I’m in central Ohio and have recently retired. I am wanting to have an engine built and dyno’d so that I can drop it in without issues. I have a 69 GS I’ve owned since the 80’s. It has been waiting on time and money and more recently better health. I don’t think I’m going to have all three at once and the day has come to get it on the street again. I have waited so long that at this point in my life I would just like to see it done. Does anyone know of someplace in Ohio they would recommend for an engine build? Or would I be ahead to contact the folks at TA performance or JW? Any experience with builders as far as turn around times I should expect? It’s been along time and I am out of touch with machine shops and old contacts I knew when I was younger. I will be making other upgrades to the car as well as far as brakes and front suspension. The car was backhalved years a go and I would also like some advice on chassis work like a new cage and anything that may be needed to be safe and durable with a higher horsepower combo. The car needs the quarters repaired from rust in the wheel wells also. I am not concerned about paint at this point just want the car to look a little more respectful. Any contacts or experiences anybody could share would help me get started in the right direction. Admins if this post would be better somewhere else let me know.....
Gary Paine is in Ohio and is a highly respected engine builder. Been building Buicks most of his life. He is on V8Buick, he goes by "GreatScat"
I am familiar with his posts I never knew for sure if he built motors for others or just friends and etc. but I haven’t been as serious as I am now about getting going on this car. I will reach out to him if he doesn’t to me from this post. I know I see him post often and have respected his post’s and knowledge shared thru the years..
X3. Gary is super knowledgeable and as honest and trustworthy an individual as you'll find. I'd be ecstatic to have an engine built by him. If he's backlogged or can't do it for whatever reason, check out Gamble High Performance Machine, also in Ohio. I've heard good things from those in the know. https://www.gambleshighperformancemachine.com/
Gary will get your stuff done right. Been through the shop he uses and those guys really seem with there stuff. They seem like they get stuff through pretty quickly. Finishline motorsports in MI does great work as well, but depending on what part of ohio you call home the might be farther away. But these are the only places I would trust.......but I can give you list of places that had have messed buick stuff for me over the years
Thanks for the responses. I left a message with Gary and he has since also reached out, between him and other recommendations made I think we’re headed in the right direction......yes the car has a 5;14 rear gear with 33” tall tires. The car had a few different engine combinations in it including a a Small block Chevy, small block Buick and eventually the original 400 big block Buick went back in it. I never changed the rear gears out after the Sbc was pulled. I am looking to upgrade to a better combination now. The gear kinda helped the short comings of the Chevy motor
I never had a chance to take it to the track with the sbb. It was in a very short time temporally while it was awaiting for the 400 to go back in.