I am now going all out and making my Riviera a MONSTER.....and I want to know one thing....WHO is the best of the best? That is who will build my MONSTER.... Who is it? :af:
Might want to edit your typo in the thread title... Anyway, I've heard two Nailhead Builders mentioned over and over again as knowing their stuff. One is Carmen Faso, out of New York, (716) 693-4090, and the other is Northwest Speed Equipment out of Portland, OR: http://www.nwspeedequipment.com/cat_buicknailmotor1.php?id=3 With that being said, there are people that praise both entities, and there are people that praise one or the other, and people that do not praise either. Do a board search for "Carmen Faso" and "Northwest Speed Equipment", and then call them up and have a very long phone interview and decide who is your best option. I lean a little more towards Carmen's reputation, but he does not have a website and that turns some people off. It shouldn't, but it does. On the other hand NW Speed has a website. Like I said, study the board, then make some long interview phone calls.
If you're all out serious, I'd use Carmen or contact Tom Telesco. Do yourself a favor and DEFINATELY do a search as Bamawildcat suggested. There is also a guy in El Paso named Jim Burek, but I would plan on a LONG wait if you use him from what I have read. I would also join the yahoo nailhead usergroup and ask the same question there. Rick
I'm using a local machine shop for machine work, use Carmen for parts. Carmen does put a 1.94" intake valve in, and a really nice job! Gessler does head and intake porting. Nice work from both those guys. On www.Buicks.net there is a guy posting over there from Long Island who is doing some exotic Nailheads- He posted that he had aluminum heads- Buick experimental jobs! Name is Gary. Thats all I know!
No absolute answer. If you want to stay on the left coast contact Russell at Centerville Auto Fremont,CA (510)794-7055 He has a long history with the full line of Nailheads and has had several of his cars worthy of publication. One of the top Nailhead guys IMHO. Carmen is a wealth of knowledge and parts with out a doubt. Excellent person also. Jim Burek at PAE did my headwork and Greg Gessler did my intakes both are top notch. But who has the "Worlds Fastest Nailhead" Bob Quiqq and Tom Telesco. Tom owns Classic & Muscle Automotive Stamford, CT (203)324-6045 Just my ramblings, good luck. :TU:
engine builder I AM THE BEST!!!!!!!! No, seriously, You are. I t is obvious that the You love the car and the engine. Like the old saying goes If you want something done right then do it your self. You care enough to do it right. Say You dont know how, You can learn, and there are plenty of guys that will respect the sincere effort enough to share knowledge and expertese to walk you thru the experience. Then when you do it and have the pride and knowledge that comes with that experience, you have gained a bunch. By all means try.
Both Russ Martin, and Tom Telesco regularly contribute to the discussion at the Nailhead forum on the Yahoo site: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/NailHeadBuick/ Sign up, and join us!!! Too bad Carmen Faso doesn't have much of an internet presence, but I'd highly recommend you call him!
I agree with Doc. You can have the machine work done for you and the heads ported (they are tough to get perfect without a flowbench) but the assembly is relatively straight forward. Just follow the manual step by step and take your time. Double check everything and torque each item as the parts are installed. All you need to do is save the money, order the parts and start the project. Just like a big model kit. Take your time and ask for help when needed and it will be fine.
