I found an article about optional engines in 66 Wildcats, and I cut this out. Was there really such an engine? The Wildcat 465 was rated 340 hp. The 1966 Buick Wildcat remained much of the same with an addition of the Wildcat Gran Sport option that was only offered in '66, and included a chrome-plated air cleaner, cast aluminum rocker arm covers, dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension, Posi-Traction rear end, and GS identification plates for the front and rear. This engine and performance option was known as the Y48, A8 or the Wildcat 465 and was rated for 380 hp. A very rare option with less than 25 believed to be produced.
I'd say the article is wrong.... The Wildcat GS had the same Q-jet equipped 425 as the standard 425, but had the alum valve covers and chrome air cleaner....which aren't worth 40 hp! There was a mid-year 2x4 carb option, rated at 360hp. I'm thinking that was option code A9?
Hp rating 360. Torque 465 ft/lbs. Buick claimed only 20 hp for the dual-quad setup. This is probably realistic.
Typo. In '66, On the Skylark GS models, Buick did offer a 401 with the q-Jet on it. Another option was the 11.0:1 compression ratio engine. I don't know if Buick ever released any hp ratings on these engines.
I can't remember where I saw it, but I read that the 66 GS with the Q jet equipt 401 was rated 360 hp
Buick advertised the mid-year HP Skylark GS A9 option at 340 hp. It was a 401 with the old '091 cam, a Q-jet carb, and the 2x4 distributor. Only 136 built. I have one.:grin: There was also a hi-compression 11:1 version available. HP was 'unrated'. Freaking Jimmy has like 3 of those cars!.... yeah, I'm jealous!
That kinda sounds like a pontiac code,y48. Anyone ever read a 1/4 mile test from back in the day of the A9 or the 377 hp cars? Just wondering how much the cam , Qjet a dist. are worth. Still trying to figure out the 12 or 15 sleeper cars they built 1/4 times. I never did see any time slips from any of them. Just wondering
i have a ad for a new 66 buick gs, right in the ad it said 340 hp with the q-jet. the q-jet was 750 cfm and the carter was only 575 cfm that was on my 65 gs i know everybody says the stock carb is 625 cfm but mine was a 575cfm, the nailhead likes big carbs when i put the 750 edelbrock and open air cleaner on a stock 401 it was good for 2 tenths . 11:1 was talked about in hemmings muscle cars and said 337 hp.
The NHRA site shows the 11:1 engine rated at 332 hp. ......but Buick rated the the lower CR 10.25:1 version at 340 hp (with the Q-jet option)o No:. Stock 401 was rated at 325 hp. Jimmy and I are still trying to figure out how someone could order the 11:1 version in 1966.... and how many were built. It wasn't a production option. Must've been some sort of special order thing. The only 'sleeper' car I know of that exists is the Flint Flyer.... that one had a stroker 401.:bglasses: The former owner said 13 were built. Some of the road tests back in the day did show the Q-jet option on the 401 GS. CAR Craft May '66, Modern Rod (13.82@102.7), and Motor Trend July '66 (14.0 @ 101).... The CC article says NHRA legal cars were running 12.9 to 13.6 @ 105-109 mph. They had better gas back then. Yeah, that's it!:laugh:
Walts right again, when i looked it up its 332 hp for the 11:1 engine. memory plays tricks. so buick was saying 3/4 point of compression is worth 7 hp on a 10.25 motor.
Ya walt, the flint flyer is what I was talking about when I said "sleeper". I was wondering how much faster they were over the factory upgraded cars you could order. I did read the write up on it but dont recall the times. Thanks for the info guys:gp:
I remember a thread several years ago that mentioned that Jimmy S. was thinking about writing a book on the Nailhead GS cars. I even remembering writing to him and saying that I'd be delighted to put in my order for the first copy. I wonder if the idea ever went anywhere?
Any of these cars available in 65? I know the Q-jet wasnt a option untill 66. Wonder if they had any factory upgrades in 65
