GNX ,Prototypes,Parts,Build Info, EXC

[X Ray]

I we be using this thread to share with you some insight in the manufacturing of the vehicles along with some rare if not one off components. Please do not ask if I will be selling any of these items as I will not (sorry). The first pictures are the prototype GNX badges manufactured for several for several of prototype cars. It is made from steel that was lazar cut. The outer silver surround at one time also lazar cut but fell off. So for pictures of the vehicle (from 30 feet away ) it was painted and taped to simulate the periphery of the badge.

[Brocks GN]

Cool .

[BadAssGN]

Nice Stuff... Now I wont be able to sleep while I wait for your next post

[Roc87]

Thanks for sharing!

BTW, I love that X-RAY!!!! VERY NICE

[X Ray]

This is a picture of the prototype trans cooling lines next to the production lines.
I know they look primitive but we had to start some place. The next posting will be the BOM (Bill of Materials ) basically the GNX modifications on paper.

[DCVING 6]

Subscribed.

Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[carl defazio]

Thanks for taking the time to share all that great buick history with us !!!

[Sun Dog]

Thanks X Ray!


I crave any GNX info you care to give.

[X Ray]

Thanks for everyone’s nice comments ……This is the BOM. The bill of Materials is used to keep track of parts used in the manufacturing of the vehicles. A GNX on paper . If parts are changed in Form Fit or Function then a change in the BOM track this event. If you could see the entire BOM it is over 250 items long. The next installment will be a picture of prototype turbo shield.

[Hognose]

Great Info. Thank you so much, what a treat!

[X Ray]

This is a prototype turbo shield . This shield was not made at ASC and was given to me by the gentleman working with me from McLaren. I do not know the origin of manufacture. It is hard to tell from this pictures but some of the slots in the shield are longer them the production version. The overall shape was carried over to the production shield. The GNX was also cut into the production version. This part was painted gray and you can see in the picture from the inside of the part, that a sliver of material was added to make it longer.

[GNocide]

you should post pics the "hunt" line lock bracket-its almost oem

[X Ray]

By popular demand….Line Lock Bracket. (Not a GNX component just a part I made and sold at one time)

[GNocide]

nice-i got mine too

[GNocide]

yes i will use new bolts and re paint that before winters over

sorry so ugly but its been with me for a few years now

pics

[X Ray]

This is something that I almost forgot . I was going through some of my boxes in the basement looking for material to add to this thread and I came across this. Yes it is true we built a PPG pace car. This is a copy of the fax that authorized us to start building the vehicle. I wish I had a picture of the finished vehicle but do not….sorry . I do remember that it did look cool with the lights.

[GNX 233, 485]

Any clue where the car is now or what happened to it. Crazy that its floating around with no vin number installed.

[X Ray]

No but I am sure it was never titled or driven on public roads…race track only…

[GNocide]

how about the ever ellusive astro roof x

any info or history about that subject?

[X Ray]

The only vehicle I know that was modified at ASC tech center was GNX 33 the founder Heinze Prechter car (that was just sold). ASC had many franchise facilities that installed sunroofs in any vehicle. There may have been a vehicle modified at one of these facilities but you could have taken any vehicle to one of these outlets and had one put in. This is possible. Sorry that all I know on this subject.

[GNocide]

any word on how many t-top gns had the gnx rear suspension mod?

[X Ray]

No GNX that was manufactured for prototype or productions were built using a base vehicle with the T-Top option. All the vehicles came identically equipped to our facility before being modified. Now there were several prototype T –Type vehicles built for testing ….I am assuming this was done as a cost saving measure.

[X Ray]

I assume everyone is aware of the GNX jackets available when you purchased your vehicle….but did you know that members of the core team received this embroidery inside their jackets . One of my bosses at the time gave me mine.

GNX Jacket on e- bay $2000-$4000? Embroidered for your involvement PRICELESS!!!!

[1980monteturbo]

Hi X Ray

I'm really enjoying your " show and tell " thread.

I was wondering if you could tell a bed time story.
During development, was thier experimenting with different combinations on the motor that were radically too big or too small ( ie turbo , stall, gearing, ... ) and almost made it to production or tried anyway knowing it would never make it to production?
Do you remember the first time you had a chance to test drive the final approved version of the gnx ? What was your first impressions ?, At what point did you decide 'I want one' ..in white.
Any " Dukes of Hazzard " drives that the guys at the shop don't know about?

My apologies if I'm off topic .

Thanks for sharing, looking fwd to your next posts.

Steve.

[X Ray]

Let me start with the " Dukes of Hazzard " …that reminds me ……we started production of the vehicles and were having an issue with the speedometer bouncing between 45-55 miles an hour. It was my JOB to take the vehicles out and test them . These vehicles had a wide range of horsepower when first produced. Some were a bat out of hell new, and some took time to break in. I was driving to the freeway (remember this is my job ) and when I took a left to go to the freeway I spun it out (over 360) while accelerating in the corner. Needless to say it scared the *&&^*^& out of me. This was the fastest one I had been in and it had significantly more horsepower than most. There was no damage to the vehicle only to my driving ego . We did eventually change the location of the speedometer cable in all the production vehicles to correct this issue.

[GNocide]

Originally Posted by X Ray

No GNX that was manufactured for prototype or productions were built using a base vehicle with the T-Top option...

sweeet- sig material

[1980monteturbo]

Originally Posted by X Ray

…that reminds me ……

Great story X. Keep em coming.
( I bet the gnx'rs are out in the garage now looking for a flat spot on the rubber.)

[MeanBuicks]

Originally Posted by GNX 233, 485

Any clue where the car is now or what happened to it. Crazy that its floating around with no vin number installed.

I started pecking around the Web looking for info on the PPG GNX. Haven't found any yet but look at this PPG turbo Reatta with a GN hood bubble.

[DCVING 6]

Originally Posted by GNocide

sweeet- sig material

Kirban did reproduce the rear suspension and sell it to the public, so it is possible that there are quite a few T-top cars with the GNX rear suspension. He just means that your car did not receive it from the factory.

Actually 3-4 years ago, at a car show in Woodridge, there was a GNX clone with T-tops, even had a numbered dash plaque and everything.

[GNocide]

my car war one of the original test cars
i know all about it and had mine before he sold to the public

kirban sells yes-reproduces no
i helped install my own

7 years ago.........

[X Ray]

ASC had news letters that were available to all employees ….this is a copy (sorry for the bad quality) of two that had GNX information. The first is winter – spring of 1987 the second set is summer – fall of 1987. Now this is rarer then those $500 dollar magazines.

[6-b-kwik]

Originally Posted by MeanBuicks

I started pecking around the Web looking for info on the PPG GNX. Haven't found any yet but look at this PPG turbo Reatta with a GN hood bubble.

is that reatta anything special i have an old poster of that thing and wonder whats it driveline and such!!

[6-b-kwik]

pics of said poster!!

[troGNman]

Sorry to get off-track here, but 6-b-kwik, that PPG Pace Car is a Buick Skyhawk. A production Skyhawk T-Type would have had the 1.8 Turbo four. The Reatta did not make production until 1988.

X Ray, I find it intriguing that PPG would make a special GNX. PPG's previous cars have been highly customized versions of production cars with custom paint to ply their trade. At the time (mid '80s) PPG went out of their way to promote these wild creations in poster and ad form. Not one pic shows or mentions the PPG GNX. It may have been produced for 1 local race series and sold, who knows?

I'm not doubting its existense, just would like some more info on it.

BTW, keep the artifacts coming! It's cool to hear about this stuff from someone on the inside.

[X Ray]

More info…the vehicle was used in the Indy Car Series and was used for several years as it was serviced at McLaren engines more then once. The vehicle way equipped with the usual PPG upgrades required for their events including a roll cage, big brakes, fuel cell and external Weaver oil pump. Sorry as I do not have pictures of the vehicle but I’m working on it ….if I get one I will add it to this site. Regards Rick