If I remember right Mike got the blueprints from Buick on the Stage 2 heads. While visiting Jim Bell and picking up parts (back when he was the only Buick aftermarket show in town) I asked him if he had any Stage 2 heads. He said he didn't have any left. The last set went with the old Reynolds car when Bob Kent bought it from Pop. While rooting around in the back where all the heads were stacked guess what was laying in amongst all the castings..........a virgin set of Stage 2 heads. The valve seats & spring seats had never been machined. These were basically raw castings with just the deck, intake and exhaust surfaces faced. They did have a couple variations of the heads, had to do with the placement of the soft plugs, with the vertical bosses and without.
HELP,I can't reduce the letter size to get it to post,can I email it to someone to do for me,I hate computers! gary
Me too ... I gave it to the graphics designer who works for me When you scan something it should ask you what type of file you want to save it as - this was an Adobe PDF file you sent me. Most online Boards want a JPG, she was able to convert it for us because we have the full adobe suite of software (thousands of $$$) :Comp:
WOW!!!! :eek2: $200 for a bare set of Stage II heads.......what a deal. Thanks Gary for sharing with us this piece of history. Lon
Stage 2 Nice Letter, this is great info. I bet they wouldn't have to lack of interest now. Still no difinative info on the D port ones. Thanks to all, this is becoming a great thread. :TU:
I remember that guy. I bought an NOS Riviera quarter and rear bumper off him at the Nats. I was talking to him about those heads. He said he worked at a Buick dealer and those heads were sitting on the shelf. Brand new in the box Stage 2's! It took a little while for the dealership to agree on a price. He was telling me the zone manager had to come down to look them over. He was selling them at the Nats for 4500. The NOS quarter and rear bumper he said came out of the dumpster at the dealership. They actually threw them out. I gave him 240.00 for both pieces. I often wonder what happened to those heads. I wonder if they're sitting on a shelf somewhere waiting to be rediscovered.
I think most of you are thinking in today's dollars about the prices for the 72 Stg2 heads. We all know that is not correct. A new Corvette in 72 was about $5,000 today it is $50,000. So, if you apply some basic math to figure present value of a past price (assume 5% monetary inflation/buying power factor) the multiplier is 5.0032 (1.05 raised to the 33rd power for 33 years since 1972.) So, those heads from Buick today would be $1000/pr. You can compare that to some of GM Performance products such as aluminum Vortec heads(pair) that are $1300 complete, LT4 heads are $1359. Cast iron Vortec heads are $520. All prices are from my latest Summit catalog. So, I would guess aluminum heads, SE1, bare from TA for $1395 is comparable. I don't see a lot of people in a rush to buy them.
I found my letter from Dennis Manner,dated 1/8/80."Fact is that about 100 sets of stage 2 heads were produced with the full round exhaust ports as shown in the Kenn-Bell Catalog." The letter goes on,but it is signed DM. I recieved this when I bought my Stage 2 heads.They may not be as good as TA heads,but they are made by BUICK.As far as value,it is supply,demand and how much someone wants to spend. Mike Nussell
The actual consumer price index rate of inflation since 1972 would make a $200.00 purchase then be equivalent in cost to a $912.22 purchase in 2005.
I just wish I would have bought those heads off Gary, I would build the 71 around them as a through back car, I would be to cool to have a complete buick Stage 2 package car.
Here are some pics of the Stg1 and Stg2 heads along with pricing info: http://www.buickperformance.com/455hdcompare.htm
This thread is great . I hope some more owners of these heads add thier two Cents. Maybe some pics . What was the whole actual Stage 2 package. My understanding its the cam, heads, edelbrock manifold , custom headers and a Holley 850 or a worked Q-jet. What about the 68 and 69 package , was this different in any way besides the addition of the Stage 2 heads in 1970
The stage 2 package in 69 was an over the counter,or dealer installed package.It consisted of.. stage 2 cam hi pressure springs tubular pushrods stage 2 forged pistons low tension rings undersized rod bearings grooved main bearings B4B MT headers 850 holly I still have my dealer receipt for the GM parts portion I ordered in april 1969 when I built my 69 GS400 4 speed car into a copy of Pop Kennedy's 68 gs stage 2.Except his was auto. gary
You're correct on the gear,I had that too,really launched with a 4 speed.I just mentioned the motor package. AND,Thanks a lot for reminding me Jim,I believe theres similar age there in WV .heh-heh gary