buick head question for any turbo nutters
Discussion
IIRC the Buick head is very similar to the Rover head (since it was the Buick version that the Rover is based on) I think the combustion chamber may be slightly different at least in volume (i havent got my reference books here at work with me to check!)The Oldsmobile heads are more different and possibly better with larger ports and valves nearer the bore centre line (so ptentially more room for larger valves) they also have a 6 bolt stud pattern with they extra one being on the lifter gallery side of the deck (never present on Rover / Buick blocks). I am not sure if there are significant advantages to the Buick heads over decent Rover ones but i am sure the real experts will have a view on all this? 
PS all Rover / Buick / Olds engines are ALL alloy, so yes they will be aluminium!
PS all Rover / Buick / Olds engines are ALL alloy, so yes they will be aluminium!
Edited by tahiti450 on Tuesday 7th November 10:39
In the mean time, to quote Des Hammill "the Buick and early Rover (P6) heads are virtually the same". Just doing some more reading and it occurs to me - are you referring to Buick 300 heads (1964 only) as opposed the 215 cuin engine. The Buick 300 had an iron block and alloy heads. These heads have only 4 bolt fixing (like the later P38 Rover engines)and a large 54cc combustion chamber (36cc on tin gasket 5 bolt rovers and 28cc on later engines with 4 bolts and composite gaskets), and a much larger inlet valve at 41.2mm (exhaust remains at 33). As far as port quality they are better than the early heads but not a lot different to post 76 / SD1-on heads.
In the context of performance, the larger inlet valve on the Buick 300 head would be a significant gain providing the throat is a suitable shape and size, 3 angle seats etc, but if you are talking about forced induction the inlet side is less of an issue and there would be more emphasis on exhaust flow, so no gain there. It all very much depends on what heads you are starting with. I had no idea what the detail spec of my 450 (1999 P38 X-bolted) was before i stripped it, but found "ultra big valve heads" with inlet valves 43mm and exhausts 37mm, with opened up seats, flowed throats and 17mm clearance between the valve retainers and the guide seals but otherwise standard ports and chambers etc. they could just have easily been more or less standard spec range rover items i guess. I had been thinking of sourcing a pair of griff 500 heads but there was no need and i have just been doing port / guide work on my heads instead.
In the context of performance, the larger inlet valve on the Buick 300 head would be a significant gain providing the throat is a suitable shape and size, 3 angle seats etc, but if you are talking about forced induction the inlet side is less of an issue and there would be more emphasis on exhaust flow, so no gain there. It all very much depends on what heads you are starting with. I had no idea what the detail spec of my 450 (1999 P38 X-bolted) was before i stripped it, but found "ultra big valve heads" with inlet valves 43mm and exhausts 37mm, with opened up seats, flowed throats and 17mm clearance between the valve retainers and the guide seals but otherwise standard ports and chambers etc. they could just have easily been more or less standard spec range rover items i guess. I had been thinking of sourcing a pair of griff 500 heads but there was no need and i have just been doing port / guide work on my heads instead.
neal1980 said:
anyone else...calling BOOSTED!!!!
I've used the buick 1963/64 heads several times on a 5.0 engine that was blown. Head chambers are 54cc which drops the compression ratio down by a couple of clicks. They are a direct bolt on replacement but piss poor quality from a casting point of view. They have bigger inlet valves and smaller exhaust valves. Ports are much bigger and I have dimensions here somewhere. They were only alloy for the above years, rest of them were iron.
They come of junkyard cars and are often corroded at the rear water port as the engines lean back in the bay. You can get them form $100 to $400 a pair but expect to do some refurbishment. Imo, still a good way to lower c/r and a bolt on item
The ones with the truly massive ports are found on the 340 but they only come in iron!
Oh, it's quite normal to fit 37mm exhaust valves or you could go a tad bigger given your turbo needs
Boosted.
Edited by boosted Ls1 on Tuesday 7th November 19:57
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