Project Junkyard Dog

[Joe Toller]

This car hates me, or is cursed! Went to put it away for the year, broke the windshield. Between all the hold-ups during the build, then hustling to finally get it done only to lose to the weather, I swear either this car doesn't want to be a race car or some higher power doesn't want me racing it!

[Joe Toller]

Well, if you ever want to build one of these carb turbo Buicks as a "dime rocket" or a budget build...don't. They can be done, but not cheaply. I should have known better; the wife said this car had bad juju. The parts are just not out there. I can also tell you, do NOT offset grind a Buick V6 crank, they will try to come apart. I am lucky mine didn't. I am aborting this project, it's been nothing but bad luck and over budget and honestly, not fun anymore. I am working with a U/SA Ford for now, I will not give up on a budget build, but I think I will stay V8 and naturally aspirated. Thanks for all the replies and support on this adventure. The body is headed off to be restored to a fresh car, the rest, not sure yet...

[Marty Knox]

Sorry to hear you've given up on this project, but I understand. I was going to get back into Stock 4 years ago - had a 66 Chevelle 300 4 door. Bought a 69 Camaro to run instead because I could use a 4 speed, but when NHRA lowered the indexes I got discouraged. Camaro was becoming a money pit so I sold it and got almost all my money back. Glad to hear you're pursuing another one.

[Joe Toller]

I am bound and determined to run Stock; I need to quit trying to reinvent the wheel and have something no one else has, and stick to the basics that work and do them well. I will stick to a simple, light chassis with moderate parts availability, a small V8 I can find replacement parts for, and keep it simple and fun! I don't want a record, I just wanna qualify and race!

I need to remind myself of this as I get into a project, I am my own worst enemy...

[Billy Nees]

YOU need to focus and stick to one thing. If you think that a Maverick is easier than a Buick then you're in for quite a learning experience. You're going to find that the hardest part of doing a Ford is finding specific part numbers that are 40+ years old. At least a V6 Buick is a V6 Buick except for maybe the intakeand heads and they're quite common. Good luck and I hope you're new project gets finished and works well for you.

[Joe Toller]

You are 200% correct Billy, I have to work on my focus. I am my own worst enemy. I need to fix that first before turning another wrench.

One odd thing though, 70s-8os Ford 302 parts are very easy to find in this area. At one time in my demo derby days (which fit my car ADD since I had to build a new one all the time), I had a huge 302 stash, which my local junkyard has now. Buick V6 is not bad either, except for Turbo parts; they are almost non-existent. The 79 heads and the 78 and 79 intakes are one-year only, that was my worst hold up, and frustrating parts. Nobody had them, and if they did they wanted a mint for them. If I am ever gonna do this I do need, and want, to keep it on a tight budget. I don't expect it to be any easier, I don't want to be a #1 qualifier, but I do want some challenge and to make something that shouldn't go quick do just that, I just need to remove my head from my butt!

I have some reflecting to do before I build, maybe I am not cut out for this...I hope I didn't waste too much of anyones time with advice...

[Joe Toller]

Mods, if you want to spare folks you could delete this thread.

I am clearing out the yard and garage and walking away for awhile.

Thanks for everyone's help, it has meant alot.

[Dwight Southerland]

IMHO, a late '70s 305 2-bbl would be an easy combination. Lots of bodies; heads and intakes will be the hardest parts to find, but the 450 heads were used on everything and for several years.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by iraceitall

I have some reflecting to do before I build, maybe I am not cut out for this...I hope I didn't waste too much of anyones time with advice...

Round #2 of fatherly advice, you haven't wasted our time as we'd be talking about all of this stuff between ourselves anyway.
What you DO need to do is, while you're reflecting, pick ONE thing, ONE car that runs NOW. Get it to a racetrack and make it go up and down the track. Throw some Hot-Rod tricks at it and find out what it likes and dis-likes If that ONE car is your buddies Maverick then, fine. DON'T drag home a project that you know nothing about that doesn't run and try resurrecting it. Stock/SS racers are a very helpful bunch when it comes to others trying our combos but we're not going to come to your shop and put it together for you and we're not going to pay you to do it. You're still going to have a learning curve.
Dwight just gave you a very good,simple, easy to find combo if the Maverick isn't a runner. Realistically, ANY 2V 305 Chevy or 2V 302 Ford is a very simple combo to make run well BUT get one that already runs, take it to a track and drive it. Good things are worth waiting for.