I've seen a couple of GS STG1 and GSX cars with Stage 111 emblems on them. Anybody got one or does anybody know if they are real?
STAGE3 I didn't know that. The cars that I have seen. Was a white GSX and a Aqua marine GS. The GSX was at the GS national's in 1988-89. The man who owned the car had order it late in70. Of course he was mocked. I was septical two, until i was in Post Office class for mechinc's. A teacher ask me out of the blue about Stage 3 cars. He said he had rode in one. Had him find out were it was. The next time I was there , he had found out that it had totaled and was a junk yard in Fort Smith. His cousin had some pictures of it.Iwas aqua with a white painted top.
The BPG also owns a Stage III block correct? I guess anything can happen, but I'd be very doubtful. If I had a dollar for all of the times I have heard "stage 3" and "stage 4" buick stories back from the day, I'd be a rich man. And most of the time I don't have the heart to break it to them. ou:
TA Performance sells 'Stage 3 or Stage 4' 455 alum. heads....that's pretty much the extent of what might be referred to as a 'stage 3' or 'stage 4' engine.
Read about the StageIII experimental 4 bolt main block here: http://www.buickstreet.com/455buickstage3.html
Stage111 I guess the people who know about this Buick offering won"t tell these "new guys whom should have got a dollar" that Buick did offer it as dealer installed option. The stage 2 heads were to difficult to cast so Buick and Jim Bell had replacement heads sent off to be ported and flowed tested. I think the company was BPE . The thing is I seen two of them and I know it was offered. How many cars are out there? As far as the Stage 111 block , It was called the pro stock block when I was growing up. I think the Judd"s raced the car.
Maybe this thread should be moved to The Paper Trail or Street/Strip? I sure don't know the history, but others will! Greatscat would have some idea, along with a few others. I would like to know.:Smarty:
Stage 3 In the mid 70's Kenne-Bell offered a "Stage 3 "cylinder heads that on paper flowed close to the original Stage 2 heads. Well I've had both and the KB heads were just S1 heads with a port and polish setup.At the time they ran much better than the stock heads and required no special headers as the S2 heads. BUT,the S2 heads still out performed using the same cam,headers etc. As we know now with the new aluminum S1 heads,things can be improved upon.
To be or not to be STAGE III? Well, I know it will come up, and since I am close to post #455 (perfect topic for post 455) I'll comment on the "STAGE III" name on the club's Experimental 4 bolt main block for those who are new to the board. The racer who was the original recipient of the 4 bolt block received it complete and ready to run complete down to the oil in the pan in the 1970's (blocks cast date is 1970 also). The Buick gentlemen who delivered it called it the Stage III engine because it had, and I quote "Stage III heads,Stage III cam,higher compression Stage III pistons, a Gilmore style oiling system, a sheetmetal intake, and of course the 4 bolt main block". Because of what the Buick employees, and the drag racer who owned it till I purchased it in the 80's called it I have honored the "Stage III" title although Mr. Dennis Manner identified it as the "Experimental 4 bolt block" in about 2001. Which ever you chose though:beer
AAAAAkkk! 454 post?ou: Ok, need one more cool thing Hmmmmmmmmmmmm................. Ok, I found the 4 speed car again, that is good enough for post number 455!:"Only" a Stage 1 though .:Brow:
John, is this the one that was burried in the tires and the turkey wanted 11k or something like that for it? Please tell me he moved the car and is cleaning up the area around it a little now...
Same one baybeeeee. It has been moved to another city but ya gotta try harder than that to throw ole Fritz off the trail!:Brow: Ok, gotta go to the barn and lend a friend in need some tools. Check back later
Moved to another city? Does this mean it is going to get freshened up and restored? Or does this mean they found a new resting place for it? :blast:
STAGE3 oK SO DENNIS MANNER NAMED THE STAGE 3 BLOCK AND YOU HAVE APEICE OF BUICK HISTORY . I HONOR THAT, BUT WHO IS GOING TO GIVE YOU OR JIM BELL. HE HAD OR HAS THE TUNNEL PORT HEADS THAT GO TO YOUR BLOCK. BUT BUICK AND KENNE-BELL OFFERED A STAGE3 PACKAGE OVER THE COUNTER. BECAUSE THE STAGE2 HEADS WERE TO HARD TO CAST. DID THE STAGE 2 HEADS WORK BETTER HELLYA!!!!!!.
Chris, New resting spot.I just sold my 69 Hurst though so I may be helping one of our board members secure it through a possible trade for the X though:Brow: Got to find out if it is for sale first (70 GSX Stage 1 4 speed car) 2 years ago he wanted the 11k so whether it is actually worth it or not he probably will want more Haven't given up yet though
STAGE3 OK I GIVE. THE X-BLOCK IS IN YOUR HANDS AND NOT IN SOMEBODY'S STASH PILE.:TU: THE HEADS ARE IN JIM BELL'S STASH PILE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE WHOLE ENGINE PUTBACK TOGETHER .:beer . KNOW AS FOR WHAT WAS ASKING ABOUT. I QUESS THERE WAS A DEALERSHIP IN THE OKLAHOMA AREA THAT DID AND BUT THIS ON SOME OF THEIR CARS.:bglasses: I AM NOT TRIING TO START ANYTHING. I'VE BEEN INTO GS CARS SENSE MY OLDEST BROTHER BROUGHT HOME A GREEN 69 STAGE 1. I WAS 10 THEN AND I'M 44. SORRY FOR THE QUESTION.
Hey Leo455, Everything is cool :beer maybe I just misunderstood your response. By the way,the block doesn't belong to me anymore, so I wasn't trying to brag on it or anything, just trying to supply some info for you on your original Stage III question. No biggie, sorry if I was a little short fused, my bad P.S. I'd like to see that thing put back together too :TU:
Leo, the block now belongs to the BPG thanks to a generous donation, and it has been restored as much as a block can be. It is slated to go to the Sloan Museum at some point. I think that Mr. Dennis Manner is the only guy that could confirm what went out the back door at Buick. He did tell some folks last year that the 4-bolt block was done by the engineering dept during their lunch hours and on their own time. He would have surely been involved in anything else of that nature that went out. As for the special heads and things that went out with the 4-bolt block, if Jim Bell has them then he is the only one that can decide that the engine go back together. The whole engine in the Sloan Museum would be a great thing for Buick fans. I think that I had read someplace that the Kenne-Bell stage 3's were the result of them buying the stage 2 casting molds from Buick and intending to cast the stage 2 heads. When the project didn't work out they filled the orders with the ported stage-1 heads labeled as "stage-3" heads. This time Jim Bell is probably the only one that can confirm the circumstances. In any case, it doesn't appear that Dennis Manner or Buick engineering ever had anything to do with a "stage 3." Not to say that some dealership with/without Kenne-Bell cooperation didn't create their own Stage-3 package.
KB S3 I remember KB advertising their Stage 3 heads as the best flowing Buick heads available(at the time) In fact I believe I have stashed somewhere the comparison to the Stage 2 heads as part of their original sales promo.Dave Benisek was involved at the time if memory serves. Yes they tried to make the S2 heads from the original molds but alais came up with the same problems Buick had.I still think they have the molds.
