I think there were 35 sets on the pallet at TA.. if there are 30 still sitting there I'd bet this will be the only run. TA stepped up and threw the sbb world a bone here.
I have a set, building the engine right now. Hope to have dyno numbers by the end of the year and get the motor in the car early next year. No definitive information on how many sets of 350 heads have been sold.
I bought a set of the 340 (Rover) heads. That may not count exactly but it don't hurt neither. (except in the wallet of course) Jim
Last I heard it was 12 set sold. It’s pathetic. People complain and bitch about not having the product but then don’t buy the product once it comes out.
It may be too little too late. The original thread is older than my children. Many of those who said they would buy the heads have gotten out of the hobby or died. Hate to sound morbid it's just facts. Then there is a lack of data as to what could be expected for the $$$. I appreciate all that TA does for us but to lay out $2800 to gain 20HP is not worth it. I don't think out of the box they will add any more than that. I believe they would sell better if they were truly an improved design. Like raised intake ports and BBB stage 2 style exhaust. Yes I know you would have to purchase special intake and headers but if you really want the performance you would do it. Just my opinion and no one else's.
I agree. Im still going to get a set, but the majority have sold, died, or got out of the hobby all together. Maybe interest in the 350 will re-ignite, but the original prospects seemed to have gone away and forgot about everything Buick. Hopefully the younger generation will still have interest in old cars.
I totally agree with you here, I even said these things when they were still in the design stages of these! Where are all the people that wanted to use the already available parts for the sbb 350 that wanted to bolt a set of al. heads on and reuse the parts they already have? Must be the 12 people that bought sets? If people want to throw on a set of aluminum heads for weight savings that will work with all the factory junk or the sad aftermarket parts that were out before these, then these are the ticket! And I think you were being generous saying there would be a 20 HP gain just bolting these on without paying for the extra porting. The minimal flow gain wouldn't make up for the heat loss from the chambers without raising the CR IMO. So if someone is swapping milled factory heads for the al. ones they may want to have the new ones milled so the chambers are even smaller enough to raise the CR at least 1:1 more to make up for the heat loss in the chambers so they don't LOSE performance! Instead of trying to appease the whiners and window shoppers they should of made an awesome flowing set of heads right out of the box and said here's what we had to do to make these great............... and these other parts are needed to make them work!
As soon as I know if the last block I purchased is worthy of a build I will be order a set along with a few more parts.
I am now in the very early stages of piecing together a boosted small block, but these are on my radar. Just acquired the project and am still in the beginning phases so it's gonna be a minute however. I will say these heads are partly the reason I chose to go with an SBB in this car though.
By Sean's claims, he should have two sets. I haven't ruled them out. Need to get a baseline with my re-worked irons. I'm hopeful for mid 12's the way it sits now.
The 20 somethings are very much interested in the 60/70s era cars. A small proportion of them even know what Buicks are. The GS was one of the lesser known muscle cars but still gets some attention. Most in that crowd despairs of ever being able to afford the muscle car they would like to have and to be fair you have to have a serious interest to follow through. What they do need is guidance. Things like being told that Gandma's Regal is not much more than a few badges away from being a GS. Blasphemy? Yeah, so what? Now it doesn't necessarily follow that they'd be able to buy the heads or even build the engine that should be under them. But still, these cars are still around whether the owners died or sold out. So the potential is still there and I wouldn't be too quick to dis the prospects of selling off that pallet of heads just because they didn't sell out in the first month. After all, look how long the Rover heads have been out and I've just bought my first set. I expect to be ordering a set for a customer by spring. That may not be the most typical but I'd say it's not untypical either. They've sold 1/3 of a pallet? I say that's cause for celebration. Jim
I too come across quite a few 20 something young adults that are "into" older iron. Im sure the new heads will sell, like I said Im buying a set come spring, but for some, it seems like its the time for "passing the torch" so to speak to the younger generation from the ones that got out of the hobby for whatever reason. Its going to take some time for interest in the 350 Buick to ramp up again. But regardless, and for whatever reason, Im still in the hobby, still have interest, Im not dying any time soon (I hope) Still have my GS and GN, Im not selling either one, so onward I go Like Mart said, I too want to get as much as I can outta my irons first, I'd be happy with a 12.99, BUT, A Chevy shop did my big valve conversion years ago, who knows, maybe they screwed up the port work Seems theres a few 350 cars with irons going way quicker than me Oh, Im keeping my 3.42 gears too LOL
As far as the younger guys being into the old Buicks I'm 21 and am big time into the old Buicks. I also just recently changed the build route for my car and instead of going with a big block me and my dad are switching his small block out for a big block and putting the small block into my car. The end goal for the car now is the 350 with holley's new holley terminator x universal mpfi kit with eventually a single 8omm turbo or twins(planning to do fab work myself so probably single for ease of doing it) and due to all the features the terminator x has and looking at what other people have been doing with it I have high hopes for it and hopefully will take it to some events like street car takeover and things like that so other young guys like me can see if they have a Buick they don't need to switch to an ls to make power or at least that is the goal.
Just another thought. I've not seen these advertised anywhere but V8Buick. They need to get them in the new product sections of the magazines.
Maybe... Going by the views which is based in unique IPs.. some 350 heads videos ranged from 3400 views to over 30000 views....
I just mocked up my engine with the new heads and I couldn't be more excited! Maybe these pics will sell some heads! Special thanks to Burton Machine for the twin turbo kit, this forum and everyone on it! I just hope it fits in my engine compartment, 61-66 Thunderbirds have rather large shock towers.
