Page 1 2
Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
A Grateful American |
If you like the snail powered Buicks, as well as all the V8s, make an effort to attend the GS Nationals in Bowling Greene KY. There are quite a few Gran Nationals, Type-Ts, Turbo Regals, and GNXs that run, and a large number of all sorts of Buicks, from mild to wild. In the middle of May 2021. http://www.gsnationals.com It's a blast! (I plan on running my "Stepchild")  "the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" ✡ Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא שוב! | |||
|
delicately calloused |
I raced one of those back in 87 just East of the Alabama border on I20. I was in my 68 Firechicken doing 65-ish. He pulled up and it was on. He was faster but limited at 130 mph. Mine wasn't, so I left him.  You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier | |||
|
| His diet consists of black coffee, and sarcasm.  |
My brother has a 1987 Grand National (turbo but not GNX), bought new in 1987. I don't know how many miles, but not very many. | |||
|
Telecom Ronin |
Awesome story | |||
|
| Never miss an opportunity to STFU |
I worked in Buick engineering at that time. My group developed the Turbos (T-type, GN and GNX). They were all interesting cars. The GNX has over 90 model specific parts that came from individual suppliers. One of the reasons that car had a fast 1/4 time was that it was designed to hook up well off the line,instead of spinning and smoking like the Mustangs. The turbo was made by Garret Airesearch and was a 2.5 on the GNX, as opposed to the 2.0 on other turbo models. The big break through was when the intercooler was added to turbo cars, and provided a dramatic power increase. The wastegate on the GNX was also programmed to provide more boost at WOT. Fun times back then. I used to drive several them as my company cars. The most fun was going to Detroit or Milford Proving grounds. Every one with a hot car wanted to race you on the freeway. My favorite car was a baby blue century wagon. We yanked the drive train and installed the full turbo treatment and RWD. That car embarrassed a lot of folks trying out run us. It is true some Feds bought some turbo cars. In fact the FBI called me and asked why the cars would only do 125 (127 actually). I told them they were speed limited by the tires. They wanted more, so one of the big tuners made us up a quantity of ECM chips to send to them. Great times back then. I still have a few left over parts, but technology has come a long way since then. Never be more than one step away from your sword-Old Greek Wisdom | |||
|
| Page late and a dollar short |
True. They were outfitted as regular Regals, chrome bumpers and trim, vinyl tops, no "sport" aluminum wheels, just looking like everyday Regals. The speedometers indicated in excess of the normal 85 mph, I can't remember but it was either 120 or 150. I had a request from a friend that wanted one of the FBI speedometers for his GN but they were restricted by GM for sale, had to have a VIN number of one so equipped to get another one. When there's a will there is a way. A friend at a factory authorized speedometer shop found out that he could order the faceplate for one, it was a simple matter for him to internally reset that speedometer head to read correctly after he replaced the faceplate. He did the same thing for me in '77, my El Camino had a speedometer from a Chevelle police car, 2 mph increments from 0-120 instead of the 85 mph factory maximum. -------------------------------------—————— ————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman) | |||
|
Res ipsa loquitur |
My aunt had a GNX, she took me for a ride in it one day. She didn't drive slow.  __________________________ | |||
|
Ammoholic |
My friend has a T-type. It was our high school buddies car, when he died, his family wanted the car to live one with one of his friends. One friend was was able to step up and buy it, so he lives on through his car and we all get to see pictures and updates on it on his Face Book account. It's a awesome vehicle. The interior isn't perfect, but the outside looks good. Jesse Sic Semper Tyrannis | |||
|
| Page late and a dollar short |
greco, Your comment about the Century wagon with a RWD conversion reminded me of a "skunk works" from Ford Engineering. I got a ride in a Windstar with a 4.6 FWD from a Continental. The looks we got from the 5.0 Mustang crowd when they were dusted by a minivan was priceless. You would think that the Continental aluminum wheels, dual tailpipe tips and the Michigan "M" (manufacturer) plates would have made them think "Maybe this is not a good idea!" BTW, the intake noise was awesome! -------------------------------------—————— ————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman) | |||
|
Member |
I had an 87" Mustang GT and those Grand Nationals were one of the few factory cars that could best mine. After those turbo's would spool up they would just walk away! A true well built American muscle car. Regards, Will G. | |||
|
Member |
My now departed best buddy was 100% into 1/4 mile drag racing. When I first met him, he had a ‘68 Camaro which blew the doors off of most of the street racers of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s there in Houston. That got totaled by a crash to the rear. He got another ‘68, and he transferred the motor over to it. Then it was totaled the same way. He then got a 70 1/2 Z28 with an LT1 350. After running with the motor, he eventually put in a Chevrolet Bowtie big block. It was one of the fastest street cars in the US at the time, and he was even featured in either Hotrod or Popular Hotrodding back in a fastest street car shootout. In addition, he got his wife an IROC Z28 while he got an ‘87 Buick GNX. He also had the Camaro with the same turbo Buick motor, but I can’t remember what it was called. I just remember the winged emblem on the side. Other than his ability to fine tune his ‘rods, nitrous oxide was his form of forced induction. He wasn’t a fan of blowers or turbos...until those turboed Regals and Camaros came out. He did a little work to the GNX, and I can’t remember if it was to the turbo and/or the intercooler, but it was CRAZY faster than stock. With the largest slicks he could fit to it, he would come off the line SO hard after spooling up that tubrbo that it rivaled his ‘70 1/2 Z28 with the bored out Bow tie motor and nitrous. He did a little bit of work to the turbo Camaro, but since that was his wife’s car, he didn’t want to modify it too much - still it was crazy fast anyway. My buddy was well known on the streets of Houston in the late ‘70s and ‘80 and then on his the streets of his hometown of Tucson after that. I was at the hospital holding him as he died from what killed his father and eventually his brother- muscular dystrophy. He did all of his work and racing while confined to a wheelchair. Still thinking of you, Bob Arnold!!! Retired Texas Lawman | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
© SIGforum 2024