We originally built this car with Frank Urbinati back in 1996.It debuted at the GS Nationals where it won the GS Pro Street class races. It was also the 1st GS Pro Street class car to break into the 9's at the time.Thanks to Frank this project came to life. Fast forward to 2010 and the car has been taken over by Bob Ortolani,the car still looks great and Bob decided to bring it up another level. We were happy to have the car come back to our shop and to have the opportunity to work with Bob and put together the new powerplant. The video shows the results of our 1st day out to tune the engine. The 1st two passes were shakedowns to check fuel/oil pressures and get a feel for the new combo. By the 3rd run we had posted a 9.62 @ 138 hitting the 7100rpm rev limiter chip! The 4th run was a 9.52 @ 140. On the 5th run it went 9.51 @ 140.65! After a good cool down and a timing adjustment we were ready to try for a 9.40 run, launching right off idle the car gave us a nice big unexpected wheelie! The wheelie sure lookes cool but we know we can go quicker with a little more suspension work to straighten out the launch and try to keep the front down. We're sure it'll go into the 9.40's yet and maybe even 30's after everything is worked out.
9 Second Buick GS Stage1
This was the car's 1st 9 sec. pass. Built around the GS Club Of America's GS Street Eliminator Class rules. A real street car naturally aspirated with a complete Exhaust system,full interior etc. It is the first GS to run in the 9's using the original cast iron Stage1 heads, under the GSE rules! It is a stock stroke 455 with an .038 overbore to give it 464ci. It weighs 3500lbs and it idles smooth enough to still run the power brakes! This pass was 9.98@132.4 mph and was backed up with a 9.99@ 132.7 run.
1966 Buick Convertible Barn Find Rescue, Part 1
This is the story of a '66 Buick Special convertible that had been abandoned in Arizona in 1978 by the family of Rick Pewe, editor of 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine. In 2011, the guys from HOT ROD Magazine, in conjunction with Rick, spent four days bringing the car back from the dead with plans to drive it home from Phoenix to Los Angeles. This is part 1, with the hacking fun the guys had rescuing the car. Look for part two, loaded with road-trip hilarity. The story is printed in the September 2011 issue of HOT ROD Magazine.
1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 for sale
This stunning vehicle is for sale. It is currently listed on eBay - search for seller's username: adidas0349 (Video was shot on 2/6/2011)
1971 GS 455, Stage 1 with F1C Procharger
Rich's 71 GS after replacing the D1 procharger with a bigger F1C. Some fine tuning to be done yet, and then off to the track.
The car was mid 11s on 17" drag radials before.
BUICK - The "Grand National" & "GNX" Story Part 2 of 3
I don't like too many 80s cars, but this is my favorite BY FAR. It's the only car I allow to be included with the "brute force" muscle cars of the 60s and early 70s. I enjoyed working on them and driving them when I started as a tech at a Buick dealer in 1991, in Arlington TX. Too bad Pontiac and Olds didn't also make their own version of this the same way Buick made theirs.---Buick made a V6 from wacking 2 cylinders off their great V8, while letting the turbo and PERFECT computerized spark/fuel control "get back" the lost power of the 2 cylinders, AND retaining V6 fuel economy!--(these cars could get in the high 20s low 30s on the hwy). Since this is EXACTLY a Buick V8 with 2 cylinders wacked off, and since it is a 90 degree V (like a V8) unlike many V6s, the result is a nice even power curve that does not lack low-end. It does not have near the low-end "turbo lag" as many turbo POS's today that have to redline at 8500rpm before they make any power. In fact, in stock form these engines never need to see over 5000rpm.
