So I was driving the GSX last night...

So I was driving the GSX (http://homepage.mac.com/jakerobb/gsx) last night, and we were on our way home. I pull up to a stop light.

A moment later, a yellow LS1 Trans Am (which looked sweet, btw) pulls up next to me with a couple young guys in it. They're gesturing to me like they want to run. I have my wife and both of her parents in the car with me. The GSX is her dad's car. We've run it at the track, and it's a mid 12-second car on a hot day (12.6 @ 107, 90 degrees with the new carb -- I haven't updated my site yet). At the moment, it was maybe 60 degrees out. I don't hear an exhaust on the T/A, so I assume he's mostly stock, and probably no faster than my Z28.

I didn't feel right about racing these guys with the whole family in the car, so I shook my head no. But these guys are still gesturing to me, and not giving up. I roll the window down and say "I've got an LS1 Camaro at home. Trust me, you'll lose this race."

He hesitates and then calls out "but I've got a supercharger!"

I called his bluff. "Yeah, sure. Rev the engine, let me hear it."

He didn't rev it. "Come on, let's race anyway!"

The light goes green. He accelerates away and gets maybe a carlength on me as I leisurely roll away from the light before my wife and both her parents yell at me for letting him win. :lol:

So I mash the gas at about 10mph. The 200R4 is in second and stays there, the 275-series Nitto 555R's out back light up, and we are almost immediately four cars ahead of the Trans Am. :lol:

The speed limit was 45mph, and I let off when I reached that speed. A couple seconds later, the T/A did a ~80mph ricer flyby, then pulled onto a side street and turned around to go the other way.

In conclusion:
1. The GSX is badass. :bow: :metal:
2. My wife and her parents are awesome. :D
3. The owner of that T/A is a closet ricer that doesn't deserve to be driving such a nice car.

That is indeed one hell of a Buick. It's got the right combination of new parts in with the old to make that car a really nice ride even as it approaches its 40th birthday. I'll bet everybody dmismisses it as just another loud mediocre boat from that era.

That's the kind of car automakers are trying to emulate with these latest retro designs. Too bad all they can do is copy the sheetmetal and not the entire "aura" of the vehicles.

I'll bet everybody dmismisses it as just another loud mediocre boat from that era.

On the contrary... most people near Flint (the city in which it was built, only ~20 miles from where my in-laws live) still recognize it and respect it.

Yeah, but we all know "stock" from that era varied wildly. Cars people have in their memories as 12-sec showroom stock rockets many times in reality ran maybe mid 14s at best.

Yours has the power to back up the image.

So you went from one car down to four ahead...from 10-45? Sounds like your car is a 10 sec beast to do that! Not saying the LS1 is the baddest on the planet, just saying that that's 5 cars in a small 10-45mph spirt...on a decent power-plant? Nice kill anyway!

The GSX's best time, as stated above, is 12.6 @ 107. It falls down a little up top, despite having a completely reworked fuel system -- apparently either the air intake is too restrictive, or the race-ported 950 Holley isn't big enough. :lol:

It comes out of the hole VERY strong, with a little help from those big fat Nittos out back. Above 45, it's not nearly as strong, and my LS1 will start reeling it in (but I can't make up all of that distance by the end of the quarter).

LS1s aren't known for their torque, they are known for their top end.

When I first read the story I was thinking eclipse GSX.... I was all sorts of confused after the first reply!

When I first read the story I was thinking eclipse GSX.... I was all sorts of confused after the first reply!

Someone didn't click the link! :p

LS1s aren't known for their torque, they are known for their top end.

When I first read the story I was thinking eclipse GSX.... I was all sorts of confused after the first reply!Yea I was thinking he same thing..You got balls telling someone in a LS1 "trust me you'll loose this race" in a car trapping 107.

Yea I was thinking he same thing..You got balls telling someone in a LS1 "trust me you'll loose this race" in a car trapping 107.

Look at my sig. I own an LS1, and I've raced the GSX many times at the strip. I'm very familiar with both cars. The GSX's launch is AMAZING, and no completely stock LS1 Trans Am would ever beat his best quarter mile ET.

Knowing that I was going to let off at 45mph, there was no doubt in my mind that I'd be ahead at that time.

I know full well that the LS1 wins the top-end race. That's not the point here, and trust me -- you don't need to lecture me about the LS1's superiority in a longer race. :)

So to sum up, you were driving a car that traps 107. You raced another car that traps ~107. You started a car length behind....from a 10 mph punch....and put 5 cars on him by 45 mph.....with 4 people in the car....while starting in 2nd gear? Badass indeed....

So I was driving the GSX (http://homepage.mac.com/jakerobb/gsx) last night, and we were on our way home. I pull up to a stop light.

A moment later, a yellow LS1 Trans Am (which looked sweet, btw) pulls up next to me with a couple young guys in it. They're gesturing to me like they want to run. I have my wife and both of her parents in the car with me. The GSX is her dad's car. We've run it at the track, and it's a mid 12-second car on a hot day (12.6 @ 107, 90 degrees with the new carb -- I haven't updated my site yet). At the moment, it was maybe 60 degrees out. I don't hear an exhaust on the T/A, so I assume he's mostly stock, and probably no faster than my Z28.

I didn't feel right about racing these guys with the whole family in the car, so I shook my head no. But these guys are still gesturing to me, and not giving up. I roll the window down and say "I've got an LS1 Camaro at home. Trust me, you'll lose this race."

He hesitates and then calls out "but I've got a supercharger!"

I called his bluff. "Yeah, sure. Rev the engine, let me hear it."

He didn't rev it. "Come on, let's race anyway!"

The light goes green. He accelerates away and gets maybe a carlength on me as I leisurely roll away from the light before my wife and both her parents yell at me for letting him win. :lol:

So I mash the gas at about 10mph. The 200R4 is in second and stays there, the 275-series Nitto 555R's out back light up, and we are almost immediately four cars ahead of the Trans Am. :lol:

The speed limit was 45mph, and I let off when I reached that speed. A couple seconds later, the T/A did a ~80mph ricer flyby, then pulled onto a side street and turned around to go the other way.

In conclusion:
1. The GSX is badass. :bow: :metal:
2. My wife and her parents are awesome. :D
3. The owner of that T/A is a closet ricer that doesn't deserve to be driving such a nice car.

So to sum up, you were driving a car that traps 107. You raced another car that traps ~107. You started a car length behind....from a 10 mph punch....and put 5 cars on him by 45 mph.....with 4 people in the car....while starting in 2nd gear? Badass indeed....

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. The GSX is all about low-end torque. It's not bad on top, but it's got nothing on an LS1 up there.

my 71 gsx stage 1 is bad what gear do u have in yours? mine runs 10.98 :)

my 71 gsx stage 1 is bad what gear do u have in yours? mine runs 10.98 :)

3.73 gears out back. See the link in the first post for all the details.

What do you have done to yours?

Same here!!!

I was thinking to myself.. you put your inlaws in the back seat of an eclipse???


LS1s aren't known for their torque, they are known for their top end.

When I first read the story I was thinking eclipse GSX.... I was all sorts of confused after the first reply!

I was kinda pondering that same point.....:uhoh:

Did you miss the part where I said it's really strong down low and then falls down a little? This will be the third time. :mad:

Dam....chill big man. I never said I didn't believe you

Sorry... got a little defensive there. :o

I would LOVE to see the GSX stay strong up top and pull of a 10-second timeslip. :D

if you go to mobile alabama i can show you: but i dont have a scaner but tony from postons enterprise can back that up and on my 350 buick i have gone 11.92 i have 410 gears me and my dad are getting ready to restore it again i had the car since 93 when i got out of school yes i bought myself

A friend of mine has a GSX convertible, all original, he claims that its one of six, I don't know, I've seen probly ten GSX's ever and this is the only convert so I guess its possisble. I ran him once and he spanked me off the line but I reeled him back in by 75-80, but it is the factory build, not to bad for its age, the car has never seen rain and is very well taken care of, one of my favorites out of his collection.

A friend of mine has a GSX convertible, all original, he claims that its one of six, I don't know, I've seen probly ten GSX's ever and this is the only convert so I guess its possisble. I ran him once and he spanked me off the line but I reeled him back in by 75-80, but it is the factory build, not to bad for its age, the car has never seen rain and is very well taken care of, one of my favorites out of his collection.

Buick never sold a GSX convertible. There were GS convertibles with the same Stage 1 455, but not GSX's.

You could claim that they're so rare that I just haven't heard of it, but then I'd call the guy that designed the car (he's a friend of my father-in-law's), and have him refute you himself. :)

I've seen some GS convertibles with GSX paint jobs, badges, etc. They're awesome, but they're not real. :)

do you go to the v8buick web site?

do you go to the v8buick web site?

As the car belongs to my father in law, and not me, no, I generally do not. :)

I think he's a member, though. Not sure how often he posts.

Nice GSX. A buddy of mine from MAGNA has a yellow one (the more popular color). Its currently getting rebuilt after spinning #8 rod bearing. It has gone 12.5s with the old motor. The club founders father also has a W-30 442 (pretty much the Olds equivalent) and its got a 496cid bullet. Gone 10.07 on pump gas.


Love the old big block cars. Nice kill in the GSX!!! :bow:

mine is black