We’ve been on a bit of a carb’ed LS kick around here lately. Now we know that you hardcore late model LS folks think that anyone who ditches EFI in favor of a carburetor is off their rocker. But we say if it works, then why the heck not?
Take for example Steven Balusik’s wicked 1965 Buick Skylark. Balusik’s Buick is powered by a stock-bottomed 6.0L LQ9 with a set of ported LS6 heads from Texas Speed and a relatively mild bumpstick with a duration of 226/234 degrees. The LQ9 is topped off with an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake manifold and a 950 Holley carburetor, and the stock coil packs get lit up by MSD’s 6LS ignition specifically for carb’ed LS engines. Best of all, Balusik has a big hit of nitrous in the Skylark for drag strip duty.
It’s a nice and simple combo that runs the numbers too. In the video you see above, Balusik sprays the carbed LQ4 to a 10.44 at 129 MPH, with a stellar short time of 1.48. Again, if it works that well, how can anyone say that carbs and LS engines don’t mix?
If you want to see more footage of Balusik’s Buick in action, check out his YouTube channel. He has several other videos of the Skylark running mid 10s, and even a few showing off some of the car’s stealthy features like the hidden nitrous controls.