Engine and Transmission Tech

Been away for while but now sort of back into a British V conversion, Buick V6 and Saginaw 4-speed into TR4 chassis and Dio Tipo body.
Trying very hard to keep it late 60's "period correct".
Hoping there may be a Buick V6 expert or two here?
Seems the old V6's may have more use here than anywhere else with the exception of some Jeep forums.

Trying to hop-up an old Buick 225 V6 without spending silly money, custom cam & lifters are already over $400.00.
Originally this was just going to be a quick rings & bearings, like that EVER works out.

Got it apart and decided that the crank will need to be ground, the cam is not good enough, the "Ported" 225 heads are unlikely to flow enough........
Yep, mission creep is getting to me pretty badly.

I have John Thawley's Buick Free Spirit Power Manual but it's from 1980 and pretty much out of date as virtually no referenced part numbers are still available.
He refers to all pre-79 heads as boat anchors, implying that the '79 up heads will work on earlier blocks, but then mentions that  "..problems are encountered in effecting a head gasket seal due to enlargement of some water passages".
Hmm, I do have a vertical mill, so should be able to "O-Ring" as needed?

These were very popular engines to build years ago ,they went into everything imaginable.

The '79 up heads flow a LOT more than the earlier version. I've confirmed that they do bolt up.
Next I will compare head gaskets, I've already noticed some holes in early heads that are not there in late, for oil?

And for the nay-sayers, sure, a later engine would be "Easier" to do, if you discount all the ECU, VVT, CAT, Sensors, etc. complexity.
This is to be a budget 60's period correct build as much as possible, a head upgrade will not be apparent to casual observation.
So, anyone know HOW to adapt the later heads, or the definitive reason WHY it cannot be done?

I do have intakes for both types of heads.

Richard, I've never mixed odd and evenfire parts but I would lay the later gaskets on the block and compare. I remember there was some welding required. You have to use the evenfire intake with the heads too. What did you end up with on your fuel injection and IRS?

Past year+ has been a soap-opera with moving home and shop, so nothing done on the Trick-6.
Now working to complete and sell this TR/Buick/Dio Tipo in order to fund building a shop on my own property.
Paying shop rent leaves too little for building my cars.
Constant advice is to just give up the cars and shop, then do WHAT with my time?

Today I am looking into the possibility of making my own copper head-gaskets.

Some info about the V6:
[www.novak-adapt.com]

Richard, Since the newer heads use pushrod oiling it doesn't matter if the block to head oiling holes are covered. You just don't want water leaks or blockage.

Planning to drill and tap the block oil passages for plugs.
Mostly to reduce the possibility of their contributing to head gasket failure.
Blasted Kung-Flu is slowing everything up.
Block cleaning should be ready Thursday.
Then I may do some clean-up of casting flash, ream oil galleries, etc.

Got the block back and casting flash ground off.
Block was pretty good to begin with, heads are nastier.
Now sorting my reamers to find what I need to open up oil galleries.

Hi Richard,
this be an odd-fire/ gallop motor ? IF you can find the "Buick Racing Engine Book, from Buick, is best of best.

On my build list, a 4.1L block, have a new forged 3.625" crank, H beam rods and Stg.II alum heads. All together, I guess a Stg. 1.5 ?
Cheers, Art.