Buick 300 heads AGAIN!!!!!

Fozwanger · Post by **Fozwanger** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 9:43 pm

I bought a pair of 64 Buick 300 heads off Neal1980 and I'm planning on using them in my TT Moggy.
In the car at the moment is a stock 4.0L TVR HC motor with the twin turbo's, intercooler and a few other goodies.
Will I need to do anything to fit these heads?
I'll be running 8 - 10 psi boost, do the ex valves need increasing in diametr and will I need to fit dual springs and shorten the guides?

Jeff

chodjinn · Post by **chodjinn** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:33 am

The valves on Buick 300 heads are already huge, that's why people use the. They have large cc capacity as well which is good for you TT application. I would probably replace the guides and get some double valve springs as a minimum. Port them a bit while they are off as well, ARP head bolts are a must. I think you'd get away with copper gaskets rather than composites as well but other people know more about these than me.

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 11:35 am

Hi
I would just do a basic overhaul, 3 angle valve jobbie, re lap the valves a new set of springs (unless you know they are new and have not been sat on the last engine they were on for a long period) check the guides for slop and renew and clean off any casting flash and transition to seat inserts as you need to, I would not work them any more. If you have to have the guides out then bullet them, but I wouldn't bother taking them out otherwise. I would fit slightly stiffer springs than stock but do not go mad and make sure you have enough alowance to avoid coil bind. these heads will flow very well as stock.
Best regards
Mike

Darkspeed · Post by **Darkspeed** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 2:55 pm

Out of interest how much bigger than a stock RV8 are the valves in the 300 I have seen mention of huge and also mention of smaller than the mid size valves that sit on a stock rover seat.

chodjinn wrote:The valves on Buick 300 heads are already huge, that's why people use the. They have large cc capacity as well which is good for you TT application. I would probably replace the guides and get some double valve springs as a minimum. Port them a bit while they are off as well, ARP head bolts are a must. I think you'd get away with copper gaskets rather than composites as well but other people know more about these than me.

chodjinn · Post by **chodjinn** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:11 pm

Darkspeed wrote:Out of interest how much bigger than a stock RV8 are the valves in the 300 I have seen mention of huge and also mention of smaller than the mid size valves that sit on a stock rover seat.

chodjinn wrote:The valves on Buick 300 heads are already huge, that's why people use the. They have large cc capacity as well which is good for you TT application. I would probably replace the guides and get some double valve springs as a minimum. Port them a bit while they are off as well, ARP head bolts are a must. I think you'd get away with copper gaskets rather than composites as well but other people know more about these than me.

1.63" intake
1.312" exhaust (from an old V8 forum post in 2009!)

CastleMGBV8 has a set on here, fitted 1.4" exhaust valves which is what you would need to do - lots of gains here. No point porting them any further, just a clean up, plus what else has been mentioned by others above.

Without moving the guide position that the biggest valves you can fit to the 300 heads are 1.775" In. and 1.5" Ex

And the cc of each chamber is more than the 36cc you get from 3.5/3.9 heads (54cc?), hence why they are awesome for forced induction.

The price of a set of sorted Buick 300s is less than a set of stage 4 RV8 heads I believe, due to the amount of port work required on RV8 heads to get them to flow similar to buicks.

But there is an major problem with Buick valve guide : the bore of the guides may not be concentric with the OD because of the production process where the seat pocket and the guide were machined at the same time but not indexed on the guide OD.

I do know that Isky make uprated springs, retainers and collets etc for the Buick 300s and even buying them from the states, cheaper than RV8 stuff over here! Isky are quality as well.

Edit, just found this;

http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/specs_300-340.html

I've reposted some infor from this thread;

http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... 7a0c22f729

Wotland is very knowledgeable about crazy RV8 modifications.

Robrover · Post by **Robrover** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 5:58 am

I run 1.75 inlets and 1.5 exhausts on my Buick 300 heads. The ports are significantly bigger than Rover ones. Double valve springs and Isky retainers. Buick 300 tin head gaskets. Combustion chambers welded up to drop cc down from 54 to 37.

Fozwanger · Post by **Fozwanger** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 1:11 pm

I'm going to go for a simple seat recut, guide check (replace if necessary) new springs and away we go.
I'm sure it'll be fine and go like stink

Cheers guys

Jeff

Wotland · Post by **Wotland** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 4:49 pm

Jeff,

There is one thing you may have an issue with valve guide remplacement. The bore of the factory guides may not be concentric with the OD because of the production process where the seat pocket and the guide were machined at the same time but not indexed on the guide OD. Better check that right away as corrections may need to be made.

Cheers.

Fozwanger · Post by **Fozwanger** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:14 pm

Dimitri,

I read a previous post of yours so will get that checked. Heads are off to shop this week for full health check.
Thanks for the info and I hope everything is good with your baby

)

Jeff

Boosted LS1 · Post by **Boosted LS1** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:19 pm

I'm pretty sure I've got some leftover sodium valves and springs for buick heads. Obviously they weren't made for the buick but I bought them when I was using buick heads on a 5.4 which I sold. The valves are heavier then the buick items which is why I also sourced the springs and collets etc.

Blown v8 · Post by **Blown v8** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 5:24 pm

If anybody has a spare set of these heads laying around,please feel free to get in touch with me !
Sorry to muscle in on your thread Mr.Fozwanger

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:24 am

someone on here had a set for sale a while ago, try posting up in the wanted section.
Best regards
Mike

Greg55_99 · Post by **Greg55_99** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 3:59 pm

I generally just browse this forum but I’d like to make one contribution. I’m in the US of A. On the shelf in my garage, I’ve got (at least) 5 sets of 1964 Buick 300 heads (maybe more). Some perfect. Some require welding to fix corrosion damage. All are getting crapped on by mice. I have no use for them. If anyone wants to make me an offer and can figure a way to get them on your side of the pond, (that's not too complicated) I’m game. Send me a PM.

Greg

chodjinn · Post by **chodjinn** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:03 pm

Greg55_99 wrote:I generally just browse this forum but I’d like to make one contribution. I’m in the US of A. On the shelf in my garage, I’ve got (at least) 5 sets of 1964 Buick 300 heads (maybe more). Some perfect. Some require welding to fix corrosion damage. All are getting crapped on by mice. I have no use for them. If anyone wants to make me an offer and can figure a way to get them on your side of the pond, (that's not too complicated) I’m game. Send me a PM.

Greg

That's awesome! I know a few gues on here (Rossco?) have ordered large shipping from the US. I'm sure they'll be a few buyers for a set or two over here possibly ....

r2d2hp · Post by **r2d2hp** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:24 pm

I would be interested and hhave let Greg know but shipping cost is crazy.

Anyone know of a container that we could get them sent over in?