Peter, It was a truck engine, ( I hate motor expression as it is an engine) BUT it was an LS3 with a 6.2 out of a pickup AND they use E85. I believe it was 330HP in the truck originally. The best has been 7.78ET@177MPH with a 1.13 60 foot at the rear tires at about 3350 pds. with driver. Boost has been 22PSI at the moment with up to 30pds. of boost available. We'll see IF it can stand more. Who knows??? Been running it now for 3 1/2 seasons. No tear downs. Even has the markings from Hot Rod Drag Week. They are the LONGEST lasting completely stock bottom end as of the moment, supposedly. Cast pistons, sintered iron con rods, original bearings, ( cam, rod & mains ) stock rings, ( engine had 500 or so miles on it ) with a cracked block my son repaired, A NEW record supposedly. Do the math. Now at about 1200 HP. Stock heads with a little bit of pocket porting, head studs, stock type head gaskets, a cam my son spec'd that everyone ( cam manufacturers ) said it would NOT work, valve springs, still using the stock lifters & spinning it to close to 7500RPM's. With a Power Glide. My son planned out the suspension & built it ALL himself, alignment specs. setting the engine back about 1 1/4 inches. The car weighs out 100pds. heavier in the front than the rear. Could change tires & do some rallying. Since cooling stuff wasn't available for their needs & space required my son built his own radiator from an aluminum core, a trans. oil cooler & the inter-cooler to fit in the available space in the front of the radiator. Gads so many things are original it's unbelievable!!!! Who says IF things, including tuning, are done properly & stepping up a little at a time many engines can do the same thing. It's all about info ( DATA ) & proper tuning. Many don't realize it BUT MANY ENGINES are lost because of detonation. Even mild detonation has detrimental effects Even very slight detonation that can't be heard. The LAPTOP tells the truth!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HEALTHY, HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!! Tom T. P.S. I'm sorry I'm bragging, I'm a PROUD POPPA, BUT I have to give them CREDIT & REAL CONGRATULATIONS for what they have ACCOMPLISHED even though it's not a Buick, BUT my son does own 2. A '61 LeSabre 4dr hrtp. & a '72 Skylark 2dr. hrtp. that my Dad bought NEW.
That IS very impressive and you should be very proud of what your son has accomplished. It's too bad Buick Motor Division didn't stick with making V8's, who knows what would have been possible.
