Interest in the 350 has grown quite a bit in the last couple years. With popularity of turbo builds increasing, the SP3 intake, more people adopting roller valvetrains into their builds and cheap user friendly fuel injection systems, people are starting to realize you don't have to have a 455 car to have something enjoyable. I think these heads are coming onto the market at the perfect time. It was a wise choice to release the SP3 first and the intake will sell even faster when the heads come out. I hope the initial run is enough to cover the waiting list plus a few extra.
We just finished first operation on the 350 heads. Second op fixtures are finished, so we should start programming and machining tomorrow. This will take a little time but were not stopping now till it's finished. There are only two sets at this time for test machining. I will try and get some pictures up soon.
It'd be way cool if they could make an intake for the 300. Probably sell a few sets of Rover heads if they did. The 300 has begun to find acceptance in the MGB V8 swap market. Enough of these cars have been built now that people are starting to talk about the 300 as a viable upgrade from the Rover engines that are traditionally used. It's a stronger block. It fits in the car. It only weighs 50 lbs more than the Rover. It can be stroked to 350 cid with relative ease. It uses a much cheaper bellhousing and flywheels are reasonable. But there are no intakes for it. Factory aluminum 4bbl intakes are like hen's teeth, you just don't see them anymore. I'm not sure if they could be ported to take full advantage of TA's Rover heads anyway. Maybe. But there is no single plane that can be used without resorting to spacer plates and lifter valley pans. Nah, probably not enough volume for TA to even consider it. And it doesn't matter to me, I built a 340 and intercooler intake, and learned why a 340 or 350 are not particularly good choices for an MGB when a BBB fits just as easily. But without a good intake for the 300, most people just start looking at the LS4 instead. Heavier and more complicated, but there's no denying it is a good engine. I wish the 300 was more competitive but as my gramps used to say, "Wish in one hand..." Jim
Jim, if TA did make an intake for the 300, they could make spacers for it so it would fit the 340 as well! Or they could cast it so it could be machined both ways? This would double the engines that could buy this intake! :eek2: I think you're right about TA possibly being able to sell more Rover heads for the 300/340 engines if in there was an intake available for those engines. They would have to market them as 300/340 heads though so people that have those engines would know they can use those heads for those engines. :TU: Derek
Intake is under consideration. I believe I have a Hens Teeth single plane here. Purchased it out of Australia. Simple for the Rover. The 300-340 had front and rear seals. You guy's might find this surprising but I have never had a 340 Buick in this building. Not for machine work or anything. Last time I seen one was in a bone yard. 215-300 yes.
Well there are a few people here that do 340 rebuilds, not sure how many of those would be interested in an aluminum S/P intake though? If it was similar to the SP3 intake that doesn't kill all the low end torque then for the weight savings alone people with a 340 may consider buying one? The 340 cast iron intake has to be as heavy as the sbb 350 cast iron intake and that thing weighs about 60 lbs! If the extra machining leaving the mounting flange thicker to make it work for both engines is to excessive for the quantity of 340 intakes that would be purchased, the spacer option may be the better way to go for the 340 crowd? Maybe start a poll to see how many 340 guys would be interested in an aluminum S/P intake to make the decision of how thick to leave the mounting flange? Or is the idea to make an intake that would work for the 215/300 platforms? Derek
A metric **** ton of Torque, but it's a mild build and is very tractable, and easy to drive. Weight balance is pretty neutral too and traction is good. We just added power steering and power brakes, and just mounted a A/C compressor. Power is... well, adequate. Jim
Unless you were interested in originality I can't see where very many would pursue the 340. And then the aftermarket intake wouldn't be very original would it? For the conversion crowd it doesn't make sense. It's too big physically. The 300 is a much better choice and is at the limit of what will fit under an unmodified hood. For Buick Guys, why not just go to the 350? There's not much real reason to stick with the 340. I put one in my MG and was undeterred by the extra height because of the blower, but in the end I had to make almost exactly the same body, crossmember, steering and suspension mods as what were required for the 455. The 300 is much easier, practically identical to installing a 215 or Rover, it drops right in with very little fuss. And there is no reason not to build it as a 350 if power is your goal. But I wouldn't think it would be easy to make one intake that would work for both the 215 and the 300. In the first place 215/Rover intakes are not scarce. And there is variety. Anything from stock to Edelbrock, Wilwood, Offenhauser, single plane, IR, 2 X 4bbl, that stuff is out there. That Aussie single plane? Not really that scarce, sorry. Huffaker SP's, a little more so. But a 300 SP? Doesn't exist. Then you have the seals and spacers issue. The deck on the 300 is 9/16" taller than the 215. The 340? 5/8" more. No, I suspect the 300 intake would be the best option. Spacers for the 340? Well, yeah I guess that could work. You'd just have to look at it. Probably wouldn't sell that many would be my guess. Jim
Yeah, sorry to clutter up the thread. Inappropriate I guess. Seemed like Mike Jr was interested though. Jim
