Wow.. Just got back from Casey's party, at which I spent nearly the entire time talking with Buick Powertrain Engineer Denny Manner. All those questions I always wondered about I got answered, not to mention the great stories he told us. Found out that he actually was born and raised in Northern Minnesota, and recieved his degree in engineering at the University of Minnesota, in 1959. Worked exclusively on the powertrains of our Buicks for 37 years, starting with the 215 aluminum V-8's, all the way thru the Generation 2 V-6 motor, introduced in 1995. And the "back room" stories.. wow... Like the 525 CI" '72 Electra engineering car, that he drove back home to Minnesota over the Holidays in '72.. Got the low down on many things, including the number, reasoning, and some great "how it was done" tidbits about the 4 bolt block. He had not seen one in over 30 years, and he looked to be having a good time getting re-aquanted with it. We also presented him with a complimentary lifetime membership to the BPG, and he was impressed with the newsletters, and has offered to submit an article from time to time for it. Here he is with what he terms as "the experimental 4 Bolt Main 455 Block", since no moniker was ever formally attached to it. Look for a complete article on the block in the next issue of the BPG newsletter, "The Build Sheet". JW
Cool, that would be great to talk to the powers that had a hand in make one of the greatest motors of all time. Did he say anyhting about the turboed wagon. 86 electra wagon with the turbo V6 Tim
No Tim, we spent most of the time discussing the ins and outs of the various V-8 programs, including all the stage stuff. He just touched on the technology improvements over the years, in relation to the Gen 2 V-6, and how they designed the pistons differently, and built the motor "on center" to reduce side loading stresses and friction, in the quest for more power and better milage. It was the last big engine program for GM that he headed up. And he disspelled a lot of the rumors we have all been hearing over the years, that when repeated enough times, become gospel.. Like this one: Question from me: "What exactly was the nature of the so called "sand casting problem" when making the STG 2 heads?" Denny.. (with confused look)... "There was no casting problem with the heads that were made.. the only issue with the low production number of the iron STG 2 heads was that right when they were in development, GM annouced that for '71, all engines must use no lead, low octane fuel, and that killed the program. We simply then cast as many sets as we could get, from the prototype molds, and sent them to the parts departments". He recalls about 100 sets being made, but possibly only 75 or so reached the public. He actually went into great detail as to how the STG 2 heads were made, and also as to where and how he found out about the news on the fuel issues. One very intersting thing I found out, was that the stg 2 stuff, and the other "experimental hardware", like the 4 bolt block, was actually done by the Buick Engineers, during their lunch breaks, after hours, and on weekends.. as Buick had no formal "Race Department". He refers to his "Day Job", as the more mundane tasks of developing the passenger car engines. But there was some fun stuff, as his first major project was the development of the '66 dual quads for the nailheads. And, of course, the STG 1 stuff. I thanked him for all of us, for taking the time and expending effort to do this stuff, on his own time... he is a hot rodder from way back. His work with the STG 2 head formed the basis for TA's development of that head, some years later.
A 525 '72 225 engineering car? :jd: Can you all see the drool rolling down my chin? I wonder if was involved in any friendly street races over that holiday?:Brow:
He said it was an "awesome" street combo, for that heavy car.. Serious consideration was give to actually building it, but then came the fuel crunch of the early '70's, and that went out the window. JW
denny hey jim, is this the same man that was interviewed on car & drivers episode with the gsx? just curious.thanksou:
Dr Weise : Could they loan us the drawing for the 525 block for a couple of weeks? Is that engine in a dusty garage somewhere? Jim Lore
I think that picture has the makings of a GREAT BPG T-Shirt !!! .....Once you "airbrush" out Caseys Non-Buick stuff and digitally insert a few Stage1 GSX's in the stalls.....Stage2 heads on the table tops....Etc...etc.
Denny thanks for the reply Roberta.I'll be sure to save that video taped piece of history!MMMMM!!! 370 hp drool drool drool:grin: :grin:
WOW those are very cool stories Jim :TU: Please Please tell us more :stmad: I wish I could have been there to hear them all.
