RideTech

Jasper, IN View More Vehicles

Vehicle Quick Facts

Profile ID: 16645
Year: 1970
Make: Buick
Model: GSX
Markets: Muscle Car, Performance, Resto-Mod
Vehicle Type: American
Contact: RideTech

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Vehicle Story

Engine

455 Buick  +.040” overbore / stock stroke

440RWHP / 444RWTQ

Aluminum heads from TA Performance

Camshaft and rocker arm system from TA Performance

External Peterson belt drive oil pump

Custom EFI system with TA Performance intake manifold, Big Stuff 3 ECU, MSD throttle body, and custom fuel rails

MSD distributor, 6AL ignition box, and plug wires

Custom accessory drive system using late model GM alternator and power steering pump, and a Sanden AC compressor from Vintage Air – built by John Hochgesang at the RideTech shop

The engine was built by Greg Schneider at the RideTech shop.

1 7/8 tube headers from TA Performance

Custom built 2.5” stainless exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers built by Kurt Blackgrove at the RideTech shop

Stainless EFI tank from Rick’s Stainless Tanks

Transmission is a ZF 6 speed from a C4 ZR1 Corvette

Centrforce DYAD clutch

B&M shifter with custom shifter handle built by John Hochgesang at the RideTech shop

Moser 12 bolt GM rearend with Tru Trac posi and 4:11 rear gear

Suspension – complete RideTech Level 2 coilover system that includes StrongArm tubular upper and lower front control arms, modular front swaybar, HQ Series rebound adjustable coilovers shocks, StrongArm rear 4 link bars, 1” rear swaybar, and HQ Series rebound adjustable rear coilovers. 12.7:1 steering box from Turn One

Wheels – Forgeline ZX3 18×11 rear and 18×10 front

Tires  – Falken Azenis 615K 275-35R18 front and 295-40R18 rear

Brakes – Baer 14” rotor with 6 piston 6P calipers and a Baer billet ReMaster brake master cylinder and proportioning valve

Body – Saturn Yellow paint that was applied at least 16 years ago by a previous owner. Flat black GSX stripes redone by the Dennis Neihaus at the RideTech shop in 2015. Original GSX front and rear spoilers.

Interior – custom leather Cerullo seats, aluminum hammerformed console covered in black leather with USB and 12v power ports inside console lid, hidden Kicker stereo with Bluetooth / Iphone connection, custom gauges by Classic Instruments, LeCarra leather steering wheel, IDIDIT tilt steering column, custom leather door panels with Spal power windows, several tons of Dynamat. Dakota Digital cruise control and Vintage Air AC system

 

“I bought this car off Ebay in 2004. At that time it had a mostly stock 455,  TH400 transmission, and a bench seat. I drove it like that for a year or so then replaced the automatic with the ZF 6 speed and installed the Cerullo seats. We installed the Moser 12 bolt and RideTech ShockWave air  suspension at that same time.  We built the EFI 455 in 2006. I autocrossed the car in that configuration at many Goodguys events across the country. In 2008 when we expanded into coilovers, we did a shock test with Hotrod magazine and used this car for that test with coilovers on it. We hurt the motor during that test and the car sat for a few years until we freshened up the engine and engine bay in 2015/2016. After the most recent upgrades we took the car to the Cruisin the Smokies autocross in Pigeon Forge, TN, and then on the inaugural Cars N Cone Roadtrip in May. An intermittent distributor module ended up hurting a couple pistons on that trip, so we freshened up the engine again. The engine made 560hp on the engine dyno, and a recent trip to the chassis dyno at Norris Motorsports yielded 440 RWHP and 444RWTQ.

This is definitely one of my favorite cars to drive [and I have quite a few]. It handles and rides like my CTSV Cadillac, and the cruise control, stereo, AC and Cerullo seats allow that to happen in extreme comfort. As I am writing this, we have the car on the Goodguys Hero’s and Legends Tour from Chicago to Texas. The mileage is not great…15-17…but the fun makes up for it. I don’t autocross the car that much anymore because, frankly, I have faster cars for that. But it will still keep up with all but the most serious of Pro Class cars at a Goodguys event. I ran it on the dragstrip at Bowling green a couple laps…by memory I think it ran a 12.60 @118mph on worn out street tires.

I love the A body GM cars…they fit me like a worn out couch. They have plenty of room in the engine bay and the interior, and they respond to simple bolt-on suspension upgrades very nicely. My parents always had Buicks when I was a kid, so I guess that is where my Buick affliction started.”

–Bret Voelkel

Build Sheet

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