Curtis, I'm in full agreement. Any good press helps not only us enthusiasts but also our aftermarket suppliers who try so hard to take care of our small demand. An honest effort from a publication or TV show like HorsePower TV to communicate with a close-knit group of people who subscribe and contribute to an internet message board like this should be a rich source of input for them, I would think. I would like John to contribute here some more even if it's only to ask more questions. I certainly mean him no ill will. We have a lot to offer if anyone is interested in listening! Devon
Thanks for checking us out! Disregard any negative comments toward you and your team. Your more than welcome here. Check out the build that JW did. There is a link to it a couple pages back. Thanks!
I really appreciate that. I think that guy has a personal problem with Mike Galley and his dad not me. I fought to do a radical build with that motor, but I have a lot of people to sign off on a idea I have. I don't always get what I want to do in a build. I really like this site and would like to get some ideas on a nail head maybe, I have built several 455 over the past few years and they have made great power, but I want to do diffrent builds. I belive this 350 build had a lot of potential but the cost of just building that motor would be pretty hefty on a guy. I'm not really a big believer in throwing a bunch of parts at something just to make number's. That motor would drop right into a car and run great with absolutly no leaks or issues. I really enjoy getting to build motors on tv for a living and take great pride in what I do. The numbers may not be what people wanted to see but they are true and accurate. I'm not a Journalist and it does bother me when people give a hard time to me when all I'm trying to do is help them in whatever way I can. I really do appreciate your support.
John, we appreciate your support, too. Otherwise there'd never been the episode we're talking about. I hope you don't feel I'm coming down on you too hard. If so, I apologize, and I mean it. Devon
Well done sir! Keep us in mind for the next 350 or whatever build:3gears: there are many builds here that can be done on a budget and still make awsome power.
Sorry John, I missed this reply of yours since I was typing at the same time you replied. Thanks for more explanation and thanks for sincerely telling us about you and what you had to deal with for the build. I really do appreciate your efforts. I'll offer it again from a journalistic point of view if it's ok...roll with the punches, absorb what is useful! I'm glad to have your input. Devon
I think the problem on here is the same as the other Buick build. Someone jumps on claiming to be from a show and asks a question or makes a comment and then they vanish. When the episode airs people have no clue how the idea to build something a certain way came up and assume it was just the usual product placement job from a guy who only builds Mustangs. That leads to some irritation since the episode turns into another "this is why these engines died off" episode. When the host seems to be invested in the project or is part of the community then there's alot more give and take from us viewers. It must be hard to follow guys like Sam Memmolo and Dave Bowman. They set the bar pretty high for you car show guys. Stacey David did a pretty good job in his time on the powerblock. You could tell he was really in love with every project he did. Plus he didn't show the usual brand loyalty that we see from some guys who shall remain nameless but are really obvious.
sounds like they should have stated "we built the best engine we could for free" A consumer building that engine might have chosen different components or added head work if they were paying the bill. limiting the build to the parts sponsers were willing to give away hardly does the project justice in my opinion.
I thought it was great to see a buick on the show. i was expecting # somewhere around JW build or AMP. It still looks like a fun engine to drive around in. I think one thing every one forgets is they dont build sbc or ford engines on these shows or magazines any more with factory heads. It is always a after market head and they decide how big of runners they want for what rpm they want to be in. Even the smallest after market head for a sbc flows about 235@600. We all know some are in the 300 plus range. Sky is the limet. When is the last time you read a article in one of the mags and they used a factory set of 350 heads from lets say 1972 for a build up? With just a valve up grade. Might be about the same results. I drive a nailhead,I know all about not getting enough air. Still it was fun watching a buick fo a change.:TU:
It was a nice change of pace to see a SBB built. I think that was a good platform,Who knows maybe they will lower compression and throw a pro-charger on it and get more HP.This build Is like getting a new job you start at the bottom and work your way up. But the negative comments and blasting HP-TV for Ok HP numbers Dont Help. You have to look at the overall picture whats' in the future of this 350.
The problem I have is that you have guys watching shows like this that take it as bible, and when they give downright bad info it effects the guys trying to set the record straight. There are mistakes on virtually every HP Tv show I've ever seen, I've even emailed the show with the corrections, no response. How much time does it take to edit it correctly? Apparently more time than they're willing to give it. Or maybe they just don't have the knowledge they need to have.
you not going to get any chevy,ford or mopar guys going over to buicks. sure us buick guys will always buy parts, but it going to be hard to get new customers, to switch to buick to buy more buick parts.
It was great to see a Buick on the show, and it made some good numbers. They were impressed with the torque numbers. Remember this is done with sponsor donations. Mike Phillips was not making money on this build, TA donated the parts, Comp cams also donated the cam and lifters. Anyone that has built or paid to have an engine built knows the costs involved. I would be willing to bet if someone wanted to step up and pay for the upgrades Horsepower Tv would be willing to do a follow up build like they have done in the past. So here you go "Put up or be thankful they finally built a Buick motor". Could this motor be installed in a car with the right combination of convertor, trans and rear gear next? Let's see what this motor can then do. Dave
I think what your missing here is they are givin guide lines, rules, a script and such. Don't be mad at them because its not how you would have done this build. Guys don't trash a mainstream show that has the potential of opening up the aftermarket buick engine parts for us! Wouldn't it be nice to one day have a set of edelbrock heads for a 350. Even if they flowed the same as stock, you could still port them and the weight savings alone would help guys at the track
I took a little off the back with the belt sander just to make shure there wasn't to much tension on the crank, and that think held great. That is my favorite part of the build. It didn't leak a drop after 30 something pulls.
the show didnt do any good for the engine builder or parts guys. no new blood going to get into a 350 buick engine.
