Twin Turbo Skylark 350 Progress by sean Buick 76

6 minute(s) of a 135 minute read

This was the engine was was claimed to have made 551 HP at 10:1 compression and then was sold to a fellow who is not into drag racing. He has the engine healthy and burning rubber in a 70s regal street car. As far as I know it has been reliable over the years, regardless of the actual HP numbers this is a nice engine.

Jim B did complete a lot of really good engines, however when he tried to step up to help Buick people get the "Bulldog" 455 blocks he ended up involved in a HUGE fiasco that led to him going out of business. Jim B seemed to have good intentions and good Buick knowledge and reputation in the early years however by the end his reputation was screwed and he was putting up some bad engines due to a various amount of reasons which involved stress and who knows what else. I know of a few guys who got the Bulldog blocks, one of which broke in half.. many others ended up loosing the money.

I do not think that Jim B meant to screw people around but when people gave HUGE deposits to him so that he could get them a Bulldog block and then "Bradshaw" the guy behind Bulldog who was a real con artist never really made good on the promises of all the blocks even after taking all the deposits from Jim B. So after going through all that and Jim trying to pay people back the deposit money he went under...

All accounts from old school Buick guys say that Jim B was a far different guy in the early years then how he was perceived at the end...

I could be wrong but this was the impression I have gotten.

10/14/16

Custom oil pan was needed as the stock pan was hitting the frame with the girdle:

More pics of the pan:







Chris Skaking Whi is breaking in and dyno testing the engine will for the pickup into the side of the pan.

11/14/16

Got a few things done today while waiting for the TA alum heads... Took down the winter tires for Leanne's SUV and put them on... NO snow on the ground and its mid NOV!!!!:rocker:

Welded up this engine lift crane as it was leaning sideways and getting dangerous. Nice and true now.





Washed up the car...







Put these tire skates under the car so I can push it around the garage... Nice quality bearings, wheels and THICK plates really sturdy. Shane and the neighbour boy were super happy to help me do this...

Added some winter weight to the back of the truck:



Been messing with a lot of LS trucks too... Doing a single turbo on one of my 6.0 trucks.

12/5/16

While waiting for the alum heads I am keeping busy! Sold the two transfer cases that came with the truck for more than I paid for the truck.

Putting a Buick 350 and 4L80E into this truck that had a solid axle swap with 1 ton suspension and roll cage.





This 1990 gmc came with independent suspension but for real off road abuse you want some solid axles... Tons of work went into this and it's really well done.



Pulled it up onto the flat deck for safe keeping, love that PTO winch:

1/15/17

Some cool pics of my engine build: