We like our project car builds around here and Will Wilkerson from Jackson, TN has one epic build going on right now. Will opted to sell his tube frame Buick racer and get something built up that he could drive to and from the track with the AC on and his family in the car. To make the project come to life, Will decided on a 1970 Buick GS built to SFI 25.3 specs in the hopes of driving to the track, AC blasting, popping off some seven-second runs, and driving back home.

Will started out late in 2010 outlining his chassis build and admits that the project snowballed from what he initially thought. The car was going to be simple and then it turned into a race/street car with a 25.5 legal roll cage inside to make rear seat access easier. The 25.5 idea didn’t last long before it hit the 25.3 category and the build started in earnest. Inside the car rests Corbeau VX2000 racing seats and the owner says that the car will have a rear seat as well. The part of the build that always intrigues us most is the engine, and Will has gone the full Monty with this project. The powerplant is being constructed by Nelson Racing Engines and it’s one of the best-looking pieces we’ve ever seen. It’s flashy yet functional, without being over the top.

The engine is an LSX tall deck measuring 455 cubuic inches “for nostalgia’s sake,” according to Will. The beast has dual injectors per cylinder, a liquid intercooler, a pair of 72mm turbos from Turbonetics, and cylinder heads built by All-Pro. The sleek intake isn’t a Nelson Alien, which some have mistaken it for, but a similar design with dual throttle bodies incorporated in the snout. The engine does in fact have AC and power steering true to Will’s original promise to his wife. After some early teething problems, the car hit the dyno for a pull and put down and impressive 1,400 horses at  6300 RPM and 994 ft-lbs of torque at 3000 RPM on “only” 18psi. The engine is built to run in the 35psi range and spin to 6800 RPM. As you can tell, there’s a lot left, but the builders are taking it easy on the new motor for the time being.

Despite a new baby and two deaths in the family, Will is moving along with his project and the engine is now in the car, looking as good in its home as it did in the engine builder’s shop. The project still has a way to go before the car is ready for the streets or the track, but kudos to Will on an awesome build thus far. The only question we have is: can we get a ride when it’s done?