[77 TRASHCAN]

72, thanks for getting that awful looking paint off the car!!

I have always liked those cars, but wondered how the engines held up either the crappy oiling systems that Buick’s had????

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

I always liked them. My wife has a pretty nice 87. She bought it to replace an 85 Regal Limited she owned for twenty years. The car is great to drive but really needs a taller center console box to support one's arm (or atleast mine).

Back in the day, these cars were easy to make very fast and still be totally streetable. Not many knew much about turbo cars and the previous cars that didn't have an intercooler were nothing to fear. I also remember the Conquest TSI being quick but eventually the Toyota Supra's seemed to pull away from them all.

A buddy bought one new and was hanging out at the arcade wearing a shirt the said "Buick GN King of the road we brake for Corvettes" a fellow that owned a new Corvette took offense and ended up racing the GN. After three failed attempts to win he went home.

Wow that looks like it's in great shape! You're 100% right about the console. They look great, but they're awkward when driving. I have one of those aftermarket console top things that give you somewhere to put your arm, and it has cupholders.

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

72, thanks for getting that awful looking paint off the car!!

I have always liked those cars, but wondered how the engines held up either the crappy oiling systems that Buick’s had????

I felt much better as soon as the sandpaper hit that paint lol

The engines hold up very well. They're stout little things. Currently running 20psi on stock internals with no issues at all. Once I get the meth injection installed and a good front mount intercooler I'll be increasing the boost up to around mid 20's.

[kingbuzzo]

haha great story Paul - I heart those corvette stories...

[Jay S]

Awesome rescue, I say rescue because someone needed to rescue that car from that custom paint job!

I have wanted a GN ever since the Musclecars Magazine did the side by side comparison with a red LS 6 Chevelle and it was neck and neck down the strip in 1986.

One of my buddies dad bought a new black T type with the GN engine. He drove it too 120K+ miles with nothing done to the engine, usually got mid 20s mpg. It ran low 13s on the tune he had in it. He just sold the car a few years ago, I would have loved to have it but it was gone before I even knew he wanted to sell it.

[turbo69bird]

Two guys in CT that are well known for GNs are Brian Bissonette and James Meyer James has TONS of GN parts (about 10000 sq ft worth, if anyone is looking and Brian does transmissions and engines.

[Tom Vaught]

At one time I think Cliff did some Buick Trans work too.

Tom V.

[trishieldchief]

Buick Turbo Regals are amazing cars.

I have had my 87 GN since 1989 and have owned about a dozen 1987 Buick Regal Turbo T's and Turbo T Limited's over the years, very addictive cars.

[mgarblik]

I remember going to Supercar Showdown, run by Chuck Green out of Ohio. This was the late 1980's. It was the precursor of the NMCA. Grand Nationals were abundant in those days and guys would just drive them in off the street and enter these events. They were absolutely dominant in all the classes. Knocking off one beautiful Corvette, GTO, 442, Camaro, Mustang after another. It was so bad at one event, that by the end of the day it was just a sea of black, all the old muscle cars had been put on the trailer by the hoard of GN's. People in the stands were booing them all day long, throwing hot dogs and drinks at the track. It was crazy. So bad that they finally had to create a specific class for the GN's and T-Types.

[72projectbird]

Got the emblems and trim on. Took it for a quick spin before the sun was totally gone.

[PAUL K]

Looks great!

[kingbuzzo]

Turned out great...good work

[Matt Meaney]

that looks sharp. well done.

[Dennis H.]

Take a look at this video of a very unique and fast GN. I have never heard one that sounds like this one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU8G...el=AutotopiaLA

[Dennis H.]

I know it is actually a T-Type with an LS motor, but man, what a sound!

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Dennis H.

I know it is actually a T-Type with an LS motor, but man, what a sound!

Definitely sounds rowdy. Almost has a Nascar sound to it.

I'd love to do a sequential trans in something someday, but Jesus they're expensive!

[Mr Anonymous]

I absolutely LOVE the g-body platform, I bet Ive owned, sold, parted, etc over 50 of them. I still have an 84 H/O, an 87 Cutlass Salon, and wagon we originally did for my son. An 83 Cutlass Cruiser, done as a Hurst Olds. In the last 3 weeks, its gone from a 350olds/TH350/2.29 7.5 car to a 433" olds, and 8.5 rear with 3.73. Pics soon, it is making good progress. We initially did it for his 16th birthday, and a speeding ticket in front of his school prompted a now-intelligent switch to a high economy, low power Honda Civic. Now we are building a fun cruiser. Next step is overdrive.

[kingbuzzo]

Maybe if I won the lotto I could satisfy by GN curiosity...lol

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-buick-gnx-35/

[Mr Anonymous]

I had a neighbor that was a GM engineer in MI during the week, came back to SW Ohio on the weekends. Did a lot of brake research. He had access to all sorts of "mules" that were used to sort out the various platforms. He LOVED the GN and T-type platform, and drove home a handful of GNs in colors that never made production (red looked really good, blue not so much). He had one early one when they played with turbo sizing. You could whip its ass from a dead stop with a vespa for the first 80 feet, then the boost came in, the car went sideways, and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. He got killed during my senior year of high school on a work trip to Portugal. Hit head on.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Mr Anonymous

I had a neighbor that was a GM engineer in MI during the week, came back to SW Ohio on the weekends. Did a lot of brake research. He had access to all sorts of "mules" that were used to sort out the various platforms. He LOVED the GN and T-type platform, and drove home a handful of GNs in colors that never made production (red looked really good, blue not so much). He had one early one when they played with turbo sizing. You could whip its ass from a dead stop with a vespa for the first 80 feet, then the boost came in, the car went sideways, and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. He got killed during my senior year of high school on a work trip to Portugal. Hit head on.

Damn, that's awful. Sounds lile he lived a pretty cool life.

The boost is definitely like a light switch. I was bombing around in it the other day, and it's hilarious how for the first 1-2 seconds under full throttle theres nothing, followed by 20lbs instantaneously. Definitely a lot different than more modern turbo cars. I love it

[mzbk2l]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

The boost is definitely like a light switch. I was bombing around in it the other day, and it's hilarious how for the first 1-2 seconds under full throttle theres nothing, followed by 20lbs instantaneously. Definitely a lot different than more modern turbo cars. I love it

You definitely learn to drive a turbo car differently if you're planning to floor it... I'll creep up on some throttle to bring the manifold pressure to around zero and then hit it if I want the instantaneous throw-you-back-in-your-seat feeling that's always there with a roots blower.