🔧 BUILD My junker Buick revival....

[Bob Kazamakis]

God damn it’s such a shit box

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

looks good man, wheel and tire set up fills out the wheel wells nicely.

 

[Mook]

I always forget you have this. I'd call the outside done and move on.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I always forget you have this. I'd call the outside done and move on.

It’s got patina for miles. Now I just need to button up all of the major shit I’ve done to it. I got a fuck ton done to it when I first brought it here but life took over for a bit. I’m jazzed to get back on it soon.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Gav'sPurpleZ whats a detail and paint correction cost?

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

there's enough to polish

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Black shoe polish?

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

 

[IDAFC21]

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Would need a pallet of it.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Hoooly fuck it’s been over a year since I updated (or Gavin bumped it)

Swapping headers and deleting AC bullshit suitcase box. These headers are like 21+ years old and hung down so fucking low that I probably hit every speed bump and dip in the greater Chicagoland area. Also I need a new crossmember I guess.

Seems silly doing all this shit when I’ve got this to stare at in the corner but I’m determined to experience a big block/Muncie m21 muscle car in my life.

 

[IDAFC21]

This thing must LIVE.

 

[SleeperLS]

 

[v6buicks]

This big block is way cooler. Nothing silly about it!

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

Yes, big block, muncie

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

This big block is way cooler. Nothing silly about it!

I need to enjoy it as I’ve always envisioned it but in reality it would cost me north of $10k to make 500hp (if I’m lucky) with a big block Buick. Sad but reality.
So my plan is get it on the road, enjoy it for a while then ls swap

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

Are you racing it ?

In the land of forced induction, HP numbers is a measuring stick I don't care to worry about.

 

[IceCreamAssassin]

The drivability will be so much better in the mountains with the LS….

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Are you racing it ?

In the land of forced induction, HP numbers is a measuring stick I don't care to worry about.

I don’t have $10k to spend on an engine rebuild to make any power with a Buick big block. They’ve got very weak castings and poor oiling (does make a big block weigh as much as a sbc though). I literally have a 6.0 that already makes way more power just sitting there. Driving around in a 15 second loud car isn’t

The drivability will be so much better in the mountains with the LS….

Also this, I live at 6,000ft and work at 5,000ft. I regularly drive to places that are 8-9k feet and any mountain pass is 10-14k feet of elevation.

also I like having fun and miss this car. Why not make it a blast to drive?

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

It's your car meng, do what you want.
I just have the nostalgic feels that's all.
I was unaware that the Buick motors had some design flaws.

 

[v6buicks]

It's your car meng, do what you want.
I just have the nostalgic feels that's all.
I was unaware that the Buick motors had some design flaws.

-Big main diameter
-High skirt
-Cast iron everything
-Core shift can cause some virgin blocks be unbuildable for high power without sleeves
-Only one place to buy good parts anymore (TA)
-TA doesn't build engines for customers so you need to get on the multi-year waitlist for one of the very few sketchy Buick builders once you finally get your parts
-Good luck rebuilding one at home. Their tolerances are very tight and will not put up with dirt floor assembly techniques like an SBC would.
-Oil pumps/timing covers are as much of an art to rebuild as the engine.

I get it. Buicks are a bitch because they never make sense to build half-way. It's why my Grand National is going back to stock and staying that way. I will never LS swap a Buick powered vehicle, but I totally understand why some do. That being said, just get that sucker on the road. Either engine will be a blast. When you're done with the 455 you can crate it up and send it to me. lol

 

[v6buicks]

Then again, it all depends on what you're into... There's a group of guys I used to watch race at the GS Nats all the time. They had a nice set of heads, an intake, and a big shot of nitrous that was rocketing their junk ass 455s into the low 9s for at least a weekend at a time. Those were just simple dirt floor rebuilds the most basic of oiling mods, but it was often enough to win trophies. We have witnessed them swapping short blocks in the hotel parking lot though.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I was going to go the built 455 route, even had a 73 long block in the garage as a starting point but adding up rods, pistons, heads, new ta timing cover, etc and then still having to find a reputable builder (Jim Weise is $$$$$$) and I can’t afford to do that any time soon. It added up so fucking fast and I see guys on the Buick board talking about having $10k+ in their engines and still not being done.

My car was never anything truly cool. Started life as a GS350 auto with a peg leg and a bench seat. It was also puke white originally. It’s a bastard base GS and I might as well make it something I’ll enjoy in the quickest cheapest way I can do I can actually enjoy it.

Oh also it’s not even a 455 or 430, it’s got a 69 400 in it that I put a poston cam, timing set and poston headers on in 2001-2002.

 

[Yaj Yak]

the elevation is such a game changer.