good job on the garage - have to have a place to play with the toys. family will also take some time. I try to break things up into smaller more manageable parts so I can get some things done in between all the family running around.

 

I know this thread is taking forever to come around my life has been crazy... I’m still waiting on the alum cylinder heads to be released from the prototype phase. In the meantime I have been super busy with working a lot and also LS powered toys... 05 gmc 1500 with 6.5 inch lift, 03 Chevy Tahoe, and 03 Yukon with 10 inch lift. Oh and we are building a brand new house with a 41 foot deep garage and 11 foot ceilings with a 2 post lift.

Been riding my 2 stroke 400 Polaris scrambler 4x4 a lot... the boys helped me change the rad out!

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I must have the record for the longest delay for cylinder heads on this site!!!

I got the very first set of alum aftermarket Buick 350 cylinder heads hit the R&D to get here took years!

So now we have the raw castings but we need to do extensive port work to create we want. I’m shooting for 500 HP NA with 355 cubes at 7500 RPM. 9.3:1 with a big custom roller cam. Billet king crank and good rods and pistons.

We lost 80 pounds over stock going to these alum heads and intake. The buick 350 was only 450 pounds stock with manifolds. So all said and done I will be under 400 pounds for the complete engine with turbos.

Built a new car hauler trailer, bought a lift, and just getting it done! Everything that is except this darn car!!! Dust all over it!!! It kills me waiting for things to come together so I build LS stuff!!! Just loving my 2012 gmc 2500, 6.0 gas with headers and bunch of bolt ons, it pulls perfect.

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Glad to see this still moving along. and yes it takes years to cast a repo head from idea to reality. Helped my buddy with aftermarket Pontiac aluminum heads. Took a few years to be reality but worth it . takes a ton R&D and effort.... and $$$ along the way

 

Yes it was a long road to get here. The test engine made 480 Hp at 10:1 compression with a mild street cam and 355 cubes. Pretty healthy.

 

Nice to hear progress!
Never instant gratification in manufacturing.

 

Glad to see you're still at this. I recently did a Holley Sniper EFI system install on a 73 Riviera, stout running 455, next up will be a single, passenger side turbo.

 

Wow another 3 years went by and I’m still at the same spot! My engines been at my head porting guy for 4 years now. I’m getting frustrated and pulling my stuff from him soon if he doesn’t get my porting done.

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4 years? Good luck! Hopefully half of it hasn't been "misplaced".

 

No I’m ok there the car is fully complete I just need to swap out the engine. My head porting guy had a bunch of health issues and a bunch of emgine builds got backed up while he was down and out. Now that he’s 100% he’s swamped with a few years of work. If he wasn’t an amazing head porter and he’s been paid them I would move on, plus he’s a really close friend. That all said I’ve had enough!

I’m currently assembling a 12:1 NA Max effort Buick 350 and I’m going to put it in the car to enjoy it till I get the boost engine done.

 

I guess I shouldn’t say I’m still in the same place, I’ve been getting lots of projects done. My daily driver 2012 GMC 2500 has got a lot of love, the 6.0 got long tube headers, dual 3”, cat delete and a tube, plus a bumper and winch. I had a Dakota for a while then sold it, same with a Buick Rainier. I’ve been fixing up my 2001 Yukon, 5.3, lift, wheels, re geared to 4.10, long tube headers, cat delete, dual 2.25”.

Building a 400 SBC (409 inches) for a friend, AFR heads, 9.5:1, pretty mild, alum factory intake and Q jet with headers in a 76 Monte

a 350 SBC for myself, tearing down 6 Buick 350s I have here to see what’s all worth keeping, and building the max effort style 12:1 355 Buick NA. Lucked into a LQ4 for $200 if I pulled it and the transmission for the guy who was parting it.

I built the SBC 350 to 358 cubes, eagle rods, flat tops, 9.7:1 with Ported vortec heads and carb intake. All machined and measured out properly, nice build and low cost! 224-235 grind flat tappet cam. Could use on boost or NA, no vehicle planned yet for this but it will be the first engine to go on my testing trailer setup!

with so many engines to test and break in I’ve always planned to build a mobile testing station. I dreamed up the idea of using this welding trailer ($150) a 12 bolt $200, Powerglide $300, adapter plate for Chevy or Buick engines, adjustable emgine mounts, rad and battery mounted in the rear, spill tray under the oil pan, room to remove the oil pan. When in use it will have tires bolted to the rear end and when not in use roll it around as a trailer. When in use park it on too of my flat deck car hauler add chain binders and do a burnout to load test the engines and break in. Tighten binders or add weight to increase load on the engine!

since it’s been so long here is a reminder of the car. 2980 pounds mostly fiberglass, street legal. 31x16.5-15, 4.56 gears billet TH-350, just added new cro mo driveshaft, 10:1 Buick 350 with 1” block girdle, King billet crank (one off), Herche custom rods, JE custom pistons, 3.830 bore and 3.850 stroke for 355 cubes all internally balanced with wet sump belt driven oil pump, Max effort ported alum TA heads, 235/245 custom flat tappet cam, E85 CSU carb, twin T0E4 55mm turbos. Will swap to a 2004R rated for 800 HP and it bigger turbos if needed.

the NA engine will be run with the turbo kit but no boost down the carb, 250/250 cam 12:1, lumpy setup. I don’t want to remove the turbos and I love the turbo spool. That will work for this summer coming up.

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Pics, the emgine bay pic I sold however it will stay the same setup except a better carb hat and E-85 CSU carb now.

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I like your engine test stand / trailer. I would be looking for a cheap steer axle, a seat and master cylinder.

 

I have one of those blue engine stands off a pumpjack and just made some universal mounts but was setup for a BBC anyway. Only thing is no load so might have to come up with something but if you look around you can always find them and sometimes they are free even from the guy in the patch. If I lived closer I'd come help get that Buick going again.

 

Busy for sure inbetween those 4 years.
Hope he can finally come thru for your heads.

 

yes very frustrating! I want to use these Buick engines after all the time and investment however it won’t be much longer before I just say F it and start building a turbo hot side for a 6.0 LQ4 that’s on my engive stand.

 

Kinda have similar dilemma on the build with my Challenger. Want to keep with plan using the same engine from start. But with all these years later, the new Gen Hemi's have become a dime a dozen with plenty of support for conversions. Don't want to change path but the push is growing exponentially.
Convenience, reliability and support...

 

Yes I just get frustrated when my junk takes forever and big $ while my next door neighbor has done 20 plus 800+ Hp LS builds the past two years....

 

Sounds like you almost need two cars. One throw away racer with an LS you can just beat to death, and one turbo Buick you can enjoy for all of the other reasons.

 

It’s a good idea, however I think another car would hurt my wallet even worse. I’m down to one car, a daily driver truck and a 4x4 toy and I think my wife would loose it if I got another car. For years I just did whatever I wanted, but that didn’t work out too well for keeping her happy.