Update from Dick Bradshaw (repost)

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by Jim Weise, Feb 8, 2006.

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  1. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Upon further reflection, I have removed the orginal thread that was here, and reposted just the first post, containing the information from Dick Bradshaw as to the status of the block.

    Conversations and posts subsiquent to this first post have been deemed to be not in the best interest of the community.

    This post is locked, it is for information only, feel free to start your own post or add to existing posts already on the board here, with questions or comments in regard to this matter.

    JW

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    I just received an email from Dick Bradshaw concerning this block issue. I had been asking some questions as to where we are and what is going on. While it may seem like people are getting blown off here, I can assure you that this is not the case.
    There is so much involved in this project that is beyond our and his control. Tie ups and delays with the foundry, delays with the machine shop, scheduling with the machine shop, just to name a few.
    Even though it may not look like it , much has happened over the past 2 or 3 weeks. His commitment is and always has been the same, he wants to make sure every detail is worked out before the end user gets a block. Delays in this sort of project are not at all uncommon. I am not aware of any of these types of projects that came in anywhere near close to on schedule, that's just the nature of the beast, does'nt matter who the manufacturer is or was.
    What follows is th response I got from Dick Bradshaw. Jim Burek



    Jim I hope this will answer some of the questions that you think I should address.



    First let me say that I dont go on line and read any chat boards, I just dont have time to play those games. Tried it once, will never do it again. We only sell through dealers, I feel it is their job to take care of that.



    We are not going out of business we are here for the long haul, that is what is being said by people who wish it were true.



    TA offering to finance this whole project is not true. When we were finishing the water jackets I called them to get dimensions for the extra bolts on the exhaust side of the their head so I could allow for them. Mike wanted to buy 25 blocks at a time, and have exclusive sales of them. Jim you, of all people, know what my answer was. The only way someone can get an exclusive is pay for all the tooling and engineering and manufacture it themselves. I then, will only do the tooling if I have no interest in ever doing that project myself. All you Oldsmobile guys who keep asking me the question (block), come up with $80,000 for the pattern equipment and $10,000 to $20,000 for fixtures, tooling and programming, wait 12 to 18 months and start raking in the money. I have a TA Catalog that was released spring 2001 stating Stage I heads would be available summer/fall 2001, it 's my understanding that that didnt happen until late 2002 or early 2003. How long did it take to do the V-6 block? I have heard from 2 to 4 years. Where is Edelbrock's new Buick head that was supposed to be ready by now, this stuff always takes more time than we plan. TA has told our dealers they shouldnt sell our heads, as the market is not big enough for two and nobody will make any money. Competition will only help the consumer and make the products better. I believe TA puts out a quality product at a fair price, but if I didnt think we could do better in some areas we wouldnt have done it. TAs front cover is as nice of piece as I have seen. I have nothing against TA, I just believe there is enough business for both.





    Things to think about;



    In my talks with A Buick person the past few weeks he said he wanted to run a heads up class and needed to make 1100hp and there were not enough new products being developed for Buick to do that. In my new copy of National Dragster I see a Shafiroff ad and I see a 598ci, 1145hp engine for $20,500+$875 for the Jessel Belt Drive add $3500-$5,000 because you have a Buick. The head on that motor flows 540 cfm @ .900 lift. I know Chrysler people who build 1100hp motor with less head. Also in the ad is a BBC Head 442 cfm 2.300 intake for $3195. We are in the process of making a new head we HOPE to have at Norwalk .Two more Buick people have seen the mock-up and they have asked for the first two sets. They have raised intake runner, Stage II exhaust runner, 2.300 intake with room for up to 2.500, 1.880 exhaust and these valves are long. They will have two extra bolts per cylinder and will only use a Jessel or T&D type rockers. Out of the box 410-420 cfm, cnc ported 450+ cfm. We hope to have new manifolds, 4bbl and tunnel ram by the fall. We are also working on belt drive systems for both the stock and raised cam. We hope to have some forged cranks, camshafts and a few other options coming soon.





    I do think it is very impressive the way certain individuals in the Buick Community have stepped up to get this block done. Many people with other makes have approached me to build a block, but none with the unified effort put forth by these individuals who put their money where mouth is. I greatly appreciate their patience and feel this project has become a true team effort. To show our thanks to the people who now have blocks on order we are going to offer a discount good any time in the future on the one time purchase of the following;



    Street Dog / Stage I $150.00

    Track Dog / Stage II $250.00

    Any CNC port job $100.00

    4BBL Manifold $ 75.00

    Tunnel Ram Manifold $125.00



    I hope Bulldog products go on Bulldog Blocks.



    Jim I hope this addresses some of the things we talked about.





    Thanks, Dick
     
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