We read about all the carnage with the buick v6 motors in the quest for fast times. Everytime there is a buick meet we read about all the damage. Lets hear from the buck owners that have had a lot of success with their buicks. How many runs have you made in your turbo buick before you did major damage to your motor? Include 12 second runs or quicker please.
how many quick runs before breakage?
- Thread starter rtviper
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Guess I'm one of the lucky ones being 16 and all. Got a long road ahead of me with it though so something is bound to happen launching at 12-14lbs each time on a stock rear end. Only thing that's ever happened was we blew the front seal out of the transmission two times and broke a rocker shaft, other then that, it's been a solid performer on the race track running mid 7's in the 1/8 mile and 12.0's - 11.9's in the 1/4 mile. 
I suppose I've been rather lucky so far myself with no real engine damage and the only major problem I had was my torque converter went south last year cutting my season short. I've been running the car for 4 years now, in 2002 I made 50 passes best 11.46 @ 117.58, 2003 I made 93 passes best 10.69 @ 125.80, 2004 I made 73 passes best 11.20 @ 120.17, and so far this year I've got 137 passes best 11.25 @ 118.66. 2003 was the only year I ran racegas, every other year just straight 93 octane, but hope to try for a new best this year after the points season ends, hopefully it stays together.
HTH,
Steve
HTH,
Steve
Around 100 passes in the 12's and maybe 2 dozen in the mid 11's. I pushed out a head gasket about a month ago. (My fault - I was running only 100 UL, boost shot to 26# and my 100 chip is not set up to fuel more than 22# or so) It blew into the valley so no motor damage. From now on it's race gas only at the track - I can buy a lot of race gas for the price of replacing a head gasket.
Night Train
Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2002
- Messages
- 329
Spun a bearing on my stock motor a few years ago for the first time (97K miles). After the rebuild made lots of passes before lifting a head at BPG last year. Since then and after Cometics, no problem and lots of passes. Best of 11.5@120.
EightSecV6
MDBL
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2001
- Messages
- 2,514
The engine in my race car has over 70 passes on it and it has been in the car for 4 seasons counting this year. I have had the valve covers off 2 times for lash adjustment and that is all! The car seemed to develop a water leak on one of the head gaskets this past weekend but they are copper and it is to be expected.At least 20 of those passes have been 7.99 and quicker (1/4 mile). Tuning accounts for probably 80% of the failures such as cracked heads,blown gaskets or burned pistons,not meaning improperly tuned just set close to the edge or really pushing it.
I had about 70-80 passes from 11.9 to 11.4 on the original motor over 2 years...runs were between 24-28PSI boost...only problem I had was a broken rocker shaft...original shaft...end broke off...didn't cause any other damage...I always ran 116 VP race gas...engine went on the stand still running great to make room for the new motor...by the way the original motor has 150K miles on it...I agree with Bill...it's almost all in the tune...running on the ragged edge will cause breakage sooner than later...of course the way the motor is built comes into play also...
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2001
- Messages
- 11,267
I used to keep track of every single pass in my car, i lost count about 3 years ago, i got lazy with my folder/binder with all my passes in it. I have over 200 passes at the track with that car.
My daily driver has been best of 11.19 at 119.5 with the heads and intake never off... this was 18° of timing and 30 psi of boost with a te44, D5 convertor and car weighs 3500 without driver on a 1.58, only had airbags and snubber.
The ONLY part that i broke on that car was the transmission, i did a trans shift kit from PMAC and didnt get the tv boost valve c-clip seated.. woops, that cost me 2500.00 all said and done.
Now the car is turned back to stock, heads still never off and put down 365HP/556TQ with meth and stock turbo,IC, injectors and 106° of heat.
Runs 12.6 on real radial daily driver tires.
I would purchase a set of MT et streets, but i drive 250 miles per week, dont think they would last too long!
Once the motor blows a gasket, or the timing chain gets too loose, im sticking another long block in this car and saving the original motor for the next 20 years.
Wished i hadnt spent all that money on the original tranny, should have used another core and had it built.
BW
My daily driver has been best of 11.19 at 119.5 with the heads and intake never off... this was 18° of timing and 30 psi of boost with a te44, D5 convertor and car weighs 3500 without driver on a 1.58, only had airbags and snubber.
The ONLY part that i broke on that car was the transmission, i did a trans shift kit from PMAC and didnt get the tv boost valve c-clip seated.. woops, that cost me 2500.00 all said and done.
Now the car is turned back to stock, heads still never off and put down 365HP/556TQ with meth and stock turbo,IC, injectors and 106° of heat.
Runs 12.6 on real radial daily driver tires.
I would purchase a set of MT et streets, but i drive 250 miles per week, dont think they would last too long!
Once the motor blows a gasket, or the timing chain gets too loose, im sticking another long block in this car and saving the original motor for the next 20 years.
Wished i hadnt spent all that money on the original tranny, should have used another core and had it built.
BW
