Welcome!!! If you'd like to listen to some new original Seattle based rock reminiscent of Guns n Roses with maybe a little Alice in Chains and perhaps a touch of Mother Love Bone influence thrown in... click the play button. I've been working with these guys for the last year or so and I feel they are poised to hit the national scene. Ladies and Gentlemen... "Klover Jane!"

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 used American Racing Outlaw 1's and went with 275/60x15's on 15x8's on the rear and the 15x6's up front came with 235/60x15's already mounted. I had to change them out to 205/60x15'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.comfor 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.

(note - On 01-12-10 the NorthWest contingent of Team Chevelle created thier own site called TCNWRacing.com as of 04-11-10 we have over 105 members!!!)

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 so 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. I need to stabilize my bottle pressure.

My friend Mike Parker "66SSFan" on Team Chevelle and www.TCNWRacing.com has spent many years as crew member and even Crew Chief on National Modified and Unlimited Hydroplane teams. When I mentioned "Doc" of Berg Racing thought that a solid lifter cam would really wake up my motor, Mike said, "Really. I have a cam and lifter set that you can have... for free!" He gave me a test cam that was in Mike Webster's National Modified Season Champion hydroplane that he had sitting on a shelf in his shop. Pretty cool, huh?) It's 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.

This cam hits hard about 4,000rpm and winds hard to 7,600.(well past 8,000 on nitrous but more on that later).

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!

 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.

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!

12-04-09 Picked up my rebuilt and upgraded TH350 from Jim Alex, a local highly respected builder of GM race transmissions. He installed a 36 element sprag among other hi performance goodies for a very reasonable fee. Thanks Jim!!!

01-12-10 www.TCNWRacing.com is formed!

01-25-10 I placed my order for a 9.5" 4200 stall converter from Mike Ridings, Owner/Operator of Vortex Converters and Ridings Automatics in Michigan. He said it will ship tomorrow and should be on my porch in about a week.

Now I just need to order my driveshaft and things can start to go back together.

02-21-10 Today my Buick got a little love from the Seattle Times!

http://blog.marketplace.nwsource.com/nwautos/2010/02/his_1966_buick_special_is_both_a_racer_and_a_way_to_teach_his_sons_about_cars.html

 04-11-10 Still waiting on the torque converter after several delays on the builders end.

 05-20-10 Picked up a new 1350 pinion yoke to replace the 1310 style that broke an ear when the driveshaft/trans went, and several feet of stainless braided hose to use for the trans lines.

Now I just need to scrape up the $400 for a new driveshaft.

7-26-10 Took a week off of work and decided it was time to get the Special back on the road. After installing the transmission laying on my back in the driveway for the 6th time in a week in record 100 degree temperatures with assistance from my oldest son Trevor and my dad, I decided that repeating the same steps over and over again wasn't going to accomplish anything different. The facts of the matter were that the converter clearances weren't right, and no amount of spinning it, cussing at it, or glaring at it was going to change that. Even adding a .100 midplate donated by TCNW member Martin Lambert didn't give the clearance I needed at the flexplate. Mike Ridings the builder of the converter basically said that if the converter measured 6 1/8" overall that it was correct. Frustrated, I pushed the car into the garage on 8-16-10 and there it sat until...

4-09-11 My friend Mike Parker shows up with a trailer and we load the Buick onboard and take it to his house. Mike has a great shop with two hoists a center post and a two post. We tear the trans back out and I'm somewhat relieved when Mike tries installing the converter and runs into the same problem I did. At least it wasn't "me" there is actually an issue with the converter. A couple of days later Mike took the trans and converter to a transmission guy he knows. He verifies that the converter isn't right.

4-26-11 I took the converter to Cascade Torque Converter in Smokey Point, Wa. and Mike Schwartz cut it open and noticed immediately that Ridings had over-machined the bearing surface on the rear housing causing the turbine splines to hit the shoulder of the input shaft before fully engaging the pump. This contact is what was also keeping the converter from going on far enough to give proper clearance at the flexplate. One week and $125 later the converter is corrected and ready for install.

5-15-11 Our schedule finally aligned and Mike and I got the transmission back under the car. Started it up and had a couple of minor non-related gliches (electrical short/fuel drip). No road test today.

5-20-11 Fuel leaks are fixed, electrical issues too. Test drive to the gas station results in smoke from the front drivers brake/hub. We get it to Mike's and find that the wheel bearing is shot. We decide that both front wheel bearings should be replaced. Parts are picked up at NAPA but they are short a bearing and seal.

5-21-11 My buddy Mike Steele and my son Trevor accompanied me to Mike Parkers. We picked up the parts we needed on the way. Mike made quick work of the wheel bearing brake adjustments and it was time for a test drive. Everything went well, and the first burnout of the year was blazed! She ran great on the hour and a half drive home. I still need to save up for a nitrous ready driveshaft before I can find out how much this new converter and trans will help lower my E.T.'s. A HUGE thank you to Mike Parker. Without his offer of help the Special would undoubtedly still be sitting in my garage. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

12-04-11 Not much new to report. Money was extremelty tight this summer so no further improvements were made. I did get to drive the Special every week or so around town. Although she sits in an attached garage I decided to add anti-freeze to the cooling system just in case. I also dumped in a bottle of Sta-bil and a bottle of Kemco 130 into the gas tank before filling her up with Super when I put her away for what will possibly be the rest of the winter. Not having functioning wipers and having a leaking rear window seal keep her parked during the wet season.

05-18-12 - For my birthday in March my Dad funded my new driveshaft. Due to work and weather I didn't order it until a couple of weeks ago. I was finally able to pick it up from Drivelines NW today. It's a 3.5" dia.steel shaft with heavy duty non zirc style 1350 u-joints. I told them it had to handle 550hp at the motor (on nitrous) and 8,000 rpm. They assured me that it would take the abuse.

 Also tried out the new skinnies on Centerline wheels I picked up a couple of months ago from a TCNW member for $160. I think they look pretty sweet!

***Check back for improvements to braking (front disc brake conversion parts are waiting to go on that I pilfered a while back from a GMC Sprint that was heading to scrap). Also, I'm hoping this year to be running 12.3's NA and 11.4's on the 125 shot.***

Here's a cool music video by the band "Crank" It's called "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" from thier CD "Torque Theory." I've been in contact with thier lead singer John Piotrowski for the last couple of years. He was gracious enough to send me a few copies of Torque Theory awhile back which I immediately distributed to a few of my friends in TCNWRacing.




There is a new car movie "Clutch" The Movie scheduled to be released in 2112. It's written, directed and stars Jay Rowland a local actor that I've been in contact with for the last few years. Jay had a dream of creating an action film based around racing, it's been a long time in the works but now it's finally completed. 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

Jay recently shared with me that my suggestion that he talk to John about using Crank's "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" in the "Clutch" soundtrack has paid off. The song will definitely be in the movie soundtrack! It feels awesome to have played a part in getting an awesome song onto a very cool movie project.

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