Buick 455

[BillK]

Mike,
The AERA www.aera.org has a list of rubber seals to replace rope seals in various engines. They show that the seal from a Ford 200 will work on the 455 Buick. The Fel Pro part number is BS30135 The only thing you need to be careful of when replacing rope seals with rubber type ones is that sometimes the "groove" in the block and cap is not as nicely machined as you would like it to be. Make sure to check the fit of the seal very carefully. Also a good idea to polish the grooved area where the seal rides. You dont need to remove the grooves, but make sure the surface is pretty smooth.

Hope this helps,

[rowdyboys31]

Dean, The rear main seal from the Ford 6 cyl. CarQuest(Victor) #JV730p works, Also you can replace the front cover rope seal with a National Seal #450446. You have to drive the inner rope seal retention ring out of the front cover to install . As far as oil pump relief springs I've used both the stock and stage1 spring, if you only have the stock spring you can add a round head sheet metal screw (same O.D. as spring) between spring and cover nut to boost oil pressure. TA Performance also make's an adjustable relief valve cover nut so you adjust your oil pressure. I run my oil pressure line out the left rear lifter gallery plug : oil pressure I have is 60 psi cold - 20+psi hot 30w conventional (brake-in runs) at idle and 10lbs less with 20w synthetic (race). JKeihn 3954

[Daran Summerton]

One thing I found on ours was after you cut the heads to min. spec - the dowel pins would bottom out and not allow the head to sit flush. Make sure without the HEAD GASKET the head sits flush on deck. Ours also loved a 3" X-pipe, talk about snappy. Good luck!

[rx dealer]

Mike, contact Tom Rix he is on this site and you can send him a PM. He is " THE MAN "
when it comes to Buicks... Luke SS 311

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by BillK

Mike,
The AERA www.aera.org has a list of rubber seals to replace rope seals in various engines.
Hope this helps,

Bill, Could you post a more specific link? list? Can't find it

[Dean3870]

thanks to every one for the help its been a battle and sure still will be, you are all helping a ton! What about rocker arms? aliminum or steal?
thanks again
Mike Dean
Dean Family Racing
G/SA 3870

[Bill Edgeworth]

you may want to try using a Viton one from BOP;

http://www.bopengineering.com/buick_v8.shtml

[Joe Demarais]

I have used both steel and alu none made a differance on the dyno, they all will punch the pushrod end out once in a while

[SCOTT SST2871]

I use the bop seal in my engines and they are great!!

[Alan Roehrich]

I think TA Performance, and Silver Seal both, have new replacement timing covers with oil pump assemblies. I blueprinted the oil pump and the passages, using the high volume pump/timing cover. I used to make an externally adjustable stop for the relief spring, so that I didn't have to try to play with springs.