Yeah there is a problem with wearing the aluminum housing with steel pump gears, but that is kind of what the booster plate is for, to create a new wear surface and boost pressure.  I had one on, but removed it because when the car was cold at 800rpm it would peg the oil pressure guage out at 100psi.  Warmed up it never dropped below 40psi.  Two oil pressure guages later and the headache of always warming the car up for at least 10 minutes I removed it and the pressure is fine, but if it ever drops it is a simple fix. I never used the HV kit on the 455, but being an external pump is an easy upgrade.  In over ten years of having Buick engines (231&455) I've never had a problem with the pressure relief valve.  Every time I've had the pump/timing cover apart I checked to see if the pressure relief valve was sticking, but it never was that I could tell.

I couldn't kill that 231 Odd fire V-6. I ran it for two or three years with the oil pressure never going above 20psi, and often register zero. That engine had serious problems because that was with the booster plate and HV kit.  However it never ticked or knocked.  Over the years I used three different mechanical gauges to verify the low pressure.  I finally gave up trying to sieze it for the 455 and just pulled it.  

I'll say this. I am willing to admit to some ignorance of Buick engines, but what I listed seem to be fairly consistent accross the board.

I know that the 400/455 can be made into some seriously impressive machinery, but without mods such as those needed to feed the cam bearings, and at least studs to prevent the mains from walking, high RPM is not a good idea as a constent diet.  My Dad and I had a Buick in a boat we had once, and we blew that thing three times without a lot of effort.  We promply sold the boat.

The true advantage of a BB Buick is the weight advantage.  BB power with a SB weight.  You can't beat that with a stick.

So am I really bad mouthing Buick engines? Nooooo Way, I am just suggesting care in the build up to ensure performance with reliability.

CC would be a great venue to showcase a BB Buick build up because a lot of guys are taking an interest in them.

Bowser  

Wow! This is the kind of info that makes this board great. I have run the V6 both in rear wheel drive aps. and Front wheel drive, 231, 3.3, and 3.8 series II. I have a 350 Buick that is next on the build list and even though its the smallum blockum this info is still good. Funny thing is there is a 455 for sale in the paper for $400 complete, just might have to buy it.

My father and aunt have both experience with the 350 and 430 along with the Nailhead but jeezzzzz thats many moons ago seeing that I am not exactly a kid any more in age at least.

Now my father and I have done a build on a 455 Olds which I can remember. Many things stick in my mind but two things of importance was the power, great power, and the weight, definately weighed more than the 307 that made way for the 455. The 455 only weighed enough to have the front springs replaced but hey, they dont exactly put quality coils in from the factory on a 83 Delta 88.

The rags have done builds on the 455 Buick, cant remember if they done one on the 350. I will post some links as well as this strange one: http://buickperformance.com/NewBuick455Blocks.htm

http://buickperformance.com/page1.htm Look near the bottom for all the engine stuff including the cam bearing and oiling issues.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/buick/bigblock/0607em_buick_engine_build/ 455 Build.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/116_9906_buick_455_engine_rebuild/index.html The rehash 455 story.

I will look for more later.  

yea when the feelings right now Im gonna run to you, Im gonna run all night, shes gotta heart of gold!
http://www.automachperf.com/434emcspecs.html  

I am a Ford guy but I like brand loyalty . I say keep with the Buick . Too many Chebbys in stuff they never came in . Stay with the Buford they came with it . Just one guys opinion.  

work your buick heads,you can get great how-to's on home port work online,i don't own anything but chevy and i say go 455 buick power! i once bought a 69 camaro for the body and low and behold it had a 455 buick in it,strange but true.the guy put a comp cam in it with fresh springs and seals,nothing else besides a 4 barrel,that thing was the hardest pulling car i ever drove,it had a 3.08 rear gear too! my 55 chevy as a worked 427 in it and that kills the buick with revs and torque but i never forgot that 1 ride before we tore it out.go for the 455 man  

i have a 72 chevelle any opinions on dropping a buick 455 in and pullin out my sbc 350 the 455 is up for sale for $450 with its th400 just looking for some opinions thanks  

Well I say put a Chevy back in a Chevy sell that 455 to some Buick guy. Yes it is boring but as I stated I am a brand loyalist .  

Friend,back in my high school I had a 501 Cadilac engine I helped a friend with.They are esentially a bored and stroked 455 olds big block.It will bolt in with little trouble.bell housings match,converters match.engine mounts have to be altered,but u can just weld the frame side in if you choose.Overall the easiest inbreed swap I have ever seen.And if it could fit,I have fit it.For that engine you can use neerly any Oldsmobile aftermarket parts.And if you like BIG TORQ !!! Wow.You shall have it.If my memery serves me well,the 501cid had bout 485 lbs stock  

*I am pretty sure the caddy 472 and 500 are a bored and stroked Buick.  The distributor is in the front and the oil pump is external on the front left side, and it has a thin wall casting (so the big engine doesn't weigh much more than a Small Block Chevy, Olds can't boast of that) all very Buick'ish.  Even looking at the Heads they look like Buick's but they won't bolt on.  Outside of the General GM parts (like alternators, distributor caps, carbs, etc.) nothing Olds will bolt onto a Cadillac engine, nor will the Buick parts for that matter. Also the 472 and 500 cid in the early 70's had 525ft/lbs and 550ft/lbs respectively of torque. The only engines with a higher rating than the Buick 455, but they had more cubes and it was at a few hundred rpm higher.  

i had the same delimma in my opels case. the small block is WAY cheaper.  

On the contrary friend,3 yrs. later I bought that 501 from my friend,he thought he spun a main,loss of oil pressure and knockin.I imediatly tore it down to bare block.mains,oil pump,and the camshaft from Summit Racing were the same part no. as Old's 455.And the distributor is in back.Matter of fact It went in my Old's 350 befor I got done.Look it up if,not to take my word for it.I tell no one info that important if not sure of it.And the externall parts are the same.Carb 780cfm Rochester,alternater AcDelco,Distributor cap fits all GM V8's.Coolant hoses in&out on same routing.Exhaust manifolds differ.Starter wires opposite side.Need rerouted.Had a olds in high school car.Switched 2 a wildcat 350.Befor I got chevy cheep,I was the Old's & Buick man-to-know were I'm from.15yrs ago.We dont forget those high school rod's do we.  

I can barely find anything referencing a Cadillac 501, let alone a picture or engine design information. Any 501 is a short run odd ball engine.  I'm not calling you a liar by any means since I did find some references to it, but suggesting a 501 engine swap seems like taking an already hard to find parts for engine and replacing it with an even harder engine to find parts for.

I stand by what I said about the 472 and 500 though.  This guy used a Cadillac 500 to build a 507 Cadillac and the distributor is in the front with the oil pump.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/0609em_cadillac_performance_parts_engine/index.html  

Ok,glad to see yr not just tryin to argue.A little background,my dad owns a auto shop.The repair man. he has is well aged today.it may not b findable,I dont know for sure.If mem. serves it was in ref. to 66'-74'GM.the brand name on the cover is MOTOR.Back in my big Old's days,I was one extatic kid when I read bout it,cause I didnt have a ton of cash and had a ton of Olds parts.I remember the rush when I found it capatable.'So Olds made the big one,huh', my friend  sayed after reading the service section on it.He liked rubbin it in that Cady made the biggest & baddest.Now if I sat here and told ya I remembered all those specs from 15+yrs ago that'd b a lie.I remember the cam,oil pump,water pump,and lifters were interchangable.Furthermore,unless buick BB's are way dif. than BuickSB's,they are nothing like a Buick.I briefly had a 350 buick from a 68" Wildcat,strong runner.The carb,alt.,dist.cap,bellhousings,hook rite.Not much else would interchange.I still say b a good choice 4 him 2 get that big a power either way.  

Yeah the basic design of the SB Buick and the BB Buick are the same.  Next time I am in NAPA I am going to check out a Chilton's book in the '72-'74 Cadillac Deville range because it does have my curiousity.