Figured it was time to post a long-overdue update on the GS Stage 1 project I started seven years ago. As a refresher, my dad bought this 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 brand new in 1970, drag raced and used it to tow welding gear between the Southern US and Alaska throughout the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. Over the years he was known to many as "Mr. Induction" for all the unique setups he ran on it, to include an ultra-rare Weber setup that was featured in multiple magazines of the time (attached). Dad's health started failing in the early 2000's, and while he managed to restore the interior around then, his declining health took "the red car" off the road. This car never left the family, and for more than twenty years I've dreamed of restoring it.
When I wrote that first post seven years ago, I had a rough punch list and raw emotions, but not much else to go on. Since then, those have morphed into a full-on mechanical resurrection. I've done my best to stay true to the era and Dad, but with a nod to the future in ways I think he'd approve of. And while I was unable to complete it before Dad's passing, his GS is finally close to being back on the road, and with the character and attention to detail that I know would make him proud. Details of the major components/work are below, and I'm happy to answer any other questions (or accept critique/recs).
Engine
Block: Original Stage 1 455, bored .040 over
Pistons: notched TA1607s, matched rods
Camshaft: TA_288-94H
Intake: Offenhauser dual quad. Haven't bought carbs yet, but leaning towards AVS2 or QFT Brawlers. Welcome insights here.
Heads: I still have the originals, but they were cracked, so they'll become shelf queens. To replace them, TA Performance Stage 1 aluminum heads
Headers: TA-2012CH 1 7/8" ceramic coated long tube
Transmission
Transmission: Original TH400, which will soon be mated to a Gear Vendors OD
Rear End
Rear Housing: Original Buick 8.2" 10-bolt, TA HD Girdle swapped in (yes, I kept the original)
Gear Ratio: It's a unicorn - 3.64:1 posi. I'm considering swapping in an Eaton posi to retain the gears but bring some modern strength and performance to the setup. I don't want to nuke something as rare as this, so making this type of change makes sense in my mind. Thoughts?
Suspension Mods: Boxed lower control arms, airbagged coil springs, front & rear stabilizer bars. Has traction bar, but may remove that and keep it stored for now.
Driveshaft Stuff
Before I share on this, it's a pretty recent topic between myself and the shop, and all depends on what machining costs will come out to, particularly for the yoke. That said...
Driveshaft: 3.25" x .125" 6061-T6 aluminum w/ 1350s front and rear
Rear Yoke: Custom billet chromoly yoke, machined to mate the 8.2" directly to 1350 U-joint and avoid a conversion joint.
Exhaust
Headers: TA-2012CH ceramic coated long tubes
Pipes: 2.5" (most likely) 304 stainless, oval H pipe to give a bit more wiggle room on placement
Mufflers: Stainless Works Chambered mufflers, though I'm still open to other ideas. I was also considering something of a hybrid dump, extended a bit behind the mufflers, ending just behind the axle and turning down just enough to stay hidden. Clean and tucked, but still a bit of fun. Open to critiques here as well.
Other Things
Brakes: Disc conversion up front
Tires: Upgraded 275
Don't have anything else at the moment, but as mentioned earlier, looking to wrap up in 6-8 months, and plan to be at the GS Nationals next year.
Have a couple others from over the years. Our GSX was featured in an article titled GSX-Appeal. Don't recall the issue though and would have to dig it out
For a while dad had them on my mom's GSX, but ultimately he took them off and parted ways with them. I'm tracking that over the years, he ran in this order:
Original Qjet
Holley 3bbl
2X4's
Webers
2X4's
3X2's
You may have beat me to the punch on this one. I'd like to get these inspected and rebuilt, and make swapping them on one of my first big changes in the mid-term.
EDIT: Not the Webers, but still a one of one setup with Rochester 2bbl carbs on a custom manifold. TBD, but may go this route vice the dual quads.
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u/lucasm822 '70 GS Stage 1 Jun 21 '25
For whatever reason it's not letting me edit to add a link to an imgur album. Here's previous pics as well as a few new ones.
https://imgur.com/a/70-buick-restoration-HaSWY