New guy with 87 Buick Grand National, pics inside!

[GinoRin]

This is the coolest site I have ever seen! I love the looks of the old school and some modern musclecars but I think the fusion of modern technology and performance into those vehicles makes them even cooler! I am a huge Buick Grand National fanatic as I think those car were 15 years ahead of their time as far as engine technology goes, but it is a flying brick! I have had 30+ Grand Nationals, but the one I am currently working on is the first one I bought, and my baby! I bought it 7 years ago when I was 17, and had been saving for a GN since I was 12. Before I ripped it apart about 3 years ago, I managed a best run of [email protected] on a stock untouched and unopened engine. The car is a spotless, multiple best of show winning specimen, and has 52k original miles on it. I stripped the car to bare metal and am completing a show quality (200+ hours) paintjob on it. I also worked at a performance and machine shop in college and the owner helped me build a new engine for it, which should be 700+ hp/ 800+ ft lbs on approx. 25psi My goal is to have a GN that HANDLES, and runs an 11.00 in street trim (93 octane and STREET radials) and capable of high 9s with big boost and sticky tires. I have TONS of money parts and time in the car, and it is my pride an joy! I am positive the insight on this website will help me get it to completion. Here's some pics for you guys of the build:

[71nova]

Thats a bad ass car! Thanks for the pics!!

[Part Time]

Welcome aboard!

[RatMalibu]

welcome...nice to see another G-body

[McssGmachine]

Another g-body, Welcome to the site!

[GinoRin]

Thanks guys! I'm really excited to see all the G-bodys here. And now that I see how cool the C6Z06 brake setup is, I think I might sell my Baer track setup and go with that. Is anyone here running the C6Z setup on their G body? I have the Baer B-body hub spindle with the track 13" setup, global west offset upper control arms, stock lowers with del-a-lum bushings, Eibach pro kit springs, and simmons 18" 3-piece F-series wheels 18x8.5 in front with a 245/40/18 and 18x9.5 in the rear with a 295/35/18. It would be sweet if the Baer Hub already fits the Z06 rotos, but im not sure about the offset or hub diameter. I'm pretty sure in the back we can run the LS1 rear backing plates and just re-drill them for the correct spacing, but once again i dont know that first hand. I also dont know what to do about the E-brake yet. any suggestions?

[XCESSIV]

Nice GN hope to see ya at event soon.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Welcome to the site, Gino.

[Colvindesign]

I once had the brilliant idea of buying a 85 GN (a white one none the less) and turning it into a G-machine. even those in good condition were goin gfor 86-87 prices.

THat is one sweet ride, can't wait to see finished pics.

[GBodyGMachine]

Nice to see another G-body. Welcome

Jeff

[olds87]

Nice to have you join us here.

[72NovaSS]

very cool! cant wait to see more pictures!

[peacemaker]

Welcome Aboard. That is going to be a killer ride. As a student of auto history, I feel that the Buick GN's of the '80's were the launching pads for the factory hot rods that we have today. They had seriously underrated hp and could tear up the drag strip in stock form. I believe that car was voted the fastest factory car of the eighties. The only other one that was close had the same motor, the '89 Turbo T/A. Can't wait to see it finished.

[GinoRin]

Thanks again for the compliments everyone! After browsing this site, I have decided to change my setup a little bit and am going to put on AFX spindles and C6 Z06 brakes on all 4 corners, in lieu of my Baer Track setup.

Josh- youre right about the GN in the 80's, I have had a lot of Grand Nationals and have also had 4 TTA's. If parts werent so hard to come by for the TTA along with the limited production (1555 produced) they would be the ultimate muscle/ pro touring car of the 80s. The handling is far superior to the GN in stock form, but more power is capable out of the GN because of the different heads. The turbo TA actually used a front wheel drive 3.8 head because of difficulty clearing factory headers.

Anyone want my Baer front brake setup?? :dunno: :)

[Colvindesign]

Welcome Aboard. That is going to be a killer ride. As a student of auto history, I feel that the Buick GN's of the '80's were the launching pads for the factory hot rods that we have today. They had seriously underrated hp and could tear up the drag strip in stock form. I believe that car was voted the fastest factory car of the eighties. The only other one that was close had the same motor, the '89 Turbo T/A. Can't wait to see it finished.

yep, an all stock 87 GN with slicks could run in the 12s. GNX's were even quicker but rare as can be. Rumors were that the GN was stepping on the Corvette's toes and so the Chevrolet guys had it pulled. But they were switching to FWD in 88-89, so it would have ended the fun anyway. I remember getting beaten pretty bad by a GN that was one of the few ones modified around 1995 in my area. I didn't learn about the 89 pace car TA until about 96-97, and found out it was the first car to pace the indy 500 without modification to the drive train. Must of been pretty quick........ :naughty:

[Colvindesign]

Thanks again for the compliments everyone! After browsing this site, I have decided to change my setup a little bit and am going to put on AFX spindles and C6 Z06 brakes on all 4 corners, in lieu of my Baer Track setup.

Josh- youre right about the GN in the 80's, I have had a lot of Grand Nationals and have also had 4 TTA's. If parts werent so hard to come by for the TTA along with the limited production (1555 produced) they would be the ultimate muscle/ pro touring car of the 80s. The handling is far superior to the GN in stock form, but more power is capable out of the GN because of the different heads. The turbo TA actually used a front wheel drive 3.8 head because of difficulty clearing factory headers.

Anyone want my Baer front brake setup?? :dunno: :)

just make sure you post lots of pics!

[painterdude32]

Can't hardly wait to see her finished! Welcome to the site. gotta love the g-bodies.

87 olds cutlass
355ci sbc wieand 144 pro-street supercharger
17" billet specialties vintec's
smoothed body
air ride technologies cool ride system
12" b-body discs front (I know bumpsteer)
11" f-body discs rear

[CRCRFT78]

Nice GN. G-bodies are my favorite vehicles. Keep us updated on the build. How much are you asking for the Baer setup?

[Bandit]

The GN's were awesome straight from the factory. One of my favorite body styles of all time too. Keep up the good work!

Paul

[GinoRin]

Nice GN. G-bodies are my favorite vehicles. Keep us updated on the build. How much are you asking for the Baer setup?

I'll have to look and see what I paid for the brakes, I think around $1800 or so. They have the cross drilled, slotted, and zinc plating options as well as the red/silver powdercoated caliper option (which is like an extra 4 week wait) Then I had the B-body spindles professionally painted with por-15 out of a spraygun at the bodyshop, which was another $100. The spindles come as a bare casting and I can't see how anyone would install them that way, so I had em painted. They also have all the lines and brackets still sealed in the plastic bag they came in. I'd take $1700 + shipping for them, which would save a couple hundred over new and no waiting (these were halfway installed but never run, just like the pics show)

Thanks again for the compliments!

[ProTouring442]

I absolutely love those GN, especially the GNXs with their flares, very tuff!

They definitely helped get the muscle car movement going again. Pontiac may have kept the flame burning by keepint the Trans Am alive for all of those years, but Buick threw gas on the flame with the GN!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"