Racing & Driving with Buick Turbo V6 Powered Cars

[TRiv]

Would like to know what types of racing and driving experiences anyone has had with
Buick turbo powered cars (besides 1/8 & 1/4 mile), such as road racing, rallys, oval track
etc., with any type car: Grand National, factory produced body/chassis i.e. Corvettes,
F bodies,Mustangs, RX-7's, etc. kit cars, customs, etc. with Buick Turbo engines.
Particulary interested in type of transmissions used for any of the above. While
handling characteristics depends on vehicle type, are there limitations to the Buick
Turbo engines when selecting a transmission? Popular concensus shows automatics
used for 1/4 mile racing, how about other types of racing or road driving? I am building a
Buick Turbo powered mid-engine custom using a TH325-4L transmission and am looking for general performance and driveability characteristics with the Buick engines and
selected transmissions.

 

[TRiv]

Am I on the wrong forum or out there with my question? Just would like to know if Buick turbo 6 powered cars (most probably automatics) can perform in corners and curves, or limited to straight line performance? Can anyone say something?

 

[IronEagle119]

I know there are some that auto-x, and I believe there have been good results. I think you should just give the guys that have a lil more time maybe they just passed over the thread.

 

[jsta6]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=35150&referrerid=3922

 

[BJM]

I have taken my Buick to two lapping days at the Shannonville Ontario track. While I found the car handled fine I don't think the turbo engine makes for a good race engine, at least with the automatic. Coming out of a hard turn its hard to modulate the power level since the turbo spools up and can spin you around. On top of that the automatic might downshift on you and the spool time drops to nothing. I had fun but if I was to build a race car up I would stick to N/A or supercharged engines which are more consistent.

 

[BM Computer Src]

I enjoy road racing the GN and my new TTA. The GN engine is excellent (my opinion) because of the incredible torque in the low RPM range. This pushed the car out of the turns and allowed my GN to hang with a ZO6, all the way around the track. My TTA will allow me to "hand it to them". I'm going to Sebring again in September, the 21st/22nd. $250 drivers school.

www.sunshinebeemer.com

contact me for more info, and good luck with whatever you end up building.

 

[TRBON8R]

This pushed the car out of the turns and allowed my GN to hang with a ZO6, all the way around the track.

Cool, if you're hanging with a Z06 you must be doing something right!!! How has your engine/trans stood up to this type of racing? Do you have any cooling problems? Thanks.

 

[Racer X]

Originally posted by TRiv
...Particulary interested in type of transmissions used for any of the above. While
handling characteristics depends on vehicle type, are there limitations to the Buick
Turbo engines when selecting a transmission? Popular concensus shows automatics
used for 1/4 mile racing, how about other types of racing or road driving? I am building a
Buick Turbo powered mid-engine custom using a TH325-4L transmission and am looking for general performance and driveability characteristics with the Buick engines and
selected transmissions.

In my experience, the transmission does a lot of hunting on a road course...unless you manually shift the trans. I have had great experiences driving my GN on road courses. Along with the trans build up I would definately get the biggest cooler you can on that puppy.

As for the turbo and the road course, it does take some getting used to so that you don't get into a power induced oversteer. The CART guys are using turbos, so they can work.

One big issue that I have run into is power steering. The PS fluid always boils on me, but I have yet for fry the pump (so far). The cure for this is an underdrive pulley set to slow down the accesories and a cooler. Before too long, and if you road race enough, you will have these little radiator hanging all over you car

Just remember that when you are Road Racing you are on the track for 30 minutes at a time and that is going to build heat...and a lot of it. Heat is bad. It's bad for the car and it's bad for the driver

Hope that helps and good luck! Have fun!

 

[BM Computer Src]

Thanks for the compliment, turbon8r. They held up just fine. We ran no more than 20 psi, due to the fact that we're on it so much. The typical session is 30 minutes long, which really means 30 minutes of WOT. We went through 2 tanks of gas in 2 days.

For cooling, my 3 core radiator, temps got to 205. My father in law's 4-core got to 185. We both have quality external transmission coolers, which is required when doing this much beating on a car.

Check out me and the ZO6 here:
Video #4, ZO6 and I both pass a BMW on the front stretch (better video of the two):
www.bmcomputersource.com/videos/bobzo6-2.mpg

You can see all the videos from my old thread:
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41818&referrerid=1247

 

[TRiv]

Thanks to everyone for the replies, short on time right now, will reply later with e-mails with personal thanks to this thread. The responses help a lot and confirms that using the Buick turbo v-6 will work in this project, just have to work with what combinations of components to use. Special thanks to BM Computer Src for the video, everyone should check that out. Question, is that the turbo making the jet noise as it goes by?! Thanks again.

 

[BM Computer Src]

Thats right, thats the turbo making that sweet, sweet sound!