and worked with this engine for 35+ years, or the desire to get the car to perform much better and be more reliable, fun to drive and all the rest.

So the reason I'm asking is in part to see what might be possible for the 300. I'm hoping it can be brought back at least to its factory horsepower of 250 (but I'm not even sure.) How much further can this engine be pushed without difficult trade-offs? It seems clear to me that either the 350 or the 455 can be assembled in a way that would make the car fun to drive. I'm sort of looking for an "excuse" in the complexity of ether choice that will make it easier to go one engine choice or the other.

Sorry, kind of a convoluted answer, but it is the best I can do!

Thanks for replying!

Cheers, Edouard

P.S. Until the budget "gets ya" I fully agree on the view of getting the job done once and right. I would prefer to spend more and get things actually settled than to nibble at the problem. In the end, the penny saved will certainly be pound foolish. Already "been there, paid for that" on this car!

[carmantx]

Well, I have no experience with a 300. A bunch with a 350 and more with the 455. I can tell you this.
The 350 can make nice power, and be consistently fun to drive.
The basic 455 can make awesome power.

[elagache]

Hi Carmantx,

Thanks for providing me with another bit of consistent info.

Well, I have no experience with a 300. A bunch with a 350 and more with the 455. I can tell you this.
The 350 can make nice power, and be consistently fun to drive.
The basic 455 can make awesome power.

What you are saying isn't just a matter of personal experience. The 300 cid V8 in the car was only built for 2 years. The Buick 350 was manufactured for over 20 years. Even the 455 was built for 3 times as long as the humble 300. Gearheads just didn't have as much time with that old engine to see what they could do with it. It is honestly the ancestor of the more modern 350.

That's where I'm at on this project. How much of a stickler for historical accuracy do I want to be with this car? Trying to hang on to the original engine pushes me into a realm where folks have much less experience. It also means parts are much harder to find and that will only get worse with time. Given that the 350 incorporates all the lessons Buick learned in the 300, it is a better engine. Obviously the same applies to the 455 which owes more to the 300 than the earlier generation Nailheads.

*Sigh*, its the sort of talk that clearly moves me in a particular direction!

Thanks again.

Cheers, Edouard

[39CENT]

well theres one thing for sure, you can get a lot of info here and ♠on the web.. Theres a few guys that are presently running straight 8,s at Bonneville, and they are pretty far out there on performance. Most of my new info I get on the web. Howefer you have to remember not all of it is correct. Personally have general knowledge of a few old cars, and also a few Buick old gurus I talk to. I try to help with stuff that I have personally done, and try not to lead anyone astray, as when I do thankfully theres guys here who will correct me right away. So just use judgement on all the info, and check it out you will learn a lot, stick with the basics on Buicks for performance, they all are good engines. The 455 is the big boy in the bunch, they are the ones that give the hemi boys a go for the money, thats the one I would get for peformance.♠

[elagache]

Dear 39CENT,

Thanks for putting all the good information here into context!

. .
. I try to help with stuff that I have personally done, and try not to lead anyone astray, as when I do thankfully theres guys here who will correct me right away. So just use judgement on all the info, and check it out you will learn a lot, stick with the basics on Buicks for performance, they all are good engines.
. .

Certainly important words to live by! I'm definitely inclined to be conservative. I don't intend to this sort of stuff over and over!

The 455 is the big boy in the bunch, they are the ones that give the hemi boys a go for the money, thats the one I would get for peformance.♠

Thanks for another endorsement of the 455. Clearly that's the biggest "bad boy" around. However, I'm trying to get my wagon back into the condition of a cruiser - the ultimate road-trip machine. So I'm weighing other considerations like reliability and even (heaven forbid) fuel economy.

I've gone ahead and ordered the Build Max-Performance Buick Engines book (since the library didn't have it - it's discrimination against Buicks I tell'ya!) I hope it will help me understand the overall concepts so that I ask better questions!

Thanks again!

Cheers, Edouard

[carmantx]

I'm not much on caring about what was original on a car, unless it is for value, and value only matters if it is for sale or is intended to be an investment. I like what we build to be driven.

Ok, just to give you my perspective. I am currently building a 72 skylark convertible driver for myself. We have built the other cars in my signature, and my son has most of them. So I have fast stuff everywhere. I also have buildable 350's and 455's sitting all over the place. What am I going to put in for a driver? At the moment, probably a 350. I just want a turn the key and drive car, not fast, not showy, just to drive. Sure, I could build a basic 455 and it would be reliable, but I would want to squeeze out every ounce of power and pound on it daily. The 350 will just be smooth and easy. So that's what I decided to do. For now. The cars not finished yet, and who knows what it will end up with.

[pmuller9]

I get the feeling that you would really prefer to stay with the 300 (The old friend) if it could get good economy, enough power to be fun and be reliable.
Consider the following:
The 300 is the lightest of all the engines mentioned above.

Restoring the 11:1 compression ratio and using lower octane pump gas is possible with the use of a Water/Alcohol injection system.

Several cam companies such as Crower make performance/mileage cams for the Buick 300

Investigate replacing the carburetor with a Retrotek Powerjection system.

If you stay with 9:1 compression ratio and want 300+ horsepower add a Procharger . The Powerjection system will accommodate up to 20 lbs of boost as a blow through system. 8 lbs of manifold pressure should produce around 300 hp.

As suggested the 455 is a good option. Build the 455 as a low end torque monster with economy as the main goal. Install a numerically low rear end ratio or an overdrive and have reasonable economy and an engine that will last and be fun to drive.