The New Wildcat HD Cast Iron block from Kenny Betts Racing

Discussion in 'Our Products' started by ken betts, Sep 29, 2018.

  1. johnriv67

    johnriv67 Well-Known Member

    Ken, I think we need a suggestion box section in your company profile. I'd toss in "an affordable set of 67-70 Riviera and Electra headers"
     
  2. ken betts

    ken betts Well-Known Member

    The plan is to make a custom cast exhaust header type manifold. A suggestion section may be added at a later date. We are going to have an "I want" list from my scheduled product line at BG.
     
  3. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Keep up the great work ken, it's exciting to hear all this and more exciting to see it coming true. All these thing take alot of time and effort to get right. I'm sure we would all rather have a correct and functioning product, rather than a rushed one with some issues
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2018
  4. BrianTrick

    BrianTrick Brian Trick

    This is all great. I haven’t purchased a block yet for my build,and this is even better yet. I think the price is good. The new Oldsmobile blocks are about $4500.00. You have to remember,this isn’t Chevy stuff. Less market,less quantity,etc. the price will be higher. This is way easier than building an Oldsmobile to make big power. All the blocks and heads are the candy in the store.
     
    Stage 2 iron and Harlockssx like this.
  5. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    No worries about Ken rushing products out... I have had 3 sets of Billet heads sitting on the shelf here in the shop for about 7 months now, since the final development and flow tests were completed. Not to mention 10K+ in rockers, valve covers, intake manifold ect.. The final tests are to be actual dyno tests, and we wanted to be able to compare them with a fully ported set of castings on an existing race motor. We were setting up and gathering parts to do this testing, and then along came one of my customers and offered up his 840HP Tomahawk to do the tests with.. and better yet, then also put them in the car and do in car testing..

    So, no rush to get products out, and Ken will absolutely not allow anyone else to pay for his testing and development. I would know, I am the one doing the work.

    Keep in mind, Ken's actual cost on these heads, and the parts that go along with them, are a 6 figure investment for him. But no test, no proving out of the product, means they sit on the shelf.. until they are tested. This insures that when you step up and make a big investment, he respects that, and you will get what you pay for. No company or product will ever be perfect, but his philosophy represents basically "everything you can do" as a vendor.

    It's the business mindset you can have, when your retired, and this is just a passion, not something that is putting food on the table. It's a very unique situation, one I have not encountered before professionally. And Ken has about as much passion for Buicks, and more uniquely, the ability and willingness to part with large stacks of cash to follow thru on that drive to produce parts, than I have ever seen. I have seen plenty of guys spend a lot of money on basically themselves, with their car or engine, but never one who wants to spend it to benefit others, quite as much as Kenny Betts.

    Don't take this post as a knock, on any other company, especially TA. I have been, and will continue to be a strong Supporter of what Mike and Sheri have built out there, you would be hard pressed to find a stronger one over the last 20 years. Ken has been too.. his first desire, at my strong suggestion, was to become a huge nationwide TA distributor, and then supplement the TA product line with some of his unique stuff, but to our disappointment, that wasn't available.. so he had to chart his own course. It's a much bigger commitment, but he and his wife Heidi have stepped up to it.

    Even under a very different set of pressures than KBR is operating under, TA has done an excellent job over the years on parts and development for our motors. We are lucky to have both these companies now, and competition improves the breed, always has, always will.

    --------------

    While I am on the subject, just a word about TA and KBR, going forward here..

    I absolutely will not, under any circumstances, get involved with what one of my customers referred to as the "Buick Brain Damage" that often goes on in this community, with these silly vendor wars. Furthermore, they won't happen on this board.. I see someone continually trying to stir that pot, then the moderators and I will aggressively take action to eliminate that individual situation, and if it continues, that user.

    It's unlikely that you will see me post on this subject again.

    YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

    ------------------------

    I am a Buick Enthusiast, engine builder, and drag racer, first and foremost. Any individual or company that will help me and my customers with their enjoyment of the hobby, will get my support, once they pass my inspection for product quality. KBR passed that with flying colors..

    JW
     
  6. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    That's why I included the Pontiac block's price.

    The Olds cast iron block is the only choice those guys have, the Pontiac also has an aluminum option;

    http://www.jbp-pontiac.com/products/engines_assemblies/aluminum.html

    As unpopular as talking about pricing is, it is a major factor in if this program will succeed or not and I very much want to see KBR succeed!


    That's good to know Ken, hopefully you'll get enough pre-orders to get the quantity discount from the foundry to get the pricing down, the lower it is the more blocks you will sell. The way you wrote the price looked like it was set in stone, good to know it is a little flexible.

    At the lower price point you mentioned would be a no-brainer for a street/strip replacement block to build a rock solid foundation for even the 400 HP guys that may want to upgrade the heads at a later date when their wallet recovers to make more HP.

    And again, I wish you to be a huge success with your company! Thanks for even doing any of this, best wishes.
     
  7. cjeboyle

    cjeboyle Gold Level Contributor

    Please Please Please! With all the new Buick parts coming out will someone please enter the engine masters challenge. I am so tired of other builds winning all the time. It is time for Buicks to show the world what we can do.
    Cliff
     
  8. BrianTrick

    BrianTrick Brian Trick

    You would think you could take anything to the EMC,but that is not so. There are rules for what you are allowed to have,which almost always puts engines like Oldsmobile and Buick to a disadvantage. Sometimes Pontiac too.
    A Buick would still be cool to do,and I think it would place well.
     
  9. ken betts

    ken betts Well-Known Member

    For starters we will see what they can do at the track. We are just getting started!
     
    sriley531 likes this.
  10. BrianTrick

    BrianTrick Brian Trick

    Sounds good to me. I’d rather race cars than race dynos.
     
    docgsx likes this.
  11. 1972 Stage 1

    1972 Stage 1 Well-Known Member

    KBR should be a breath of fresh air for ALL Buick enthusiasts.

    There will always be brand loyalty, which no doubt creates some “debate” on new products. The truth is, competition makes everyone better. The future for Buick’s going faster and faster just got sped up, and that’s great for all of us.

    This year in BG will be even better now. Can’t wait to see these new products.

    Great job Kenny. Keep your foot on the gas pedal. See you in BG.
     
  12. JESUPERCAT

    JESUPERCAT No Slow Boat

    KBR tent will be in the pits just beyond the tech in area.
    Look for the banner....
    We look forward to putting faces to names and finding out more about the products the Buick racers want.
    See you all soon in BG.
     
    dan zepnick, 1972 Stage 1 and Julian like this.
  13. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Truth be told, I can't run with the big dogs. I probably won't be in the market for one of these blocks or sets of heads but it warms my soul to know folks have this kind of commitment to the breed.

    KBR, JW, TA and the V8Buick.com today as well as K-B & Poston before have all contributed to the enjoyment of the special place Buicks hold in all of our hearts.

    Good luck and I hope you don't need it!
     
    docgsx and papa roger like this.
  14. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Tom Hoover [RIP] told me the cast iron exhaust manifolds he designed for the 426 MAX wedge make only 9 horsepower less than headers: Dodgecrossram.JPG

    [​IMG]
     
    Julian likes this.
  15. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    These are the Tri Y cast iron 426 wedge manifolds Hoover designed for NASCAR:

    [​IMG]
     
    Julian likes this.
  16. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    You know what I want. A solid platform that will stand up to 700 HP+ and 8000 RPM without shifting. Im ready to buy and build.
     
    Julian likes this.
  17. Julian

    Julian Well-Known Member

    Please lots of updates
    Ditto
     
  18. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Denny Manner once told me something. He said, "Horsepower does not kill engines, but rpms do."
     
    Briz likes this.
  19. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Yep, all it takes is a missed shift and 8000 rpm.
     
  20. JESUPERCAT

    JESUPERCAT No Slow Boat

    I do 7500-8000 rpm burnouts before the run with the 462 iron block:rolleyes:
     
    docgsx, Briz and sailbrd like this.

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