Another G-body...

[Turbo T]

Hello all,

I am currently cleaning up an '87 Buick Turbo T (read: fixing the previous owner's mistakes) for street/strip duty while stationed at Fort Gordon, GA. Should be roadworthy in a few weeks, but my ultimate goal is an 11-second car that will handle like a Vette. The 11-second part is well on it's way :naughty:, but over the next 8 months or so, I would like to address the Regal's handling prowess (or lack thereof). I'm one of the only domestic guys in a predominantly import/auto-x oriented "club", and among other things, I'd like to show these guys that American cars car turn too. Great bunch of guys, and they've got some respectable rides, all turbo'd, NO RICE (11-second Talon, 12-second Silvia, 13-second Sileighty, etc), they just seem to think that a Buick is a strip-only car. I'd simply like to beat them at their own game.

Here are my other rides, currently waiting for me back home in Connecticut.

1973 Dodge Challenger R/T 340ci .30 over, cam, headers, mild build, just a cruiser. Managed to get a deal on this before they started going through the roof. Total investment is still well under $10K.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
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'79 T/A 6.6L w/ 60K original miles I picked up in California. Came out ahead on this one (you don't want to know how much I paid). Too nice to mod. Probably selling this one in the near future.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
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Also got an '80 Z28 back home waiting to be turned into a Trans Am style racer. Hopefully it'll end up with a turbo'd small block and a T56.

This is the current state of "progress" on the Turbo T. TE-60, Dutt. Neck, Big Mouth CAI, Hemco Intake, 62MM TB, 009's w/ chip, THDP, dump pipe, elec. cutout, and the usual goodies. More pics will follow as the car becomes more presentable. And yes, that's a real Z3 Coupe. Nope, not mine. Handles like a dream though. :headbang:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Sorry if the pics are too big. Having trouble resizing them.

Well that about does it. Can't wait to check out some of the other rides on here.

Todd

[SicMonte]

nice nice nice nice nice!!!!!! First, and foremost, welcome to this site!!

I have a 1988 Monte Carlo SS. I am in the same situation that you are in...tying to make a g-body handle better. I found a lot of answers on ths site. I just recentlly had the rear frame rail notched for bigger tires and have a "mild" sus pension build. I had the guys up at SC&C do the work. Mark up there is a g-body guru. You have to call him and pick his brain. www.SCandC.com They are a sponsor of this site.

I had them notch the rear frame to fit 315/35/17 tires on 17x11 rims...they installed the vari-shocks in the rear...did a nascar style boom tube exhaust...replaced all the body bushings and did some major repair to the metal around them...6 point cage...g body front chassis brace...bilstein shocks and moog springs with ZQ8 bump stops up front...SC&C stage 2 kit (adjustable upper control arms with taller upper and lower ball joints)...and I had them do some other small stuff. Wow what a difference!!!!! The car handles like a dream and out runs my friends 02 WS6 Trans Am now...just awesome. Definatlly give them a call!!!!

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Welcome to the site, Todd. You've got some great cars; good luck on the buick project.

[Turbo T]

I have heard good things about the SC&C Stage 2 kit before, and just SC&C in general. They are definitely going to play a part in this car. I'd also like to go with QA1's on all four corners eventually, and even further down the road a 6-point cage. Got some bolt on frame braces on the car in a few spots now, but my main focus at the moment is getting this hunk of junk back on the street.

Glad to hear you're outrunning WS6's with that set-up, that's exactly what I want!

Todd

[SicMonte]

yeah i love it man. My next thing is paint...then I need to address the interior...which is 100% out of the car now!! wow does that car rattle and make some noise...good lord!!

you really cant go wrong with SC&C when it comes to g-body suspensions. My car is proof...it came in as a turd...now im destroying trans am's.

[Bandit]

Welcome!!
Thanks for all the pics, and I love your idea of being able to outhandle 'vettes! Any slob with money can go out and buy a Vette or Porsche and have great handling, but when they get passed up in the twisties by an "old" G-body, they will be scratching their heads for weeks!! And you will have a machine worthy of laud!

My first car was an 81 Grand Prix, loved that car, if I could have had some PT mods done to it I probably never would have sold it.

Can't wait to see your progress!!

Paul

[TPI Monte SS]

Welcome aboard from a fellow pro-touring G-body owner! I really dig the T/A too, that car looks clean!

[torval]

Welcome aboard Turbo, sweet rides!

[McssGmachine]

Welcome to the site! Have any side shots of the T-type?

[Turbo T]

Welcome to the site! Have any side shots of the T-type?

Yeah, but they're pretty ugly haha. I've owned the car since November of '05, but it's been in the garage since December of '05 (!!) so no good pics yet.

It's kind of a long story, but the car basically fell in my lap and I couldn't afford not to get it. A buddy of mine bought the car, then found out he was heading out for a 12-month all expenses paid vacation to Iraq. He needed the money to pay off the car before he left, and I didn't have a ride here in GA. That, combined with the fact that I've always wanted one of these cars lead to it's purchase. However, Bambi's mother decided she wanted a close up view of the left front fender and header panel the week before I got it, and literally on that same day, someone left their parking brake off and rolled a full-size van into the right front corner.

I don't exactly have a lot of time and/or money (in the Army right now) so it's slow going, especially since I made the mistake of looking under the carpet in January... and then under the t-top panels in February. :crying:

Rest assured, I will verify it's "all go/no show" status when the thing starts terrorizing the streets here shortly. For now, here's what I've been working on for the past 8 monts or so...
:banghead:

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Repaired about 30 rust/rot holes in the floor & trunk (the biggest was 5x7"), POR-15'd the entire floor & trunk top and bottom, t-top supports, cowl, inner fenders, replaced the front fenders and header panel, grille, bezels, lights etc., THEN I started fixing all the electrical and mechanical gremlins. :rolleyes: As far as I know I'm past the "finding new problems" stage, but who knows...

I will have a full spec sheet with lots of pics once the car is back together.


Aiming for a final product along these lines...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[olds87]

When you finish the car up, going to be awesome ride you shotting for.

[GBodyGMachine]

Another G-Body here. Starting mine in a few weeks. Welcome.

JEff

[painterdude32]

Buick T-types are the holy-grail of G-bodies in my book! It seems the guys at SC&C have the best solution for your problems. Marcus set me straight on how to make my car handle well. Good luck on your project. Looking forward to seeing it on the road.

[GBodyGMachine]

I had them notch the rear frame to fit 315/35/17 tires on 17x11 rims...!

Do you have any pics of the notch. I plan on doing this in the near future.
Jeff

p.s. Sorry for thread jackin'

[McssGmachine]

Sorry guys! Here's a pic of doug's frame notch. There's some good info on this at maliburacing.com.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/08/FrameNotch-1.jpg

[SicMonte]

thanks brian for posting the pic of my car. There a lot more pics of my build up here.... http://www.montecarloss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001884;p=1

[200kss]

Welcome to the site. I really need to get here more often myself.

[Diognes56]

Nice rides :D .

David

[jay web]

Turbo T - welcome to the site, and good looking collection. any idea where I can find more pics/info on that last GN?

[Turbo T]

Turbo T - welcome to the site, and good looking collection. any idea where I can find more pics/info on that last GN?

Sorry man, no friggin' clue. Been lookin for some myself. Hot, isn't it?

[SicMonte]

are those simmons wheels? they are sooo nice...

[Runamok]

That GN was one of Heath Elmer's creations. It was in an early issue of GMHTP and is currently owned by a gentleman in Florida. His screen name on the Buick boards is Rob'siron or something like that. I'll scan the mag article if I have the time this weekend.

They are indeed 18" Simmons wheels.

[Marcus SC&C]

Welcome aboard TurboT,cool rides. You`re not alone here in wanting to embarass the import guys in the twisties with some good ol American iron. :) The G bodys (like the A body) respond really well to geometry improvements and good suspension tweaks. The Stage2 package takes care of all the factory front suspension and steering geometry screwups and makes a great platform for any other mods and tweaks. If you plan to upgrade the brakes too (if not now,you will after you beat on it some!) our StreetComp-AFX package is even more attractive. http://www.scandc.com/suspensions.htm#streetcompafx It falls in between the Stage 2 and G-5 in both geometry and cost and accepts C5/C6 brakes. :) Combined with the right springs,shocks etc. this setup really gives Acura,BMW,Z-28 etc, drivers fits. Heh heh, good clean fun! :D Mark SC&C

[87GN&98VET]

Sweet, another Buick! I've made mine into a mild pro-tourer and I've been happy with the results. Good luck with yours!