It's Alive!!!
My 87' buick grandnational lives again,(please read below)12-31-09,Orlando,FL,USA..Brand new GN1 Stroker motor..This time " I " did all the work!! vs paying for blown-up motors from KDK Performance an/or Lamotta Performance,both in FL an supossed speacilist...8^/....If your cars at either of these shops above in Florida,i feel for you!!!..
Update! July 27th 2010
The ROH drift wheels an Falken autocross tires are on,Aerospace disk brakes all around,TRZ tubular control a-arms front an upper in the back..Cars Very close to the GNX conversion an Brand New Paint!!
The Story of this car..
Brought out storage,in year 2000
had 2 differant motor builds both whipe the camshafts,little known to people back then was the camshaft manufactors fault ,the cams metal was flawed
2000..
the car goes to Bowling Green Custums in Alt GA,
He has it 4 years, charges me $14,000 for Yeap,straight from his shop a Whiped camshaft!!!
2005..
Car goes to KDK Performance in FL
gone billit rollor cam
$8000 rebuild,car blows up 1/2 track at 110mph
3 total rebilds all i payed for,Dynoed an to the track same thing, 1/2 track garnade First Run !!
4th new motor bought an payed for, i pull car out KDK
spend over $30,000 in cash an parts totaling over 3 years
2008..
I call Cal Hartline,He recommeds Lamotta performance
The new motor from KDK goes striaght on the Dyno an BOOM!! headgasket launches as all the times before
I asked if Lamotta can fix it, an add GNX style dash an new Intercooler,6 months later motors done at Heartbeat racing engines,Even though Lamottoa dropped my motor to him for whatever reason i had to go pick it up.(that cost the tranny in my truck!)After Lamotta installs the motor an fires it,I called Jake an he said i quote "Its fine, ready to go"..I pick it up, Its belowing white smoke out the exshuast,water temps high, oil pressuers all over the place!!!,,the dash speedo don't work, (the whole reason i had the GNX dash kit Installed!!) an the grill ,Lamotta broke the headerpanel flap so my Grill dangles in place,had to buy whole new pannel,won't mention them storing my car under a car on lift that leaked fuild
$13,000 in total back to square one
Piston pin was riding up an down the #4 cylinder wall
2009..
Car stays in My Garage..
Dave at Heartbeat racing engines rebuilt an sleves the damage piston pin cylinder an i have him add GN1 stroker kit..The Motors now perfect an i have over 2000miles on it
Today July 27th 2010 the cars at ProFab in Tampa having Matt inspected the suspenion along with the brakes,Possiably adding a 6 point roll cage...8^)
Moral to this build,Try your Hardest to Have one All-in-One shop work on your car,Or you'll get the Third person run around,(example), Oh i'll take your car an your money,but its the machist fault or part builders fault why nothing works,pay us, blame them...
First time you here that....Run!!!
Get all work in Writing,You might need it later
Buick Grand National For sale-nicest around
This is my 1986 Grand National,its as clean as they get and pretty fast for a 6 cylinder..Its for sale for 18,000..Everything is new inside and out and all the underneath also!!
Email me
tommynos@verizon.net
Buick Grand National Burnouts
Film by Nelson Febus, all credit to him please check out his site
www.febusfilms.com
Buick's of all kind doing burnouts...
Brett Wallace - 1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL (GNX CLONE) MODIFIED 13.2 at 105 mph -- 12's Spring 2010
Brett Wallace
1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL
(GNX CLONE #007)
Sept 2010 Updated Video Tour - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT8PPcJwrOA
87 GN Hard Top - Purchased March 4, 2008
March 4, 2008 -thru- May 10, 2009 -- Engine/Upgrade/Mods
Keystone turbo Rims from 1988,
2009 Cooper Cobra Radials 235/60/R15
3" Front Mount Intercooler
F-Body Alum. Radiator with Dual Fans, TA 49 turbo,
3" DownPipe with External Wastegate & Boost Controller,
turboTweak 93 Chip and 60 pound Injectors,
3" Stainless Steel Dual Exhaust, Tie Down Strap,
Scanmaster, A-Pillar Knock & 30 psi Boost Gauges,
New Shocks, Brakes, Rotors, Plugs, Wires, New Front & Rear Bumper Fillers, New Head Light Bezels, New Grill, New Wiper/Radiator Overflow containers & Caps, New Steering Wheel with Billet Buick Tri-Shield Horn Cap,
XP Plus Fuel Pump, Adjustabe Fuel Pressure Regulator, 160 Degree Thermostat, RJC Plenum Powerplate, Front & Rear Seat Brace Kit Pkge, Vacuum Brake Conv., 30% Side & Rear Window Tint.
May 2009 - Always Driven (Never Trailered) from Kaukauna, WI -to- Bowling Green, KY for the Buick GS Nationals, then to Portland, Maine summer of 2009, then driven back to Wisconsin.
BEST ET 13.2 at 105 MPH on 235/60/R15 Cooper Cobra Street Radials, 20 pounds Boost, no knock, Stop-N-Go...
Rear End & Suspension Parts Installed July 2009
HRpartsNstuff New Rear Anti-Roll/Super Swaybar
HRpartsNstuff Dbl. Adjustable Upper Control Arms
HRpartsNstuff Lower Control Arms
HRpartsNstuff Dual Air Bags
Part 1 - Restore to street driven quality - Check!
Part 2 - Modify for drag racing/show car - Check!
Part 3 - Convert GN to GNX Clone - work in progress
GNX Parts acquired, waiting for installation!!!
GNX Wheels, Flares, Vents, Stewart Warner Gauges, Decals, Badges, Dash Plaque, GNX Head Rests, GNX turbo Shield... oops the GNX turbo shield doesn't fit with 3" downpipe with external wastegate & Boost controller!
87 Turbo Buick 11.42/121mph pass
June 26, 2009 - Baseline testing for the next upgrade. Funny part is Mustang before me forgets to close his hood. Not so funny as my tires cool down waiting for him to get his act together. That rattling noise after launch is a lesson learned on how much the tranny actually moves under load and how much clearance to maintain from rotating parts...oops.
A Tribute to Turbocharged Buicks
The Smoking Tire heads out to Fontana, CA for a drag strip meetup with the guys from turboBuick.com and learns about the one-time "fastest car in America," the Buick Grand National.
