Porting Iron Heads

Post by **Rossco** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:42 pm

Anyone have any recommendations for a head guru who could tackle a pair of iron Buick 455 heads?

Just weighing up the cost of getting these heads done or buying alloy heads off the shelf from the states

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:27 pm

Rossco.

I suppose it depends if your talking mild or wild as to whether it would be cost effective to buy a set of alloys from I presume TA Performance.

One suggestion of a head man would of course be Peter Burgess, he is very experienced in working on iron or ally heads.

There would also be a substancial weight saving if using alloys.

Kevin.

Post by **Rossco** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:50 pm

CastleMGBV8 wrote:Rossco.

I suppose it depends if your talking mild or wild as to whether it would be cost effective to buy a set of alloys from I presume TA Performance.

One suggestion of a head man would of course be Peter Burgess, he is very experienced in working on iron or ally heads.

There would also be a substancial weight saving if using alloys.

Kevin.

Kevin, Hi

Yes the alloys would be TA stg 2. Around £1800 after shipping etc.

I know for a fact that the iron heads can't make the same power as the alloys and as you say there's about a 25kg weight saving. But if the iron heads are workable then it means the Rangie is back on the road far quicker as the money can go elsewhere. The alloy heads could go on a few months later.

Do you have contact details for Peter?

Cheers

Allan

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:17 pm

Hi Rosco
From the couple of build ups I have read on the 455, the heads arn't too bad in standard form, it is the CR on "smog era" versions of this engine that is the problem and from what I remember your engine predates this and has a pretty healthy CR. If it were me I would clean up the castings with a emery scrolls and blend in the seats to the port, fit bullet valve guides and do a 3 angle job on the seats (or get a someone to do it for you say £250 worth of work) then save up for a set of ally heads, It'll get you on the road quickly and you will find out what breaks with 550bhp before you hit it with 650 BHP.
Mike

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:22 pm

Allan,

Give Peter a ring, if you sourced the valves and springs and any other parts you'd need it might help to keep the price down as it's not the usual bits he'd have in stock.

Ask him for a quote for either situation, you could get a rough idea by looking at his prices for a 4 cylinder iron head with 8 ports x two

Kevin.

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/peterburgess/

Post by **Rossco** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:35 pm

Kiwi

Good points. I'll have a real good look at them tonight. I know from the Buick guys in the States that it's the exhaust side which is the restriction.

Kevin, thanks

I've emailed Peter.

Wotland · Post by **Wotland** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:45 pm

For me the best for Buick 455 heads is Gessler Head Porting.

http://www.gesslerheadporting.com/membe ... enDocument

The only problem.. it is in USA.

Boosted LS1 · Post by **Boosted LS1** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:35 pm

I can vouch for Peter Burgess as well. Top bloke who I've klnown for some 20 years or so. His work is first class.

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:02 am

Rossco
Nice Marvin picture, though I can see some disagrement over who shall take over the world.
Mike

Post by **Rossco** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:12 am

Well I suppose we could call it a joint venture.

Gee...Brain, what do you want to do tonight? The same thing we do every night pinky, TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?"
"Uh... yeah, Brain, but where are we going to find rubber pants our size?"