Glen & others, at present these pieces are for show and discussion of a bit of Buick back-room history, BUT there may be the possibility of the package becoming available sometime in the future. I was hoping someone out there may have some information concerning the number of X-heads cast. Rumor has it at ~6 pair. Anyone know? Again, thanks for the interest in these pieces of nostalgia!
Hi Jay-- I just picked up my set of Kustom headers today, and boy am I excited! They will be a great fit with the Stage 2 iron heads I just bought. Thanks for the info about the number cast to make sure they are Kustoms. I feel real fortunate in that the headers have never been welded on, although they do have a few minor dents. I have a letter from Dennis Manor, and in it he says Buick made just about as many vertical boss heads as they did the regular stage 2 iron heads (75 sets vs 100 set of the regular ones). However, the earlier heads were distributed thru the back room, and I suspect fewer sets survived. This thread is great. I still believe some sort of registry should be put together for this stuff, but if we just keep this thread alive, maybe it will be the registry. I've talked via email with you before Jay about your Stage 2 stuff. If you decide to sell it, would you put me in line as being interested? Thanks, Dan ps: I'm not in Helena right now so I can't refer directly to Dennis Manor's letter, but I believe in it he says that most racers made their own headers when using the vertical boss heads. I'll check when I get back home next week.
A question for Guy Parquette and Jay (or anybody else that might know, like Gary Paine)-- I notice that the close-up picture of Jay's Kustom header flange shows that it is sawed thru next to the 2399 number. I have pictures of another set that shows the same thing. On my set (passenger side), the flange is sawed about half way top to bottom in the same location as Jay's (next to the 2399 number), but the cut was never completed so the flange is still continuous. There is a similar partial cut on the firewall side of the center two tubes. If these two cuts were completed, the center two tubes would be installed as a unit, and the front and rear tube would be installed seperately. On the driver side, the partial cut is made ONLY on the firewall side of the center two tubes, like this side was meant to be installed in two pieces. Also, I wonder if the headers were originally sent with the flange seperate from the header tubes, to be assembled to the headers tubes on site. Mine have a single spot weld at each tube top to the flange. Guy, are the flanges on your two sets like Jay's, or like mine? Dan
An open question: The TA cast iron set that has never been machined (after which all their aluminum Stage 2 heads are based) has an "a" after the casting number, as I recall. My set does not have the "a" following the casting number, but rather has an "f" cast just below the casting number. Did Buick go thru "a" thru "f" casting iterations when then tried casting these heads on a production basis? For others who own these heads, what letter is cast into your heads after or below the common casting number? Thanks, Dan
I'll have to check my heads on the letter deal...I do know both sets that I had, (one set is sold, gone) had the same #'s and letters. Also both sets, And I would have to beleave all the sets made started with that letter "X". My header flanges are also cut apart, sloppy job at best. And also a sloppy job at one of the slip joints.
stage2 My Stage2's have an X before the # and a F at the bottom. Also,the Kustom headers on Scat had the flanges already cut and the tubes welded when I got them many years ago.the slip fit tubes are a little sloppy but functional,after all, these were made for race cars. gary
I am curious, were all the prototype heads cast as right hand heads with a provision for the alterator bracket only? The ones I have are this way with the heads modified (nickel welded, drilled and tapped) after they were cast for the power steering bracket (see previously posted picture). How are everyone else's cast? Are the production castings interchangeable right to left? Also, wouldn't casting dates create a timeline of changes/improvements during development? Any thoughts? I need to go back and really examine these things more closely.
Gary, looking at the pic of your head, it appears to have the provision for 400-430 rocker shaft pressure oiling?
Yes, all the production stg2 heads had the rocker shaft oiling. As far as the alt bracket, my four heads were made like the normal 455 heads. Great info Jay! :TU:
More Info Just received some copies of inter departmental letters from "the day", from Dennis Manner about stg2 parts, testing, actual part numbers, how to set up a car for drag racing, letter of intent or proposal for a factory production stg II option, what the car would consist of, ect...and the letter that shot it down . Also an inter dept letter about car number 4085 and what to do with it. And also a letter from Jim Bell to Dennis stating how happy he was with the "new heads" and that the Reynolds KB car just turned a 10.89 @126.85 MPH...this was back in 1970! :shock: And some other great info. Like the shipping of stgII parts and compensations for racing and testing to Reynolds Buick for the stgII car...ect Oh, And it did say in the specs about the stgII head that it was designed with the "through the head oiling so the cutomer could use it with the earlier 400", 430" engines, or early rockers. I have to openly thank Dennis for all of this great info!! Guy
Jay and Gary and Guy--- Jay, the other set of prototypes I am familiar with are just like yours. I do have pictures at home. Gary, my Stage 2 heads are just like yours. Guy, I'd love to read the info you have sometime. Any chance? Further info---- I just reviewed my letter from Dennis M., and it does not say 75 sets like I thought I remembered. It does say the vertical boss was used to relieve gas from the casting process. The letter does say 100 sets for the "production" stage 2 heads. I've attached a few pictures of my Kustom headers without the flange cut showing the number and slip joints that haven't been welded. The rust is just surface rust. Dan Dan
Dan- On that first pic of the Kustom header, on the far back lower slip joint it looks like the outer slip tube was added or welded? Mine is made that way on just the one and thought it was just a repair. Am I seeing that on yours also? Thanks, Guy
I am putting the iron Stage 2 engine back in my red car in the next few weeks and I am curious as to how the 69 rocker shafts were oiled. It seems to me that the 455 head gasket had the hole blocked from the block that sends the oil up to the rocker shaft. I ordered 5/16 adj pushrods ( hollow, of course ) to oil the engine up through the pushrods to the 69 rockers from 455 lifters. I have done this for years and it appears that they get enough oil this way. Are any of you oiling them the old fashioned way?
Guy-- Are you talking about the outboard slip joint, or the inboard one? From the look of these headers, they look all factory with no welds, replacement slip joints or added slip joints. Dan
stage 2 cam does anybody have the complete cam specs on that stage 2 cam?also what were those pistons rated at?11 to 1?
John Thats the best way to oil the 69 rockers ,you'll get too much oil to the top if you go the old way. gary
I oil my 462 with the old method (for now) with a small mod to the right side shaft since the block's not drilled: When I can it's coming apart for roller rockers & hollow pushrods. Devon
