Current and "Before" pic's of my '66 Buick Special

We recently participated (although briefly) in "Pink's All Out" at Pacific Raceway in Kent, Wa. 8/14-15/09.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's the story of my Buick Project...

     

I bought my Buick in Feb 2006 for $700. It had a stock '74 Chevy 350/TH350 4bbl 4 bolt main with HEI swapped into it prior to my buying it. The seller was also kind enough to include a new battery, single pot master cylinder, and 2" dual exhaust...

$700 Buick Special. Not much to look at, but it does run and drive!

I bought a set of American Racing Outlaw 1's and went with 275x60x15's on 15x8's on the rear and the used 15x6's up front came with 235x60x15's already mounted. I hope to change them out to 205x60x15's due to minor clearance issues.

After much sanding, wheels, tires, and yes... air shocks!

'74 Chevy 350 4bbl/4 bolt main all stock except for air cleaner

After installing the wheels and tires I decided it was time to start gathering the pieces to warm up the stock small block.


I'd like to thank everyone at Team Chevelle - TeamChevelle.com for their patience, guidance, knowledge, and humor! Without them this project would have been waaaayyyy more challenging, frustrating, and not nearly as much fun! They treated this "Chevy-powered Buick" owner with the all the respect they'd give a true Chevelle owner. The couple of dollars spent on my yearly membership dues was the best money spent on my project! If you have a Chevelle, YOU should be on this site! If you simply have a Chevy V8 question these are your guys!!!THANKS AGAIN TC!!!

So far I've picked up a Holley 750 vacuum secondary, a Holley dual plane Street Dominator intake, a Lunati Voodoo #60103 cam (intake .489/268 - exhaust .504/276), a set of Crane Energizer aluminum roller rockers and Crane push rods, a pair of 1.94/1.50 heads to replace the stock 1.72 heads that are on it (Thanks George!), 1 5/8" ceramic headers, 2 1/2" Magnaflows.

Now THAT looks better! Trust me, it sounds and drives better too!

Here's a video of the motor running with the upgrades listed above.



I found a pair of black leather Recaro buckets with inflatable bolsters and heat, and a 1995 Mercedes E320 rear bench in black leather also. As you can see in the pics the MB seat matches the Recaro's pretty closely!

Stock upholstery in need of help.

Should I use the Mercedes rear seat or the stock Buick one...

Mercedes, definitely! Black leather bench with folding arm rest.

Recaro black leather buckets, soooo much better than stock!

Now I get to do some minor body work, some more interior work, some suspension rebuilding, not to mention a real paint job!

$30 worth of flat black paint and a great backdrop!

Mock up of my '66 GTO hood section that will soon call my Buick home.

8-17-07 A bunch of friends from Team Chevelle met up at Bremerton Raceway. Here is a pic of our pit area. I can't wait to do it again!

Me sitting in the staging lanes waiting to make another pass.

Between 11/07 and 3/08 I decided to completely go through the motor. I had "assumed" (I know, I know) the short block was fairly fresh when I pulled the heads and found it bored .030 and not much cylinder wear and an even 150-155lbs of compression.. Unfortunately when I finally installed an oil pressure gauge I found I had only 5 pounds of oil pressure at idle. Well, since it has to be torn down completely to replace the bearings.... I figured a few more go-fast parts were in order...


After Darryl at Berg Racing cleaned up the block and pin-fit my new Scat 4340 forged rods to my new Speed Pro 2490F forged pistons, I had Auto Truck Service polish my 1182 forged crank. This assembly gives me 10.76:1 comp with my newly added GM Bowtie Phase II heads. They are 2.02/1.60 heads with 60cc chambers and 184cc runners. Darryl had previously shaved, pocket ported, and inside radius worked them for his circle track car.

I also decided to bump up one cam size in the Lunati Voodoo line to a 60104 (advertised duration 276/284, 233/241@.050,.504/.525 lift).

I then sold my Holley 300-36 intake and 3310 750 vacuum secondary carb and bought an Edelbrock Performer RPM AirGap intake and a Holley 4779 750 Double Pumper.

That might have been enough but... it wasn't. I found a deal on a NOS Powershot 125 system and now have a 125 nitrous system on board!

********************Here's the video of the new motor!********************





With the new motor I just HAD to get a new torque converter too, so I picked up a Jegs 10" 2700-3000 stall. This converter flashes to 3500rpm behind my motor.


I also grabbed a 12 bolt housing and some 3.90 gears. Darryl had a posi unit he was willing to part with then did an awesome job of setting it up for me completely, including forged Mark Williams carrier caps.

When I got the rear end back I installed it with SSM/Lakewood lift bars in place of the lower control arms, and DM Products adjustable upper control arms. Hopefully combined with my Airlift 1000 airbags I'll be able to get this new power to the ground.


Some pics of my car winning the Burnout Competition portion of the 1st Annual Team Chevelle NorthWest Dyno and Burnout Competition.

FIRE!!! After Darryl's long 4:00 burnout I was next... somehow about 1:30 into my attempt I caught his previously burnt rubber on fire. It got hot enough that it burnt both of my airbag lines under the car, and left soot all over my bumper and fenders. Let me tell you, it WAS exciting!

 

Here is an awesome video put together by Jim_D of TCNW first Annual Dyno and Burnoff Contest!

**************************Click here for burning rubber!!! ******************************

08-22-2008 The biggest Team Chevelle NW turnout yet for a "Test & Tune" at Bremerton Raceway.

An awesome day of racing and wrenching with some of the best guys you'd ever want to meet.

Here I am next to Mike (Loader1) getting ready to heat up the Hoosier Drag Radials.

 My favorite race of the night was against Mike's beautiful '67 Chevelle. Here's the launch. I managed to lead him to the 1/8th mile but he reeled me in the second half and won 12.50 to my 12.71. (Next time Mike, next time. :) )

My best run of the day was on a 125 shot from the launch through the top of 2nd gear. A lack of fuel pressure caused me to complete the second half of the run off the nitrous button. I still managed a 12.35 @ 104.9mph.

 

I made it to the track one last time for 2008 on Oct. 19th at Pacific Raceway and the "Special" really stepped up. I had recently upgraded from the factory 5/16 fuel line to a RobbMC 1/2" sending unit and 8AN stainless braided hose to the fuel pump. More fuel was definitely what the motor wanted.

My first pass was on motor. I had some traction issues but still pulled down a 12.79@104. My second pass 2hrs later was on a 125 nitrous shot. Due to not having a bottle warmer and the cool temperature I could only get about 700lbs of bottle pressure. I made a clean pass... and was rewarded with an 11.98@111 time slip. I experimented with different timing advance and ended the day with an 11.97@111. What an awesome way to end the season! Here's the video of the 11.98 run...

 

A couple of weeks after running my 11.97 I bought an adjustable pressure controlled bottle warmer, and Mike "66SSFan" on Team Chevelle gave me a super low mile (actually low hours - it came out of a hydroplane motor) Comp Cams custom ground solid flat tappet cam and lifters. Specs are 550/547 lift, 256/262 @ .050, and 285/300 Advertised duration, on a 106 LSA. All I need to do is pick up some one piece push rods, a gasket set, and then get to wrenching. Thanks again Mike!

                                     I can't wait for next season!!!

 

Spring 2009

3-26-09 Registered online for "Pink's All Out" at Pacific Raceway on August 14, 15 2009. Pacific called the next day and confirmed my registration. At least 7 of my friends in Team Chevelle NW made it through registration and will be a part of the 464 cars competing for the chance to be in the 16 car field. Hopefully one of us will be lucky enough to make it into the final elimination.

4-06-09 Started on "Project Solid Cam Upgrade" I'm also adding a DB Electrical gear reduction starter and installing the pressure controlled bottle heater I bought last fall.

 4-18-09 Fired off the motor with the new cam. As previously mentioned it's a custom 550/547 lift, 256/262 @ .050, and 285/300 Advertised duration, on a 106 LSA.

I also swapped from .039 to .028 head gaskets and now have static compression of 11:1.This tightened my quench to .044 instead of the .055 I had previously. Because of the increased duration of this bigger cam, I can now safely run on 92 octane pump premium.

Here it is right after break-in.

 http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t227/66buickspecial/?action=view&current=boatcamlope.flv

Did I mention this cam hits hard about 4,000rpm and winds hard to 7,600? Well, it does!!!

I still have to install and wire the bottle heater before the 4-24-09 Test-n-Tune.

 On 5-08-09 I made it too the track. Unfortunately I was only able to get 3 passes in before they shut down the track. Fighting some traction issues I ran a best of 12.70@106mph on motor. This is still a pick up of 2mph from my previous best on motor. I'm sure there is more to be had with a better prepped track and fine tuning my shift points. I was experimenting with 7200-7600rpm shifts.

I had my bottle heater fired up and the bottle sitting at 950psi but didn't get a chance to run it due to time constraints.

05-30-09 I installed a pair of Santhuff 225lbs front springs, dialed the Summit front shocks to 90/10 (previously they were at 70/30), and installed a pair of Lakewood 50/50 rear shocks I scored for $14 on ebay!

06-06-09 I took the Buick to the All Chevy Drags. I was allowed to compete because of having a Chevy motor.  I'm once again having fueling issues now that the motor hp has increased and the bottle pressure is up where it should be. I had to finish both nitrous passes off the button and was still rewarded with an 11.97@108mph and an 11.74@111mph (a new best).

I also ran my best 60' times with a 1.61 and a 1.60. A couple of the guys I was with said I'm getting daylight under at least the drivers side tire at launch. I'm hoping when I get the fuel pump upgraded from the Holley 130 to the Carter 172 she should have an 11.60 or so in her.

I decided not to abuse the motor further with the lean condition on nitrous and dialed in at 12.70 which is what she ran on 5-08-09. Not very scientific but I went with it. 

In the 1st round of eliminations I ran a 12.708@106.4 for the win. My second race I cut a .002 light against a past track champion and current points leader. He broke out trying to run me down. My third race was a bye and put me in the semi-finals. I was a bit wound up and wanted another great light... I thought I had it nailed but red lighted by .004. Not only did I red light, but the Buick liked the cooler air and responded with a 12.58@107mph for a new best on motor. All in all a very rewarding day at the track.

7-10-09 Back to the track for a Test & Tune evening. The track wasn't prepped well, and the DA was not what we're used too. The car still managed a best ever 11.72@115.01mph.

 

8-14/15-09 I made it to "Pink's All Out" at Pacific Raceway in Kent, Wa. Eight of my friends also made it into the event. Everything was went smoothly as I breezed through tech and the trackside registration process. Here's how the story goes...

It was finally my turn to make a pass. The car is running great. We do a our burnout through 1st and 2nd.... I roll up to the line and stage... the Pro Tree lights 3 yellows and I'm gone!

My right foot is to the floor and at the same time my nitrous button is pushed... the car jumps off the line...

Both tires are in the air for the first time! The front end settles back down and the motor is winding tight... check the tach... it's not heading toward 7,600, it's already pegged at 8,000rpm!

Hit 2nd, it starts to pull and then... it's like I'm in nuetral... the motor freewinds, I let off the button, lift slightly off the gas... she's still at 8,000... there's a "bang" in the rear off the car... I lift completely and steer out of the groove trying to save the track from possible fluids. I glance in my mirror in time to see a piece of U-joint fly out from under the car.

I coast across the line still turning a 13.08. The driveshaft loop does it's job and the shaft never hits the ground... that is until after the track crew are towing me to the return road, then the driveshaft slips out from under the car.

I notice the transmission is starting to leak pretty good. The track crew member says it's because the yokes no longer in the transmission. I look under the car and see a 1/4" wide crack starting at the inspection plate and heading to the rear... she's toast.

So, that was the extent of my participation in "Pink's All Out" after months of waiting. I have to say that everyone involved with the event was top notch. They were professional and courteous and got the job done.

I came back to watch Day 2 with my family and friends. It was very entertaining. None of my friends made the final show, some were too fast, a couple too slow for the field that was chosen...but they did turn some good times (including some new bests), and every one of them said they'd do it again.

What's next? Well, the transmission that broke was in the car when I bought it. I beat on it hard for a couple of years including 35-40 passes down the track, and many of those on nitrous. It was only a matter of time before she blew.

I think a couple upgrades are going to be necessary. A bulletproof TH350, a 9.5" 4500 stall, and a custom (slightly shorter) larger diameter driveshaft will find thier way under the car when I can rack up some more overtime.

 10-12-09 I pulled the TH350 out from under the car finally... the "crack" was worse than I expected. The transmision came out in two pieces!

This is the crack I saw at the track from peeking under the passenger side.

 I hadn't checked the drivers side yet... see anything missing? I talked to my friend Chris, and he said he remembers seeing something larger than my u-joint fly out from under the car... I'm glad it went out instead of up. I may be adding a blanket or Ultra Bell when the new trans goes in.

Once the bolts were removed from the block and the crossmember, this is how the trans came out of the car.

When I break something, I break it good!

Thanks for reading!  Stay tuned!

 

 

Here's a cool music video by the band "Crank" It's called "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" from thier CD Torque Theory.






There is a new car movie "Clutch" The Movie scheduled to be released the summer of 2009. It's written, directed and stars Jay Rowland a local actor that I've been in contact with for the last couple of years. Jay had a dream of creating an action film based around racing, it's been a long time in the works but it's almost finished. It's shot exclusively in the Pacific NorthWest and has racing footage from Pacific Raceway's road course. Click on the link below!!!


                                             View the Clutch Promo Trailer

****See page #2 for notes and the progress of the project in chronological order. Thanks again to everyone thats helped me in any way with this build.****