Match Race 1972 ~ 'Road Runner/GTX 440' vs. 'Buick GS 455'

[OldmanRick]

O-M-R

1972 Buick GS 455

Engine..................Intake / Exhaust...........Camshaft.....................

* 455/250 HP........ 2.00" / 1.630" .......... .397"/.466" ..... 258*/268*

* 455/260 HP........ 2.13" / 1.755" .......... .430"/.468" ..... 260*/276*

* 455/270 HP....... 2.13" / 1.755" .......... .490"/.490"...... 316*/340*......'Stage I'

Stage I Cylinder Head

Crazy how small those "big" valves look in that photo...... One thing for sure, there's not much, if any, shrouding happening there. :thumbrig:

 

[95teetee]

My first post in a loooong time, and here I am backing the wrong company! I grew up around Buicks, even the 72' Skylark Custom with the 350 4bbl that was my parents daily until 94' was suprisingly quick. Honestly, I think it boils down to tuning and the driver. I'm going with the Buick, especially with the 3.42 rear. With all the torque, thats all it needs! Believe it or not, Buick engines aren't really heavy (until you put that mile wide cast iron intake into the equation lol). I honestly don't think I would place a bet on this one though.

I'd bet on whatever the third car in the race was lol.

 

[Abodybomber]

Crazy how small those "big" valves look in that photo...... One thing for sure, there's not much, if any, shrouding happening there. :thumbrig:

You tune,what you have handed to you. If your a factory sponsored/a guy in the know.(you had access...).Us normal guys,got tired of being beat. You watch,you learn. It's that simple.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

O-M-R

Buick 455

Cylinder Head Flow Numbers

Buick Stage I_____________Buick 455

Port Volume_______________________
Intake ..... 188 CC's .............. 186 CC's
Exhaust ... 142 CC's

CFM Flow @ 500" Lift________________
Intake ...... 224 CFM .............. 218 CFM
Exhaust .... 185 CFM .............. 147 CFM

The 'Stage I' Cylinder Heads had Round Port Exhaust. The Intake Port was slightly
different than the regular Buick 455, but was nearly the same size.

Buick claimed the 'Stage I' Cylinder Heads and Exhaust Manifolds were worth
an additional 50 Horsepower.

 

['73red-duster]

Car Magazine awarded its 1972 "Car Of The Year" title to Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage 1.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Car Magazine awarded its 1972 "Car Of The Year" title to Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage 1.

Yes they did.

The 1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1'

Automatic w/3.42 Gears ......... 14.30 @ 100.7 MPH

The NHRA re-factored the 1972 455/270 HP 'Stage 1' to........ '335 Horsepower'

 

[MTmopars]

Have any of you noticed that just comparing #'s, especially camshaft, the mopars always seem to do more with less?

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Corrected Horsepower Ratings

1972 Mopar ~ 440________________________________
* 440/290 HP 'Fresh Air Package'............ 345 Horsepower
* 440/280 HP .......................................... 335 Horsepower


1972 Buick ~ GS 455________________________________
* 455/270 HP 'Stage I'............................ 345 Horsepower
* 455/250 HP ......................................... 293 Horsepower {Manual Transmission only}
* 455/225 HP ......................................... 285 Horsepower {Automatic Transmission only}

Shipping Weight
1972 Road Runner w/GTX Option............ #3675 lbs. {Curb Weight; #3780 lbs.}
1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1'.................... #3608 lbs. {Curb Weight; #3715 lbs.}

 

[cudavert]

1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1'

455/270 HP

280 HP @ 4400 RPM's {Rated at BHP. SAE Net}
390 Ft/Lbs. Torque @ 3000 RPM's

Compression............... 10.5 -1

Pistons........................ Dish Type
Deck Height................ -.010" {Below Deck}

Cylinder Head.............. #1238148
Intake Valve................. 2.130"
Exhaust Valve............... 1.755"
Combustion Chamber... 59.0 CC

Carburetor.................... Rochester #7042242 {Factory Modified}
Throttle Sizes................ 1.375" Primary ~ 2.250" Secondary
Venturi.......................... 1.218" Primary ~ Automatic Vacuum

Distributor................... AC Delco {Factory Advanced}

Camshaft..................... .490" / .490" Lift

From what I've read, GM knocked the compression ratios down to the 8's starting in 1971.

 

[buck351]

Back in the early 70s I raced a 455 GS that looked like that post photo with my stock 1967 GTS Dart and had a passenger. When I shifted into second gear I pulled 1.5 car lengths on him. I remember being surprised at the time since he had a 455.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Back in the early 70s I raced a 455 GS that looked like that post photo with my stock 1967 GTS Dart and had a passenger. When I shifted into second gear I pulled 1.5 car lengths on him. I remember being surprised at the time since he had a 455.

Buck,

There is a big difference between the GS 455 and the GS 455 'Stage 1'

 

[OldmanRick]

Shipping Weight
1972 Road Runner w/GTX Option............ #3675 lbs. {Curb Weight; #3780 lbs.}
1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1'.................... #3608 lbs. {Curb Weight; #3715 lbs.}

This surprises me a little, but there's probably 50lbs in the Dana over the 10 bolt. And I wouldn't be surprised at all if the majority of Buicks had A/C on top of it.....At least most that I've seen at shows or in magazines have.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

This surprises me a little, but there's probably 50lbs in the Dana over the 10 bolt. And I wouldn't be surprised at all if the majority of Buicks had A/C on top of it.....At least most that I've seen at shows or in magazines have.

O-M-R

That is the 'base weight' of the Road Runner.

With the Code E86 'GTX Drivetrain Option' and the 440 Engine, probably added a good +100 lbs.

The Buick GS 455.
Add +47 lbs. with the Automatic Transmission
Add +93 lbs. with the Air Conditioning System

 

[gtmopar]

I raced a bone stock GS at a car show in my 4 speed dart with 340 probably 10 years back at a car show/drags. We both had trouble hooking but when he did he immediately pulled me 1 1/2 car lengths but by 1/8th mile I slowly reeled him in but he still got me by a fender. They have grunt and legs. My motor was pretty mild but no slouch. I talked to the guy afterwards and he showed me the car and he was the original owner. It was a beautiful car and box stock fast as ****. That's my experience with them and they got my respect and my vote.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1'

Production Numbers

Total......................................................728
* Automatics......................................... 627
* 4-Speeds............................................ 101
-----------------------------------------------------

Automatics..............................................627
* w/Air Conditioning.............................. 507
* w/o Air Conditioning........................... 110
* w/Forced Comfort Flow Ventilation....... 10

4-Speeds.................................................101
* w/Air Conditioning............................... 29
* w/o Air Conditioning............................ 63
* w/Forced Comfort Flow Ventilation....... 9

Note; 73.63% off all 1972 GS 455 'Stage I' cars came through with Air Conditioning.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1972 Plymouth Road Runner w/GTX Option

1972 Buick GS 455 'GSX'

 

[451Cuda]

In the mid '80s in my town there was a '70 GS 455 Stage 1 car, black on black, that was very much a player on the streets. In it's prime it was an easy 11.40 car on the motor, dipping into the 10s with a 125 hp spray. Car was pretty mild sounding and stock looking with the factory rallye wheels and all factory chrome and emblems. Ran a 3.42 gear behind a th400, stop-hop bars, 10.5 x 28 M/T slicks.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

From the 'Stage1' Expert

'Stage 1' Components
* Larger Dual Exhaust System
* Re-curved Distributor w/Quicker Advance
* Camshaft 'Hydraulic' = .490"/.490" Lift ~ 316*/340* Duration ~ 90* Overlap ~ 113* Center-Line
* Cylinder Heads #1231786 {Mildly Ported from the Factory}
* Combustion Chamber = {Factory 71.0 CC's} {Minimum 59.0 CC's}
* Valves = 2.130" Intake ~ 1.755" Exhaust
* Valve Springs {Single Coil w/Damper} = #125 lbs. Valve-Closed ~ #272 lbs. Valve-Open
* Tubular Push-Rods
* Low Tension Piston Rings
* Chromed Piston Pins
* Fully Grooved Main Bearings {.0011" to .0015" Clearance}
* Special +.001" Over-Sized Rod Bearings {.002" to .0025" Clearance"}
* 60 Lb. High-Pressure Oil Pump
* 7-Blade Fan Blade
* Cast Iron Intake Manifold
* Blocked Heat Riser Intake Manifold Gasket
* Rochester 800 CFM Carburetor {Factory Calibrated with 6% Richer Metering-Rods}
* High-Pressure Fuel Pump {4.5 PSI @ Carburetor}
* 10-Bolt Rear-End
* Posi-Traction Differential
* 3.42 Gears {Performance Axle}
* Heavy-Duty TH-400 Transmission {w/6-Plate Clutch-Pack, 2.48 1st-Gear and Heavy-Duty Servo}
* Direct Ram-Air Induction {Twin Scoops}
* Special Dual-Inlet Air Cleaner

* Grade 'A' Select Internal Components
* Dynamically Balanced Engine

 

[MTmopars]

The Feb 2014 Hemmings Muscle Machines has a piece on the 1970 GSx Stage 1. MT tested it in 1970 at 13.38 at 105.5 with auto.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

When you look at it closely,

The Buick GS 455 'Stage 1' had a hell of a lot of 'Goodies'.

The cool Option 'Code E6' Thru Bumper Exhaust.

 

[metallidart]

One of the many reasons I have thought about giving up my mopars (for now) and grabbing my dads 72' Buick that has been sitting since 94...and he has a std 1972 455 sitting with it. Buicks are the ones that got me into cars, and that one in particular.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

One of the very rare, 1972 Buick GS 455 'GSX Option'.

Only '44' built, and only '24' with the 455 'Stage I' option.

 

[metallidart]

I love those front spoilers!

 

[SleeperScamp]

One of the very rare, 1972 Buick GS 455 'GSX Option'.

Only '44' built, and only '24' with the 455 'Stage I' option.

And there was two of those within two miles of my house when I was a teenager...Not sure what year model they where but I do know they where both GSX's....

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Camshaft vs. Camshaft

Engine..........Mopar 440/290 HP...........Buick 455/270 HP 'Stage 1'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type...................'Hydraulic' ......................... 'Hydraulic'

Lift 'Intake'............. .467" .............................. .490"
Lift 'Exhaust'........... .483" .............................. .490"

Duration 'Intake'..... 268* ............................... 316*
Duration 'Exhaust'... 284*................................ 340*

Overlap..................... 46* ................................. 90*

Center-Line.............. 115* ............................... 113*



Valve Spring..... Single Coil w/Damper ........ Single Coil w/Damper
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Valve Closed..... #129 lbs. @ 1.845" ............ #125 lbs. @ 1.727"
Valve Open....... #279 lbs. @ 1.370"............. #272 lbs. @ 1.227"