Iron Head Stage 2 Ready to Dyno

Well after some painsaking time & frustration it is ready . I Have spent hours on this project & Saved a piece of history ... The Head in the picture ( driver side ) of the engine has been a Major pain !!! Welded & welded over and over !

595 HP @ 6300RPM

Some of you may have seen this at the 2009 BPG ...

1st generation protoype Buick Stage 2 Iron heads (freeze plugs on exhaust side
Original Kustom earily design 2 piece headers ( Not Shown )
Stage 2 pistons
455 service block
Buick Titianum original Intake Valves & stock replacement exhaust
Old 308s TA cam
All Kenne Bell accessories pulleys & valve covers
Old offenhouser intake
Old 660 Holley center squiter's carbs
A true Vertex-ronco NOS Magneto
Ta Timing cover
Ta 1.65 rockers
Ta 7 quart pan
.003 Mains bearing clearance
.0025 on rods 7-8 .003 clearance ( stock connecting rods )
All drilled & heavley modified-extensively oil passages balance line

I will be running this engine in the weeks to come

 

Wow, talk about a trip in the time machine! I can't imagine the trouble you had to go through to track the parts down over the years. Looking forward to updates.

Devon

 

That is too damned cool! Keep us updated.

 

Nick.

Are these the heads that have the push rod tubes through the intake runners? If so, it must have been a challenge mating the intake manifold.

Keep us informed of the progress.

 

Jim , These are the first estimated ten sets. These may have been hand out to super stock racers or maybe
Kenne Bell for R&D testing . Pre-over the counter Design . They utilize the stock intake runner . Not the tunnel port design .

 

Never did think the 455 was a nice looking engine. However, this one impresses me! Beautiful.......You went the extra mile to make this period correct and I love it. Can't wait to see the results.

 

WOW. That thing is absolutley gorgeous! Awesome piece!!

 

Cool project! Any mods to the intake devider? I ran that intake with twin afb 750's a long time ago with good results.

And I gotta ask...whats up with the primary header tube extensions?

 

I am thinking the the header extensions are so the dyno headers can be used. Because the freeze plug bosses that are only on the early stage 2 heads are in the way of the header flanges.

 

Wow, neat project. I didn't know there was such a thing as original titanium intake valves for the Buicks!

 

Guy I was going to cut it down , But I left it alone . I spent enough time just trying to get the ports lined with the heads ..... 1 in spacers under the carbs . The tube extentions are so the headers fit around the dyno . I am sure there is something to gain also.... Kustoms headers are hanging up on the wall

 

Nick
Great to see it finally completed.
I know it has been a frustrating journey for you:beer

 

Fantastic, thats the Buick Spirit!

 

Finally with the Help of Joe Cunningham @ Cunningham Competion we Dynoed the Stage 2 Iron head plug engine today. This is a first Design head from BUICK with vertical freeze plug bosses on the Exhaust & Standard intake runner

After a long afternoon of preperation & adjusting we made some pulls .:Brow:
So far , I do not have all the numbers at this time .. The engine within the first 4 pulls made 584-5 hp At 6300 & still climbing UP the rpm with power . Monday we have some minor adjustments to make . Hopefully after they are corrected , we may see some more HP .

Keep you posted !

Nick

 

Very nice numbers Nick ! It looks tuff just setting on the stand. Was it making power after 6300 or laying over ? what rpm is peak torque ?
Thanks
Bill

 

Bill ,

It was Still making power over 6000 & climbing at 6300 . Monday hopfully Change a couple of things & see what happenes

I need to dial in the Mag & re-adjust the plug gap. I had the gap too wide ... Also I would like to try the 1.70 rockers on the Intake valve ....

Hoping for 600 Hp @ 6500 will see ?

 

Nick what amp Mag is that you are using? We have used the 1.6 amp vertex and now have a 9 amp redone super mag. My new base accepts the 44 amp mag:Brow: .
Your project looks very good. I ,like many folks will be waiting to see the outcome:TU:

 

In 1974, my good friend Ed St. Angelo, owner of St. Angelo Buick in Barrington, RI ran the same engine combo in his '68 GS. The car appears in the 1974 Kenne-Bell catalog, but don't believe the E.T. that Bell listed. It never ran that time. He had the over-the-counter iron Stg. 2 heads, Stg. 2 pistons, stock rods, KB double gear oil pump (I still have a brand new one), same intake/carb setup but a Buick distributor. It had Kustom headers, switch pitch converter but not sure what cam he ran, possibly the Stg. 2 cam. Very cool retro setup! Good luck with it.

 

John, I am not sure ?? I will find out and post

Nick

---------- Post added at 04:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 PM ----------

Thanks Dennis !

It made 595 hp @ 6200

 

Nick,you're sure in the ballpark , Thumper ran 10.3's with iron stage2 unported heads ,stage2 pistons an KBmark 4 cam,B4B and 1000 TQ.,we made 580hp at 6300rpm.You'll make more with the better technology available today.
gary