hoo@teldata.UUCP (02/20/85)
A few months ago, I posted an article that listed the "50
FASTEST MUSCLECARS" based on road tests that were done by
various hot rod magazines over the years. This article was
published in CAR REVIEW magazine whose editorial interests
are in reviving and renewing 60's and 70's Detroit iron. I
thought that the following would be of interest to all of us
old muscle car enthusiats out there...
CAR REVIEW received many letters after they published that
article and typically, one letter from a MOPAR owner stated
emphatically "...that Buicks run like they're tied to at
tree...and I've got a stock Hemi GTX that will prove it...".
This comment was based on the article's table which listed
the Buick GS as the 3rd fastest(13.38 sec), and the Hemi in
5th place (13.7 sec).
Well, CAR REVIEW thought rather than continue with bench
racing among its readership, instead to setup a real race
between a couple of these old musclecars.
The following information is taken from the text of that
article.
The cars: 1970 Buick GS Stage1 1970 Hemi GTX
Engine Type 455 STAGE 1 426 Hemi
Factory Horsepower Rating 360 @ 4600 rpm 425 @ 5000
Factory Torque Rating 510 lbs @ 2800rpm 490 lbs @ 4000rpm
Bore & Stroke 4.3125x3.9000 in 4.25x3.75 in
Compression Ratio 10.0:1 10.25:1
Carburetion 700 CFM Holley* Dual Carter AFBs
Intake Manifold Edelbrock B4B aluminum* Stock
Distributor Stock Stock
Camshaft Stock Blueprint Stock Blueprint
Exhaust Headers* Headers*
Transmission Turbo Hydramatic 400 4 speed
Final Drive Ratio 3.42 4.10
*NOT STOCK.
THE DRAG RACE RESULTS.[Both cars ran on slicks and thru stock exhaust.]
Quarter Mile Results. 1970 Buick GS Stage1 1970 GTX Hemi
Run #1 12.59sec @108.56mph 13.34sec @106.63mph
Run #2 12.30sec @110.97mph 13.03sec @107.14mph
Note: A 30 minute cool-down period occured between runs #1 & #2.
Final Comment...If you're goin to race a GS, make sure you tie it to a BIG TREE?
Jim Hoo !uw-beaver!teltone!hoo
Teltone Corporation
Kirkland, Washingtonshelby@rtech.ARPA (Shelby Thornton) (03/09/85)
> THE DRAG RACE RESULTS.[Both cars ran on slicks and thru stock exhaust.] > > Quarter Mile Results. 1970 Buick GS Stage1 1970 GTX Hemi > > Run #1 12.59sec @108.56mph 13.34sec @106.63mph > Run #2 12.30sec @110.97mph 13.03sec @107.14mph I find these results very interesting. Even though the quarter mile times differed by approx .70sec, the trap speeds differed only by about 2mph. This suggests that the hemi went up in smoke off the the line and was coming on hard (to say the least) top end. Pound for pound, the 455 can't compare to the 426. I suspect that if these cars had been a little more equal (suspension, weight, transmission, gear ratios), the hemi would have been about .40secs ahead of the 455, and would have been pulling away even harder top end. The 426 was one of the torquiest motors ever produced so 3.55 gear ratio would have been much more to it's advantage (either that or a much bigger slick). The 455 is a great street motor and can definitely hold it's own with the best, but the hemis were a breed apart ("the $400 option that voids the warranty"). Shelby Thornton Relational Technology