Return of the Buick 455 Stage 1 - Better Than Stock?

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Nick wasn't happy with the numbers he saw, the first time he dyno tested this Buick 455 rebuild. So, he pulled it apart and packed in some more punch. Today, we find out if he will make his goal.
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[@nickpanaritis4122]

I will do my best to read all the comments as soon as possible. Not easy when working late all the time.

[@nickpanaritis4122]

@Car Guy daddyo . When you call the shop, sometimes I do not hear the phone with noises in the garage.

[@nickpanaritis4122]

@Brad Hawkins .... No Aussie muscle cars here.

[@JoshKetchum]

Your the best Nick, keep it up!

[@soundmaster1966]

Keep the good ones. We love what you do, Nick. Stay safe and healthy. 🤗🍀👍

[@richarddahmer4474]

Hi Nick, There yeah go!!! A little more compression, and your there!!! too bad you had to cut the heads, I heat doing that, but it worked! You'll make more cylinder pressure @ 38*, as long as you had the octane in the fuel to handle it! You Did!! Great job!! Gratz... (o;

[@marks8068]

Showing your small oversight/mistake with the low-end torque numbers is the stuff what makes this channel real instead of a scripted show, love the pure honesty of you and your team Nick!

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks for that! We could never lie to you guys.

[@eugenecastles7475]

I was happy to see that Nick finally got the numbers he was looking for on the Buick 455. Milling the heads, and the thinner head gasket made a nice improvement in the HP, and torque numbers. It's too bad that there were no flat top pistons available to use in the engine. 10.5 : 1 compression would have helped the engine even more, but the Buick will be a nice cruiser on the street. George, the background music when Nick finally got the numbers he wanted was spot on, and I got a laugh when I heard it playing. Excellent video, I enjoyed it very much. I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year, and a better 2022.

[@NicksGarage]

Thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you too. 🌲

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Surely the Buick Specialists have flat top pistons available... wonder if Nick checked the valve sizes while in there to see if basic or Stage 1 valves... the bigger than stock cam along with still lower compression ratio is reducing the torque peak... just like a hyper tripower GTO engine had lower peak torque than the 4 bbl. version, yet more HP... plus peaks come at higher RPMs... Also, this cam likes to go to 5,000++ RPMs... even more with some basic pocket porting... like 5500 - 6000 RPMs...

[@electronicengineer]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you as well Eugene! I'm still holding my breath for when that awesome yellow Charger 500 gets reassembled into the mean machine it is! I'm so excited over your build Eugene. God Bless. Fred

[@meowerstationone3793]

Merry Christmas Eugene! Looking forward to seeing your car complete this year.

[@eugenecastles7475]

@@meowerstationone3793 The 500 is very close to being back at Nick's. It is getting some final details at the body shop right now. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I'm looking forward to driving the 500 again, it should be a fun ride.

[@randallculp2414]

I like the fact that Nick never gives up where a lot of others engine builders would. Nice work Nick. Have a great Christmas and New Years

[@michaelmartinez1345]

Nick and his fellow techs. seem to find and cure most every issue that they come across... This is definitely one of the best instructional channels on automotive troubleshooting and repairs that is on the KZbin scene... Great cars too!!! Keep-up the good work Nick and crew!!!

[@bigblocklawyer]

Someone who gives up short of excellence is an engine assembler, not an engine builder.

[@thewerxshop0486]

I've always run my compression tests with all the plugs pulled so the starter isn't straining against the compression of the other cylinders and at WOT. My grandpa who owned his own service station from post WWII till 1980 showed me that when I was a kid.

[@RELAXAVOUS68]

Correct a mondo.

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Your Grandpa was totally correct.

[@RELAXAVOUS68]

@@nickpanaritis4122 so very humble of you mate Nick.

[@davelowets]

All plugs out, freshly charged battery, AND WOT throttle.

[@johnnydanger57]

I'm a FORD guy through and through. But I love to see the HP capability of all motors, especially the rare ones like this Buick! Love the vids and Happy Holidays to all of you, in the Great White North!

[@boostjunkie2320]

Ford, GM, Dodge and other's kicked out some badass big blocks!!

[@johnnydanger57]

@@boostjunkie2320 They sure did! I had a couple... 71 huge 460 land yacht Lincoln Continental, 428 CJ in a 69 Mach I, and I built a 429 CJ when I threw a rod out of the 428 CJ...lol

[@boostjunkie2320]

@@johnnydanger57 I was raised on GM but I would build any big block from the 60s. All I've had is tuner cars so far a few turbo Supras but I'm looking for my first muscle project and I can't wait to dig in

[@johnnydanger57]

@@boostjunkie2320 Go for it!

[@frogwizard5637]

If Nick was a Buick dealer tech back in the mid seventies he must remember their infamous collaboration with Opel around that time! I had a beater 74 Opel Manta back in the late eighties that was actually a pretty cool little car. It was no Opel GT (the mini Vette) but it was fun.

[@martinmiller7623]

Manta could be made to run it was a hemi.

[@HHH22229]

When I was young guy, I lived in Flint Michigan and learned Quadrajet tuning. The power piston needles on the Qjet had different tapers available. If the engine came with an EGR valve, the Qjet would have leaner part throttle needles. If you blocked off the EGR, you would get spark knock from a lean mixture, changing the needles would fix the problem. You didn’t need to change the main jets, only the power piston needles. It’s possible that Qjet on the stage 1 had an EGR value if it was a 1973 motor or a 1973 carburetor.

[@michaelmartinez1345]

@Herbert Hart , great sugestion, for mid-range tuning.... Change the needles that move inside of the main jets on the primary side of the carb... They need to be slightly thinner when the m.a.p. is - during the carb. part-throttle position (cruising)....

[@unclebob7937]

Thanks Herbert, was looking for this comment. I'm an old guy too, love the old Q-Jets but still a bit mystified with their tuning at times.

[@HHH22229]

@@michaelmartinez1345 In the 70’s, we had a Q-Jet carburetor shop in Flint which sold every jet size made, every needle size… primary and secondary for all Rochester carbs. The needles have a “XX” code stamped on them. They had a chart showing the end size diameter and the taper diameter, so you could pick out what size you thought you needed. We didn’t have O2 sensors then and tuning was by feel and sound. I was a 16 year old kid back then… fixing carburetor problems, doing tuneups and changing timing chains…

[@michaelmartinez1345]

@@HHH22229 that is awesome!!! These carbs are not so bad, and when properly set-up, they do quite well. I have done some tuning on 750 & 625 CFM Edelbrock (Carter) AFB's... Some with mechanical secondaries, some with vacuum secondaries.... The main thing that they needed were needle & jet changes for the primary barrels... For lower vacuum engines with aggressive cams, the lower tension 'staging springs' helped to bring them back into the right air/fuel ratios... Dialing in these carbs gave excellent results, when done AFTER the other changes were worked-out on the engines...

[@throttlebottle5906]

the best fix was always bolting on a good holley and tuning it properly.

[@2264ish]

Nick you nailed the timing on the engine and George you nailed the timing on the music!! Hallelujah!!

[@davelowets]

The steel "turkey tray" intake gasket IS nice in the fact that it help keeps hot oil from splashing on the bottom of the intake and uselessly heating it up.

[@08Barclay]

Pure entertainment! Well done! So much fun watching a true engine man at work. This is the thinking man’s channel. No glitz and glitter, nothing extraneous to what is needed to make the best out of a stock engine. Smokey would be proud of you Nick! 😉

[@GS455Stage1]

For the 1970 static compression ratings: the initial production run of the SS - block identification the steel head gasket thickness is 0.020. The resulting static compression was 10:5. During the beginning of the 1969 clean air act, the compression was reduced to 9.9 / 10:0. There was issues with engine overheating, head gasket thickness increased to compensate block & cylinder heads straightness for proper sealing. The 1970 Buick camshaft profiles enabled the 510@2800 rpm rating. After market camshafts changed / moved the torque rating.

[@ChicagoRob2]

Decked and surfaced, and 11.5:1 compression, turned my 462 Buick into a monster.

[@gulfy09]

Gotta love it when Nick says. Here we go

[@NicksGarage]

Right on!

[@richardwerth641]

Nick I watch your show one year now OK dad distributor and I do carburetor. Nobody would’ve found that. If there was somebody number they can find it. You are a scientist combustion engine, scientist, man I love watching your show I learned so much thank you thank you

[@dioad1739]

Good job Nick you turned that stage one into a Hemi killer, a lot of guys back in the day learned never to underestimate the 455 stage one.

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks. Imagine what we could have done with domed pistons and maybe a different cam?

[@ewconway]

I too am happy Nick got the numbers he wanted out of this Buick 455. Dallas Brown, a Buick Man and President of AHRA would be proud of you Nick for you’re tireless efforts getting this 455 Buick back in running order and to get the numbers you did. Nick, I am always impressed with you’re knowledge and efforts! 👍

[@davidevelyn530]

Always so enjoyable to watch ! I have a thing for the 455 Buick engines. Thanks for this.

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@OlSgtLove]

It's so cool watching these old Muscle Cars and their engines come to life ...I know the car makers make smaller engines with alot of HP , but nothing like the days of 440s, 454s,455s, 460s,427s, 400s, and all the rest from those days of the big blocks....just love your channel Nick ...yall show how it's supposed to be done . Plus you really work at getting all you can get from them . Nick, you make me want to get that old Ram Air 400 engine I got sitting in the garage out and get it rebuilt and running ....smile . Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Nick ,Manny , and the whole Krew ...May we all be healthy ,happy ,and in Peace...God Bless You All ..

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

421

[@HammerHeadGarage]

A friend has a 1972 Opel gt he made into a race car. A 4cyl Pontiac engine and runs extremely hard. He set a record in Ohio 4 years ago with it.

[@mynameis9057]

I've always loved the Buick GS cars and the even rarer GSXs!!! Those Stage 455's were just absolutely beasts when it comes to the torque they made! I just know you'll get the best you can out of this block Nick!!!! When you look up perseverance in the dictionary you see a picture of Nick smiling right next to the word!!! Lol! I like those headers,they look pretty sharp! I noticed you're using the stock quadrajet instead of your usual demon or Holley dyno carb,i bet you'd probably pick up the numbers you want with it much easier. George is hysterical with his editing and music score! Lol!

[@cwilson6880]

NIce work, love the attention and care you put into each build/tune.! I'm just finding you now at the recommendation of the Buick forums...lucky me! I'm sitting in a 71 455GS that's been at my father's for the last 25 years. It's going to be time to rest-mod her next year. My father sourced parts that he said should put it at the 525#/500hp mark. Unfortunately he passed 3 years ago. Seems like I found a stellar builder to tackle the engine build. Luckily I'm in Central Vermont and you're only a few hours away!

[@freedomisntfree5573]

I was 8 yrs old. My uncle had just bought a GS Stager 1 off the showroom floor 3 months before we came for a visit. I can still remember feeling my little nuts go into my gut when he jumped on the go pedal. I was hooked from that day on.

[@ericball6000]

Dr. Nick, thanks for the part 2 on the Buick 455, and George awesome video, and good choice of music, and my I say Merry Christmas to all, cheers.

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks! Merry Christmas, Eric.

[@carmudgeon7478]

Suspense! I'm thinking advancing the cam 2° to get the 180 compression. Gasket match intake and heads to compensate for the planed heads and intake. Nick fixes it all with patience and 2° of timing, and the joy of reaching the goal. Hallelujah, perfect!

[@christopherpoucher483]

I wish I got to listen to music all day.... love it the tones

[@mrgransport]

Have a 430 Buick in my GS. It is 8.38 cr, stock pistons , crank ,rods. Has a KB 107 cam with B4B manifold holding a stock QJ. Runs thru a 3500 stall converter to a TH 400. Run a 12 bolt with 4.10 gears. Puts down 422 rear wheel HP.

[@JoshKetchum]

[@davemarshall1845]

The BB Buick is a monster. I have seen them build big HP and massive torque. The new Aluminum 455 block from TA Performance can be built to an easy 600 HP and 750 foot lbs of torque

[@lonewolf744]

That's awesome. So he actually had his torch numbers in the first run. Love how Nick didn't give up and got the hp numbers he was looking for too. Nick sir you're awesome.

[@erikj.2066]

My favorite part 26:22, watching the big secondary's on the q-jet progressively open, and start flowing fuel like a water fall.

[@willyphast2509]

hard to believe nick working on the crysler killa. great job nick. thanks dude for the use of the great 455 buick. enough torque to clean the streets now,,,

[@user-jb3hh2tf9z]

I was there! My Brother had a 69 383 road runner. The GS was a monster!

[@ericburns2421]

5007 foot pounds of torque 400 horsepower Nick you the man

[@larrydavis8644]

Nick: I just found your KZbin site last week, and I'm hooked. I find your content and superb narration spot on. Furthermore, I'm an old school muscle car junkie. My pride and joy is my 1962 Corvette that I purchase in March 1968. I've had it longer than I have had my kids. It's been my daily driver for over fifty-six years.

[@NicksGarage]

Welcome to the channel, Larry. Glad you found us.

[@goldcountryruss7035]

I used to run 455's. All were .038 over with flat top TRW power forged pistons, zero deck, heads cut .100, custom grind cam was between stage 1 & 2, and big valve springs. If that isn't a big Q-jet power will suffer. They need 30 deg. of advance and at least 100 octane. I have a set of the 10:1 pistons in the garage, somewhere.

[@firefighteruppy9121]

This was really cool. I just bought a 455 that was laying around a shop. I want to rebuild it to put into my 1950 Buick, so these videos with the Buick have really caught my attention. You being a Buick man, among other brands as well, I'm assuming you know about TA Performance. If not, they manufacture Buick engine parts down in Arizona. I would think they would have pistons. Anyway... great work! New subscriber! Wish you and yours a great holiday!

[@nickpanaritis4122]

I know TA Performance. We had to build this engine last year. I wish they had the pistons then. I have just bought the .036 Cometic gaskets from them. Great contact.

[@JimBronson]

Firefighter Uppy - no way man, I'd keep the straight 8 over the 455, assuming yours has a straight 8 now.

[@OlGoodJoe]

I live a couple miles from TA Performance. They're great people down there.

[@davidsomerville7868]

Look into doing a full frame swap for a project like that. Donor cars are '78-'88 RWD GM B-body. LeSabre, Delta 88, Caprice, Bonneville. You instantly obtain modern frame, suspension, brakes, wheel bolt pattern, fuel system and drive line configuration. Not to mention an engine bay that will now easily accept the V8.

[@timsharpe3498]

Since Nick is a MOPAR guy it would be cool to see him put test a Chrysler Big Block tunnel Ram on the Buick. Kenne Bell used to sell an adapter kit.

[@bgjb-r1499]

Don’t forget the 1970 Buick 350 4bbl. That was also a giant killer.

[@chadhaire1711]

no it wasn't

[@bgjb-r1499]

@@chadhaire1711 A young man was gifted one to him by his dad (around 1981). I understand that at the time it was only an 11 year old car but it was beautiful. Not a ding, blemish, a perfectly straight body. The interior was in the same condition. It was an original small block GS. Here’s the only thing he did for additional performance. He had nitrous oxide installed (Nothing else!!). Yes, he beat many big blocks. He would be losing a race and in the last 125 yards his car would start pulling hard and winning at the very end.

[@chadhaire1711]

@@bgjb-r1499 we were talking 100% stock

[@IContext]

When the fuel evaporates right you get charge air cooling and higher air flow volume. I was thinking about controlling the flap with a port temperature probe tuning for the coldest gas at the port.

[@bobbyagee3796]

Mr. Nick you and Manny have become my gear head mentors. My father is a great man but was never knowledgeable in the realm of automotive maintenance and repair. You two are enhancing my baseline on stoichiometrics, Compression Ratios, Horse Power verses Torque, Displacement (Net HP), and Torsion. Gentlemen thank you

[@LunarOutlawsGarage]

It’s interesting that you’re doing Buick stuff I absolutely love Buick and I have some awesome stuff in the works for next month involving Buick 455 power. 🤘 might have to just change your name to the king of torque instead of king mopar. I hope you, and George, and your families have a very merry Christmas 🎄

[@NicksGarage]

Awesome! Thank you! Might have to start wearing many crowns. :)

[@RichardMLowe]

@@NicksGarage I knew you'd get it after all them years working for Biuck Sir 🤣🤣🤣

[@RichardMLowe]

@@NicksGarage oh what did you think of the email I sent you on the Dodge Adventurer, Ford F-100, Chevy C/10 🤣🤣🤣

[@nickpanaritis4122]

@@RichardMLowe ... Loved it. Thanks.

[@RichardMLowe]

@@nickpanaritis4122 ✌🏻✊🏾🇺🇲💯

[@freedomisntfree5573]

Take a 1/2 to a quart if oil out. Keep it on the low side of the dip stick. Surprisingly, it works

[@rogerdavis2056]

Great video! Back in the day used to run bucks against all the ford's mopar's and Chevy's, I had several skylark. My favorite one one 1970 gs 455 not a stage -1 but just as fun! I miss that car! thanks for the video nick it's a pleasure watching you work.

[@NicksGarage]

Very cool!

[@bernierezny8156]

Buicks were light nice engines lots of HP

[@billjamison2877]

That Buick was a real head scratcher ! Some days you get the bear and some days the bear gets you! Bill from Linglestown Pennsylvania

[@NicksGarage]

But Nick eats bears for breakfast. 😉

[@douglasb9105]

I love Buicks! Merry Christmas to the entire gang, AND viewers!!!

[@NicksGarage]

Merry Christmas.

[@williemurdock4481]

The colder the room is the better that motor will perform

[@airborneJC507]

Ea$iest mod on bbb455 is Aluminum edelbrock manifold; most important is TA performance timing cover

[@johnkirkilis34]

It's always a pleasure watching you're channel Nick. You finally cracked the 400 HP mark on the Buick engine. Thumbs 👍 up.❤️😃

[@eugenecastles7475]

Good morning Nick and George, I've been looking forward to seeing some better numbers on the Stage 1 Buick.

[@NicksGarage]

Good morning, Eugene. You just know Nick wasn't happy with the last set of numbers. Thanks for joining us this morning.

[@derekbowbrick6233]

Good morning how is Texas today, I miss it at this time of year.

[@eugenecastles7475]

@@derekbowbrick6233 We have some pretty nice weather this morning in Texas, 43 degrees F, and clear, with no wind.

[@derekbowbrick6233]

@@eugenecastles7475 I was in Galveston for a while and miss the mild temperatures.

[@victordjinn632]

@@derekbowbrick6233 One of my favorite songs by Glen Campbell is Galveston. My favorite song by Glen Campbell is Wichita Lineman.

[@doug112244]

What I was looking at is how flat the torque was from 2900 rpm all the way to 4100. That will be a fun engine to drive in a cruiser. I drove a Buick Electra 225 for a bit and lived it.

[@MilkMan608]

471 views and 107 positive comments when I got here today. Nick, you should be proud! You deserve it.

[@NicksGarage]

Thank you!

[@beelwillis4025]

It's pretty impressive! I like the Old Buicks quite a bit. I grew up in the 70s and I had a half dozen Older Racers and Builders who were VERY KIND to me. Some started out as Dealer Mechs and Some were just Straight Up Dirt Track and Drag Racers. They taught me TONS about diagnosing issues, how to make cheap HP or cheap Torque and how to skin the other kids at the track! Every little town or neighborhood needs a "Nick" where a kid can push a broom at a garage to learn or buy a guy a coke and get an answer to a question!

[@jasonmenard1073]

Nice to see you got the monitor in the engine room working

[@NicksGarage]

Oh yeah!

[@johnh8917]

Good Morning Nick and crew! Hope you all have a wonderful day and Merry Christmas from the USA! Thanks for sharing all your shenanigans with us! Appreciate you!

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks John. Merry Christmas.

[@donaldcoalson4347]

I almost guarantee your gonna hit those factory numbers! I have confidence in you guys!

[@henrys.6864]

Try TA Performance in Phoenix Arizona if you haven't for your Buick builds, Stage 1's and above. Happy to see you hit 400HP! 👍

[@eliudcastro419]

Nick is the man when it comes to repairing and building muscle car engines no doubt

[@donlemme898]

Tore down a Stage One engine in the late ‘70’s and found one of the Con rods bowed. Craziest thing. Great video as always. Have a great week Nick and crew.

[@groundhog8148]

Love your videos how you keep on making more horse power just by a little tinkering

[@bigbobk1963]

Nick the buick 455 were Torque Monsters back in day.....if anybody can get this thing running right, it's you!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS to you n family n shop family !!!!!

[@NicksGarage]

Merry Christmas.

[@paulehlers2225]

Great final outcome! Nick pulled another rabbit out of bag of tricks. I wish everyone at Indy auto and everyone else here a Merry Christmas! It's been a fun year here visiting Nick's garage with all of you!!!

[@jamesorr2832]

Heck Nick I would've been afraid that GM would have BLOWN UP before you got it off the Dyno LOL good video I watched all of them on this 455 interesting You the MAN thank you.

[@EricaEchos]

I raced a 455" (actually .030 over 462") in a 72 GS back in the late 80's. I was one of TA Performance's early customers, and one of the first people to run Mike's SP1 intake and aluminum roller rockers. I ran a 9.5:1 TRW dished piston with steel Stage 1 heads that I ported myself. I decked the block .040 to raise the compression. Also ran Kenne Bell headers, valves, valve springs and a C-113 hydraulic cam. Car ran mid-elevens at 115 mph with a turbo 400, 3500 stall converter, 4.56 gears and 12" slicks. I also ditched the factory rear suspension and put an Alston street 4-link in it. Hooked like a monster. 1.5 second 60' times. It was a real nice sleeper. Miss that car bad.

[@ZeroBoostBuick]

Admirable Job Nick. Love your passion for these blasts from the past. 50 years ago the Buick 455 made 510 ft-lbs of torque. Absolutely mind blowing !

[@ronnieellsworth9223]

Thanks Nick, I knew you could do it. Your the HP Man. Ronnie.

[@stevestanil]

First motor i built myself was a 455 buick I cut down heads 60 thousandths dish pistons with crower adjustable push rods never had it dynoed short tail turbo 400 3:73 twelvebolt in a 68 GS California 👌 it was fast af killing ninja bikes from light to light 🚦

[@louiskats5116]

Giasou Nikola, Happy New Year & all the best for 2022. The last 2 weeks have been " Asta na pane Asta ", but finally I can get back into what I love best watching your video's. Love how you swear in Greek " Gamoto " it is abit like that atm here. Awesome you got the numbers you were after. Sorry I missed the live Xmas Show it was broadcast at 4 am my time, had a big Xmas Eve at work in the summer sun. About to watch the latest 2 video's. Your number 1 Fan in Australia Louis Kats from Melbourne Australia ☺ 👍 ❤

[@blinkie1523]

Hello Nick, Leo & George, Dave should be happy with those numbers Nick as you did better than expected. That 455 sounded great and George your choice of music was beaut too. Thanks guy's and have a very happy christmas all.

[@junkyardjimmyriversiderecy6722]

As truck driver and having worked in a junkyard my whole life I've been around alot of machines and mechanics I can safely say you are a true Master hope to meet you somewhere someday

[@brunotulliani]

Happy Festivus to all you gear heads! My your holiday be filled with love, heath, family and lots of performance parts! Happy Holidays to all the staff!

[@pappy017]

Mornin Mr Nick!! Have a great week and a Merry Christmas!!

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks Pappy. Merry Christmas!

[@michaelmoon6675]

Background music 🎵 sounds appropriate for the situation

[@victoryfirst2878]

I also like the High Tack gasket sealer Nick. Nice work with the Buick big block. These have such a long life that modern engine have ENGINE ENVY. Peace

[@davelowets]

Get yourself an adjustable timing set, or an offset bushing for the cam dowel pin, and advance the cam timing a frw degrees, that'll raise the cranking PSI numbers a bunch. These are fairly low RPM engines anyway, and would probably benefit from advancing the cam, as the engine would never get to the upper revs that advancing the cam would change. Use all that low and mid torque to move the car.

[@stevedriver1476]

The skylarks were beautifull. Buick is a cut above, the feel, the smell, the quality is up a notch.

[@anthonyrocha8039]

Now power time the engine and do it again ! :) The shifting in the original BB trans that comes in the stage 1 cars also has a switch on the gas pedal that makes it kick down harder my father has owned two stage 1 cars and they are a torque monster ! And a lot of fun

[@Bumblebee4788]

Factory hush hush tests showed 425 HP on this engine, severely underated on the books. That's why this engine could beat a Hemi equipped car. ( Light engine also)

[@chadhaire1711]

425 hp on a bench is only 350 NET in the car--the 426 was only 350 net horsepower....any 2021 Dodge with 5.7 puts out more at 375 net.

[@kevinpatrick8788]

@@chadhaire1711 but the new dodges are heavy pigs 4400-4500lbs so all that extra weight pretty much negates the net hp numbers .

[@chadhaire1711]

@@kevinpatrick8788 wrong--try 4200 pounds for 2021 RT with 5.7 that does the 1/4 mile at 13.7 while the 440-6 was 13.8 and 426 13.6..........the 2021 SRT 12.8......newer is still better

[@kevinpatrick8788]

@@chadhaire1711 4200 lbs for a new challenger and the charger is 4400 lbs . porkers

[@kevinpatrick8788]

@@chadhaire1711 a new challenger rt will never hold much collector value . only the demons and hellcats will . ill stick with my 50 year old plymouth .

[@BUICKGSX71]

Yea baby I had 2- 1971 Grand Sports stage 1 love both

[@johnelliott7375]

Not only will Canada be better the world will be better when Nick gets to solving problems! Merry Christmas from Pennsylvania to all of you there! God bless and enjoy the season!

[@NicksGarage]

Merry Christmas.

[@johncaballero8013]

Hey there Nick! It's your friend from Portland Oregon. Love this Buick 455 video. Wonderful big block engine built well! Hope you had a nice Christmas. Blessings my friend!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

I’d love to see this engine numbers with a redesigned , real fuel injected system , like newer cars . An actual fuel rail on each side , etc . I bet it would make 525 HP and 585 torque. But nice job considering what he’s working with .

[@jeffreyrubish347]

The parts unavailability situation is certainly an unwelcome challenge these days!

[@NicksGarage]

Oh man.. you said it. 'unwelcome challenge' indeed.

[@fortyshooter1]

Buicks and Oldsmobile 400+ cube engines were big torque makers not top end power makers from the factory. That 455 is perfect with a 3.42 rear gear in a 3500-3800 lb. street car!

[@totalyep]

They make decent power too. The torque makes them a lot of fun on the street. I have a 442 and a GSX and they are more fun to drive than anything else I own. The engines are very smooth too compared to a Mopar 440.

[@jimbosc]

Also could pull some tree stumps.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Chrysler 440 also a torque engine with stock torque peak down around 2500 RPMs... HP peak by 4600...

[@totalyep]

@BuzzLOLOL yeah. I have a 68 rt charger with a 440 and it has some torque but it comes on higher than the w30 455 or the GSX. The 440 is cool but not as smooth of an engine. My w30 is faster than my charger and both engines have been professionally built and tuned. The 442 has a 3.91 vs a 3.54 in the charger which probably helps it.

[@LR-my2di]

@@totalyep BTW, there was a 70 car GSX reunion and parade at last May's GS Nats. in KY. It was all covered in a recent issue of HMM.

[@MikeJBlues]

Another great Monday 👍, great job Nick and thank you George !

[@jesseduke694]

Nick, I admire you for being so involved & connecting yourself with your engines. I feel that way about my engines. Almost obsessed sometimes. Good job man!

[@scottkeeton253]

the best show on utube. thanks for good content

[@jeffboyer8214]

500 tq. is interesting. 400 hp. Makes you fight for it 💪. Yes if you had the stock exhaust manifolds you may hit tq. Faster because of a bit of back pressure. Headers lean things out and have less back pressure. Nice numbers and can't wait to see the next 455 on the dyno. Be safe team !

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Carb.s/EFI have to be tuned for headers... then more torque...

[@thedelusionisreal]

I've been subscribed for a while but I will comment more too. That helps the algorithms from what other tubers say.

[@jasonescott]

Great to see you building and testing the Buick 455 and then sticking with it to get it really running well. Question: Is there a reason why you don't view the output as a graph? The chart of numbers is obviously helpful to correlate things like fuel consumption and oil psi with power at some RPM, but a graph seemingly makes it easier to spot how the power rises and falls throughout the sweep -- including the peaks. Just curious.

[@kiisu74]

i've wondered the same thing. A graph would make it easy to see the big flat torque curve, especially on this 455. Furthermore, its a little frustrating (but fun, too) watching Nick chase a big number when real performance is measured in area under the curve which a graph would clearly show.

[@nickpanaritis4122]

Sorry, my fault. I totally forgot the graph. Yes, easy to look at the curve. I have shown it in other videos with other engines. I will remember for next time.

[@jasonescott]

@@nickpanaritis4122 Oh, no apology is necessary. I was just curious if there was a particular reason for looking more at the chart of stats than the graphs. As always, love the show and especially enjoyed the Buick coverage. Thanks! And I hope you and your family have very happy holidays!

[@jdeltoro518]

She sounds sweet. Mr Nick you are the master of muscle car engines. Great work n analysis

[@NicksGarage]

Thank you kindly George.

[@JoshKetchum]

I would venture to guess the camshaft is the reason for the torque shift to a higher RPM, and probably the headers too :) very impressive :)

[@Jack-ns5mn]

I think a slight advancing of the cam might of helped lower the rpm of peak torque.

[@davelowets]

​@@Jack-ns5mnYES... for certain

[@eddiea3782]

Great job Nick. The look on your face when you got that 400HP was priceless. ;)

[@newfdog45]

Thanks for another great year of videos and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!!!

[@NicksGarage]

Thanks Newf. Merry Christmas and a happy 2022.

[@Kwaka28]

Like the BB 455 Nick. great work as usual.take care mate have a great christmas. from everyone in Australia..

[@prwarfield]

Buick has been the “Dark Horse” for the early 70’s ,everyone looked to Chevy and Pontiac for muscle. Buick for the Win👍 this was my favorite video Great Job Nick.

[@peterrivney552]

Myself Buick '70 455 Stage 1 & Oldsmobile '66 425 I had my 425 punched 40 over and the '70 stick grind W-30 328 duration camshaft 11:1 pistons edeblbrock torker single plane intake aline bore and balance putting out gust over 500 HP mind you heads were ported & exhaust polished as well and they are the '70 "F" head's connecting rods were polished and shot peened as well as chambering all the oiling system and removing castings dimples in the valley of the block and inside the heads for the oil return.

[@cdeprima1209]

Nick, you need full manifold vacuum on vacuum advance to get the best idle, but not for emissions testing! :)

[@robertoruiz7069]

Thank's Nick for doing this video and leaving all the issues in it.from the air leakage and the trial with the double intake gasket,to the head gasket issue.That is the kind of stuff a lot of mechanics now don't know about ,because they are so dependent on scanners.ON 1996 and older>> scanners don't help much,but old school learned failures do.The fact that you have a fast read air fuel meter gave some of us old guys a clue,on the hp and torque.i noticed quite a few times it was running lean on opening the throttle.I learned on thermo quads and carters and holleys back in the 70s at collage for and AA in automotive.We mostly did 327 427 and 289 302s and ford 427s with holly's.and reg or duel points.That CARB i think had secondarys with the metering rods ,so much harder to tune than today's fuel injection with computers you can program at all rpms and loads and speeds of air flow.Ok thanks NIck now i feel old,haha love your video your a MASTER.

[@dannypeter6565]

Well done on the Buick Nick, I notice that the 455 has some similarities to a BB Mopar except opposite, Like the dist. oil and fuel pump. Happy Holidays and a Happy, healthy new year to everyone at Nicks garage. Cheers!!

[@HowardJrFord]

On the big block Chrysler the distributor and oil pump are mounted to the block . On the Buick those pieces are mounted to a separate bolt on timing cover . The Buick has the worst oiling system of any V8 from that era , and it was known for failing , resulting in catastrophic engine failures .

[@dannypeter6565]

@@HowardJrFord Thanks Howard, that’s interesting , Merry Christmas

[@robertbaron3242]

@@HowardJrFord True the Buick 400/430/455 blocks had oiling issues but Buick addressed them in the 1970 MY through I believe some collaboration with Kenne-Bell in West Covina, CA. Jim Bell was the go-to guy in the 60's and 70's to make Buicks fast and I had many phone conversations with him when building my 67 400 block. What follows is what I remember from my conversations and what I did with my engine. It was determined the problem stemmed from the large 3.25" main journals. At higher RPM (>5000) the large diameter journals acted like a centrifugal pump creating back pressure on the main oil galley. The back pressure decreased oil pressure and flow and the number 7&8 rod bearings took the hit being furthest from the oil pump. The fix was to increase the size of 3 galleys by drilling them out, using the Stage 1 sump pickup with a 9/16" tube and using the Stage 1 relief spring in the oil pump to ensure minimum 60-65 PSIG oil pressure at 5000 RPM. Bearing clearance was also critical and I believe 0.002" was the recommended max for both the rods and mains. Even after fixing the oiling issue the block was the first GM thin casting which lacked the mass and strength in critical areas for really high HP and torque. I believe the block is good to about 600 HP but above that it gets dicey. Some builders had success with girdles but that was well after my time.

[@rickdemorgan8951]

There used to be a Schnieder 290 cam that was very popular in these engines.

[@LR-my2di]

Offered by the GSCA. A really good cam. My brother used one in his 455.