I recently purchased a 1970 GS 350, upgraded to a modded 455 from GStage1, which was his personal car the past 24 years. http://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/70-gs350-coupe-now-stage1-built-loaded.283022/#post-2358633 Engine, 70 455 with Wiseco 10:1, stock heads that are ported and polished with Stage 1 valves, MT Super Scavengers...aluma-coated, Performer intake, Stinger conversion in rebuilt distributor, new wire plugs, water pump etc, performance carb rebuilt to match engine specs, Scott Brown 230-245 cam...this makes some noise....serious idle. Trans: TH 400 full rebuild with shift improvement kit and rebuilt 2200 converter Rear Axle: 1972 Chevy 12 bolt rear, completely rebuilt with all new bearings, seals, GM posi and 3.42 gears. Exhaust: Torque Tech 2.5" exh, Walker Super Dynomax long case mufflers Suspension/Brakes: Everything rebuilt/replaced.....tie rods, bushings, ball joints, idler, disc brake calipers, hoses, rear bushings, 1.25" front bar, 7/8" rear bar, boxed lower arms with frame braces (F41), all new rear brake hardware with alum rear drums, new bearings, seals, master cylinder, original power booster. Lines: all brake, fuel and trans lines from In-Line Tube. New BFG 245-60-15 on Buick 15" rallyes. Grill: orig grill Pot Metal: all original headlight bezels and hood lip Interior: all new: buckets, covers, headrests, carpet, orig door panels, rear side panels, rechromed cluster, radio bezel, under column cover, repro in-dash tach, speed alert, rally gages, original 1970 woodgrain shifter handle, nice console, deluxe (stainless steel cover) seat belts, new door sills, excellent dash pad, PW system rebuilt and works, PDL, tilt column rebuilt, GS steering wheel, power trunk, cruise control, factory rear defrost, factory bucket seat....has all power options. http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/mycoupe.htm As I am now working in Abu Dhabi, UAE after retiring from the US Air Force, I had it shipped to my brother. He's going through it and fixing up things, preparing it for an overall refresh. So far, rebuilt the carb and had it "tuned" for the engine combination, swapped on a new set of American Racing Torque Thrust 18" wheels, got a new Pypes 3" stainless dual exhaust with x-pipe to replace the old & worn out Torque Tech exhaust, and a bunch of other small stuff. I'm going to fix the small amount of rust we found in the hood, re-chrome the bumpers, and repaint the car. I had planned on switching to Stratomist Blue, but the color it is has grown on me, as it's very similar to my first Skylark, a 1970 350 car I fixed up back in 1992, and repainted GM Teal Blue Metallic. I think we may keep the base color the same, and change the GSX stripes to either silver or black. I'm undecided right now. I've also got a new set of locks for the entire car, upgraded MP3 player stereo that looks like the original AM radio, and installed a new starter, new headlamps, full tuneup, and a K&N filter open element air cleaner. I plan on upgrading the ignition system to a full MSD setup, and adding a chin spoiler. That's pretty much it until I get around to doing an overdrive transmission conversion. I'll be keeping this car in my family, and eventually passing it on to my kids someday...after my new wife & I have them, haha! Here's a few pictures. The GS will remain stateside for now, in my brother's care, next to his 71 Skylark 455 vert, and 455 powered 69 Sport Wagon. I still need to sort out a few issues. Speedometer is off. Rallye pack gauges aren't working. AC needs to be converted to R134. Mostly small stuff, but has to get done. Thanks to George (GStage1) for selling me his baby, and to my little brother Andy (Afracer) for helping me out while I'm overseas!
I know I'm real late to this post, but I always liked this car when it was for sale..Congrats on purchasing it..Have you done anything with it since? Doesn't look like it needs anything..:beer
It's currently getting taken down to bare metal again and straightened, hidden rust fixed (rear deck, hood had it BAD), then bumpers rechromed. I bought a lot of smaller items like the Retro Sound style BUICK radio that has iPod, cd changer, etc integration. Replaced horn button with one that works, 3" stainless exhaust with x-pipe, the 18" Torque Thrust wheels with modern rubber, rebuilt & tuned carb for setup, and a ton of small stuff. Hopefully I'll get a chance to spend some time with it in person this Christmas. My wife & I bought a small home here in Abu Dhabi recently, and it's taken EVERYTHING from me...dang thing is about 3-4 times the cost of a similar one in the U.S.! I was tired of putting over $30k a year into rent, and decided it would be smarter to put it into equity instead.
It's still in body shop prison...there's been a lot of little stuff hidden that's been uncovered, and has to be fixed. Of course, there's hidden rust around the rear window. My body man is advising me to change the front and rear glass, due to de-lamination from age...Sourcing a front windshield shouldn't be tough, but a rear one will be a bit tricky to find and not get ripped off. We decided on a color change, since it was already not the original color, and it's originality value is out the window with the engine swap (350 to 455), so I'd prefer to have it the way I want it. Was going to stay with GSX stripes, but decided to stay stripe free for now, and just have it painted properly in the new color. I can always add stripes later if I so choose. I'll be adding a chin spoiler and retaining the rear wing. I'm going with a color hue not available for the 1970 GS, a modern charcoal gray color, which is what I've had on several of my favorite cars over the past 15 years. This time it will be 2014 Nissan Amethyst Gray Pearl...has a lot of depth in person, with the mixture of metallic and pearl being cool. Down the road, an overdrive transmission swap will happen, as 3000 RPM at 65~ isn't cutting it these days. Leaning towards the 4L80e, but might entertain the newer 6 speed AT. It's about twice as much, but would definitely be better! http://www.butlerperformance.com/products/transmissions_components/tci_transmission_comp.html http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/tci-271600p/overview/ http://www.dragzine.com/project-car...d-transmission-in-project-maxstreet-chevy-ii/ http://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic-transmission/1414877-tci-6x-anyone-use-one.html
After 3 years, out of paint prison! Since it's not a numbers matching car, and had a Stage 1 455 swapped in place of its original 350, I decided to upgrade to a more modern paint and style. The other wheels will go back on, along with the pile of parts waiting since it went into the paint shop, hopefully! I recently relocated to Florida for a new job, and will have it brought down later after the weather up north settles down, and some much needed maintenance and misc. work has been completed! y
I've got chrome Amrican Racing Torque Thrust 2 18x9" Rear, 18x8" Front to go back on, now that the paint is done...
Nice Avatar. MadStrong right? My fantasy football team is The Burninators. Burninating the peasants. Nice car BTW. Cliff
If you haven't already purchased those wheels, consider Coys. They look similar, but don't have the extra lip in them, so it gives them a much deeper dish. My friend has them on his 67. I have Boyd Smoothie's on my 69, and they also have the "deep dish" look and I love it. http://www.coyswheel.com/coys.html Here is a pic of the polished C-5 wheel, they also come in chrome.
Nice, but 3 years too late. Already had the AR wheels on before, just removed them to preserve them during the body work, so no overspray and such. I agree, there are some better options out there now, but I'm pretty satisfied with the period correct appearance of the Torque Thrust II. I'm doing a mild restomod, to give some modern convenience and efficiency, but not to lose the original spirit of the car. I was considering dropping it down before, but decided to keep it original height, so I don't destroy my KB Headers.
Good call on the original height, you definitely would destroy your headers if you lowered it. I put shorty headers on my 69.
