Aftermarket iron 455 Buick block - Interest?

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by SDTempest, Jun 7, 2010.

?

Would you purchase an aftermarket block?

  1. Yes, I would purchase an aftermarket block

    71.5%
  2. No, I have no interest in an aftermarket block

    11.0%
  3. Undecided

    17.4%
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  1. 70redbird

    70redbird Mongo

    Well first I'd like to throw in my thoughts, which are semi offtopic.. I think it's rather ironic that pontiac has a larger aftermarket than buick, and I'd honestly be suprised if Oldsmobile didn't also, but which company still has a pulse in the current car market? BUICK! Hah, shove that in your poncho's pipe! JK :D but seriously, it makes me wonder, Buick has never even been, to my knowledge, put even remotely near the executioner's block, olds has been dead around a decade and pontiac has been dead over a year. Buick is the oldest division at GM, in the US, and I think history period for automobiles.

    I think it's the fault of our fellow buick drivers who are too tame and afraid to play with their cars! We need to get out there and smack all those old fogeys that drive like they are blind so they start cutting us off a bit faster and reach their 10 under the speed limit that much quicker! ok ok Im done jesting..

    On topic.. Would I be interested? Sure. Considering that I'm fairly worried that I bought my block off of ebay from a junkyard 7 years ago before I knew a damned thing about muscle car-era buicks aside from "350s dont do high performance", my luck I've probably got a block that will fall apart on me like a lego castle under the regard of it's builders ire-filled sibling during a tantrum. I've spent more money than I care to talk about on my car, and I kept my expectations below the core-shift scare point on rpms and hp for simply the purpose of preserving my ride. Every time I look at the TA alum block, it's like looking at pictures of my ex-girlfriend who I havent spoken to (not from lack of trying) in almost a year. It's a great fantasy for me, and I enjoy the thought of what it'd be like, but it just aint going to happen no matter how much I wish it to, lol. I'd love an all aluminum BBB mated to a 4L80E with all the modern bells and whistles and have the ultimate retro. Maybe a few years down the road when I have my college degree and my life a bit more on track, I can grab a new block. Am i looking for the rediculous power levels the TA block can sustain? No, I just want a streetbruiser that can eat those dandy vipers and vettes and not need a chevy, ford, or mopar to do it. It's like with guns, you got your guys who love the M16, and guys who love the AK47... Im the guy that goes for the M14.

    An Iron block that could handle 800 or so HP and cost half what the TA block would be something I'd be looking at getting in a year or two, given that it is trusted by the community and has proven itself.. and I have probably the shallowest pockets of any buick driver on this board, so I definitely would'nt be the guy for a down payment or help investing. If one comes out, great, I'll start saving up next year and look at switching out blocks, if not, I'll wait years, and pray the whole time that my current motor doesnt go.

    Man I have a tendency to ramble when Im bored and dont sleep well... My apologies guys


    PS.. Dont go and tar and feather me for saying it, but I have a small voice in my head saying "I'd never throw a cheb in my Buick, but I might could live with a poncho..." A poncho powered Buick... now that'd be a horse of a different color
     
  2. speedtigger

    speedtigger 9 Second Club

    Pontiac? :rolleyes: Didn't they build those out of iron that failed the quality test for boat anchors?
    Here is some food for thought:
    http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=203915&highlight=kill+story
     
  3. bob k. mando

    bob k. mando Guest

    maybe if someone had asked Burek/Bradshaw such tough questions and dug a bit in the Bradshaw sandbox


    too be fair, i think Burek got more than a little burned in that deal as well. Bradshaw talks a big game and he loves to tinker with engines. but he's all "ideas" and no "business acumen".

    i stopped by his shop/production facility towards the end of that fiasco and ... was not impressed.
     
  4. BuickRacer69

    BuickRacer69 1320, Mark of the Beast

    Anything happening with this?
     
  5. td99

    td99 Well-Known Member

    it would be sweet

    Cody
     
  6. 455nglide

    455nglide Working On A Dream

    Nothing so far .... would have gone great with a ProCharger set up.

    Regards,

    455NGLIDE
     
  7. Doug Ray

    Doug Ray Well-Known Member

    I think this project sleeps with the fish.................:bglasses:
     
  8. TimR

    TimR Nutcase at large

    Too bad, the supply around here is drying up fast and people keep asking more and more for them. I just went through three to find a good one for my current buildup and my stash is looking pretty thin...
     
  9. dr

    dr Well-Known Member

    I wonder if Edelbrock would be interested in this?
     
  10. 455nglide

    455nglide Working On A Dream

    I wonder if Edelbrock would be interested in this?
    <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->__________________


    One would think that they have the resources & reputation to get this up and flying. I wonder who among us would buy one if they did.

    Regards,

    455NGLIDE
     
  11. dr

    dr Well-Known Member

    I would!
    Build a strong block that can support big numbers for a reasonable price that I can bolt "my stuff" onto.
     
  12. SEP455

    SEP455 Well-Known Member

    Whats involved and cost for developing an aluminum block?
     
  13. TimR

    TimR Nutcase at large

    We already have an aluminum block available, the issue is the price. A cast iron block would hopefully be much cheaper, most people I know can't drop 6k on a bare block (as much as I'd like an all aluminum 455).
     
  14. Head Turner

    Head Turner Well-Known Member

    Ok, here's my take on this deal. If we already have an aluminum block available, then there won't be enough people to support the manufacture of an iron block, just like Jim W. said. My opinion would be that you can make more power with an iron block, but it's kind of a moot point, at this stage. You guys making big power, already know this, but the ones that don't, listen. We've never jerked the main webs out of a stock block, but I'm sure it's been done. We grout the block, high, bottom and lifter bore girdles;then it's about the weight of a big block Chevy. On the Richard Mann car that I drove, we epoxied the lifter valley with an epoxy that had the same expansion/contraction specs as cast iron(before Mike had the girdle for the valley), and although we never had trouble with it, after it was sold to John Gentner, it failed. When that big roller cam, that you think you want, comes around and hits the right lifter bores, it gets interesting-hard on things. The cam in that engine was .710, with a big rocker ratio-865 HP. Warren Heaps has had the same problem, and I'm sure others have, also. So, with the T/A block, all this is beefed up, and lighter, like Rod said. Whatever the cost, I'm sure it's in line with an aftermarket Chevy block. That's all we have ,at present, and I think we should all appreciate the time and effort that T/A Mike has put into this deal. I'm not tooting his horn, but I'm glad he's there for us to have a semblance of decent products to buy. So, if you are going to make 800, or so horse power, consistently, put all that crap that I mentioned in/on your stock block, and you might get lucky. If not, you've got a time bomb. Or, you can buy a block that's already available. You tear up a fully machined, cast, race car block, and it's money down the drain. If you window an aluminum block, you might get to repair it. That's my two cents worth. I'm throwing in the towel on this one.
     
  15. TimR

    TimR Nutcase at large

    No point getting wound up about it, and JW is right, there probably aren't enough guys out there to make it worthwhile.

    But its not the power, its the price IMHO. At 1500.00, I would gladly buy a new iron block, nothing fancy, just a new part to work with with some basic updates although shipping a bare iron block would be pricey too. Probably not even making 450hp right now. The sources are drying up and it will only get worse, I just went through three blocks to find one good one (so three engines bought, transported, torn down, checked and tested to find one good one...ugh).

    The Chevy boys can buy a bare iron block for 1500.00: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-19170538/?rtype=10 Comparable aluminum blocks (old style HD, new style are as low as 1000.00) are about the same price as TA block and its amazing TA have come up with that part at that price and I sure hope it sells well, but as a working stiff there is no way I can justify 6K for a bare block. And I spend more on my cars then most amateur level hobby guys do.
     
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2010
  16. Head Turner

    Head Turner Well-Known Member

    Point taken. I was referring to the high end blocks, which I would consider T/A's. If you guys need blocks, I talked to a fellow up at the Nats that didn't live far away from Bowling Green, and he said he had 200 complete engines(455 and 430). Wrecking yard, or some such, I guess, and I think they were all running when pulled. Email David Paschall for more info. He knows the guys phone#. PM me, and if interested, I will divulge his sacred email address to you. Have a good one! Jim
     
  17. TimR

    TimR Nutcase at large


    Thanks, I'm ok for now and just try to keep my eye out for any local stuff as makes it much easier but not much out there anymore it seems. Would just be nice to have options. Perhaps one day we will see a cheap iron block, but I won't hold my breath...(and yeah, forgot this was the race 400-455 forum so a bit out of turn here but its an important thread/idea).
     
  18. Tom Righter

    Tom Righter Well-Known Member

    Just a question here, how many blocks would you have to sell before one would break even/or make small return.any ideas?
     
  19. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    You would need to also factor in over what period of time the seels occurred.
     
  20. td99

    td99 Well-Known Member

    world is and has made iron and aluminum 409 blocks. i wouldnt think there are that many people using those (i could be wrong) maybe they'd make a block or dart:Do No: worth a shot.

    Cody
     
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