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

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OldmanRick said:
Tall and narrow int. ports. Hummm.......So just maybe the Chev LS heads weren't so revolutionary after all.....:D
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O-M-R

Who would ever think that Buick would utilize the Mopar Max-Wedge style, and out-smart Mopar with the Buick Stage I.


Buick Cylinder Head Flow Numbers

1972 Cylinder Heads......GS 455/250 HP.... GS 455 'Stage I'

Intake Valve...................... 2.000" .............. 2.130"
Exhaust Valve.................... 1.650" .............. 1.755"

Intake Port Volume...................................... 188 CC's
Exhaust Port Volume.................................... 142 CC's

Intake Flow @ .500" Lift....... 218 ................. 227
Exhaust Flow @ .500" Lift..... 147 ................. 183

Monster Valves, Throaty Ports, Crescent-Shaped Chambers, Factory Massaged Ports, Enlarged Water Passages

DSC00307.jpg
 
To reemphasize my previous post...

The only thing radical on the Mopar is the induction (also, technically a bolt on).
The rest is "run of the mill" 440.

The buick is hand modified and has "exotic" castings.

At the same time I had those Coronets and that skylark, I also had a 66 olds 98 with a 425.
(quite a collection for a 17 year old, eh?- all were $500 cars)
That was a torquey SOB as well.
 
YY1 said:
To reemphasize my previous post...

The only thing radical on the Mopar is the induction (also, technically a bolt on).
The rest is "run of the mill" 440.

The buick is hand modified and has "exotic" castings.

At the same time I had those Coronets and that skylark, I also had a 66 olds 98 with a 425.
(quite a collection for a 17 year old, eh?- all were $500 cars)
That was a torquey SOB as well.
Click to expand...

Correct 'YY1'

The 1972 440/290 HP just an 'Air Grabber' Fresh Air Induction and Holley 670 CFM with a larger sized Primary Jet.

The Buick 'Stage 1', was a 'Factory Skunkworks' special.
 
Charlie Pop,

If you bought the 1972 Road Runner with the GTX Option, and the Code N96 Fresh-Air Package,
there were 'NO' 440 engine call out decals on the car.

The only emblem, was a 'GTX' badge mounted on the right side of the trunk deck {as seen in Photo}.
And 'GTX' badges on the lower front Fenders, just behind the wheel well opening.

th
 
O-M-R

Buick Racing was surprisingly advanced in 1969 thru 1972.

Still, very few up be me in Southern New York.

We had a big Buick Dealership 'Geis Buick and American Motors' who had
a 1972 Buick GS 'Stage I'.

But it was a 'Showroom Only Car' that the Dealership owned. 'Arctic White'.

'Not For Sale'
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
O-M-R

Buick Racing was surprisingly advanced in 1969 thru 1972.

Still, very few up be me in Southern New York.

We had a big Buick Dealership 'Geis Buick and American Motors' who had
a 1972 Buick GS 'Stage I'.

But it was a 'Showroom Only Car' that the Dealership owned. 'Arctic White'.

'Not For Sale'
Click to expand...

Although I know there must have been a few, I'm hard pressed to remember any around the DC area back in my day. I have a feeling that most buyers/owners back then weren't really into the street scene...lol.

I do recall a Yellow 70' that showed up at the track a few times, probably just for fun, but I have no recollection of what it ran.
 
I met/shook hands with Richard Lasseter at a street machine type function back in the mid/late 80's, and watched him "hold court" with a small group for 10mins or so. I can't remember where it was though? Had to be either at Maple Grove or Gainesville. He made some passes in his famous Blue Stage 1 and i recall it was in the 12.0/12.1 range on that particular day.
 
O-M-R

1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1' .........Not sure of the actual Test Results on the Track in 'TRUE' Stock Form.

Range............. 13.80's @ 103 MPH ..... to ...... 14.30's @ 100 MPH

pics-med-18300-417618-buick-skylark-gs-455-stage-1-1972.jpg
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
O-M-R

1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1' .........Not sure of the actual Test Results on the Track in 'TRUE' Stock Form.

Range............. 13.80's @ 103 MPH ..... to ...... 14.30's @ 100 MPH
Click to expand...

I'd agree though, that range is pretty fast for a bone stock 72'...especially the fast end of those numbers. But with really good conditions and a good tune.....maybe.

Then again, a 70' with nothing more then the higher compression and possibly a 3.64 gear, could run low 13's. So how much was lost on the comp. drop? I guess I could see high 13's out of a good 72'.
 
My only "hands on" with a 455 Buick was maintaining a 71' Centurion for a middle aged neighbor couple. A few tune ups, oil changes, and a brake job. At one point, i had that car for ten days or so while they were on vacation. I couldn't help but play with the secondary vacuum break linkage and door tension. The sec'd spring actually had to be tightened a hair...lol. From a 25mph roll, that car pulled very well up thru 2nd gear.

At that same time, my Grandfather had a 73' Coupe DeVille with the regulation 472". That Buick would have ate it's lunch. The only thing cool about Granddad's Caddy was, on asphalt pavement, it would slightly chirp 2nd gear if you stayed in it hard...lol. And that's saying something with a 10' long driveshaft. :D
 
O-M-R

Saw my share of Buick Cylinder Heads go though my fathers shop.

* 401 and 425 ..........'Nail Heads'
* 350 / 400 / 455 .....{1967 and later}

The castings were 'rough'. Good engines though. Durable and lots of 'Torque'.

Very few Buick Street Muscle-Cars back in the late-1960's and 1970's.
 
Not sure how they did it but I remember Buicks having the smoothest ride of anything I rode in...
 
NHRA in 1972.

'Pure Stock'

The 1972 Road Runner/GTX 440/290 HP 'Air-Grabber' was classed in 'D/Stock' .

The 440/280 HP 'U-Code' was also classed in D/S or D/SA.

In 1972 NHRA used the 1972 Factory Advertised Horsepower Numbers.

D/S or D/SA = 12.00 to 12.99 Wt/Hp

1972 NHRA National Records
* D/S........... 13.45 @ 104.55 MPH
* D/SA......... 13.73 @ 101.88 MPH
 
O-M-R

1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1'

Motor Trend tested a 'Stock' Automatic w/4.30 Gears.................. 14.10 @ 97.0 MPH

1972 NHRA Winternationals 'Pure Stock'

Dave Besinek ran a 13.36 @ 104.3 MPH in 'C/SA'.

Here's one.

lenimkebuick02.jpg
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
O-M-R

1972 Buick GS 455 'Stage 1'

Motor Trend tested a 'Stock' Automatic w/4.30 Gears.................. 14.10 @ 97.0 MPH

1972 NHRA Winternationals 'Pure Stock'

Dave Besinek ran a 13.36 @ 104.3 MPH in 'C/SA'.
Click to expand...

I remember Besinek from back then. He was one of the best if I recall correctly.
 
Not a 72', but a few pics of Jason Line at Z-Max in 2011 that I found on the net.
 

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O-M-R

Nice, very nice.........
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Cost vs. Cost

1972 Plymouth Road Runner
* GTX Option {440 'U-Code'}
* Air-Grabber 'Fresh Air Package'
* 4-Speed
* Performance Axle {Dana Rear w/3.54 Gears}
* Rallye Wheels {15" x 7"}
* G-60 x 15" Tires
* Typical Cost w/Options..............$4650

1972 Buick GS 455
* 'Stage I' option
* TH-400 Automatic
* Performance Axle {Posi-Traction w/3.42 Gears}
* Rallye Wheels {15" x 7"}
* G-60 x 15" Tires
* Typical Cost w/Options.................$4800
 
Reasonable prices for what you got at the time, in my opinion. The amazing thing is what a fairly low mileage example could have been bought for in 1979.....:banghead:
 
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