Buick turbo V-6 racers are a diehard and stubborn bunch, but with Buick Motor Division back in performance hibernation, the scarcity of original rear-drive Buick V-6 blocks has seemingly put Grand National racers onto the road to extinction. But not if TA Performance has anything to say about it.
This February, TA released its Extreme Duty Buick V-6 aluminum cylinder block. Designed to both replace production iron blocks as well as withstand racing's rigors, the block accepts all stock components as well as most aftermarket parts. Blocks are offered in the standard production off-center configuration, as well as on-center to meet the needs of those running late Stage 2 full-race combinations. TA says the blocks incorporate lessons learned in Pro Stock and Top Fuel racing. The bottom-end features beefy, billet, cross-bolted main caps. In the lifter valley, TA added cross-bracing, then thickened and reinforced the lifter bore bosses. One weak point on stock Buick V-6s is the oiling system. These new-cast blocks feature improved feed passages and grooved main journals to promote maximum oil delivery. Dry-sump feed provisions are located at the front and rear. Turbocharger oil feed and return passages are present, as well as an alternate oil-gauge boss.
Up to a 3.625-inch stroke is obtainable with the block's standard configuration (stock 231 stroke is 3.400). The block is designed to accept a raised cam or rollerized cam bearings. Other key features include knock-sensor provisions, added front coolant feeds, coolant drain bosses, the popular 20-bolt oil pan configuration, and a dual bellhousing bolt pattern that accommodates all Chevy or Buick/Olds/Pontiac transmissions. Performance upgrades include a 14-bolt head-bolt pattern to accommodate stock or aftermarket heads. TA tells us that preliminary evaluations by individuals involved in Top Fuel and the turbo Buick communities estimate the new block is capable of handling 2,000-3,000 hp.
How is TA gonna make that kind of power? Well, the company is also tooling new steel billet cranks and rods and is introducing its own-design aluminum V-6 head to complement the new block. The Street Eliminator Series heads are designed to outperform other Buick V-6 heads, and improvements have been made to increase flow, strength, durability, and valvetrain alignment. TA claims its design ensures that the pushrods will clear any rocker arm combo, a problem with some competitive castings. A "stock replacement" version maintains the stock rocker mounting design and can accommodate 1.55-1.65:1 rocker ratios. Looks like Grand National speed is back in a big way.
