Buick Grand Nationals?

[randyp83]

I know this is the stang site but do you guys have any run in's with these cars. i Know they are turbo 6's but what do they run stock? Are they worth having for a big car or should i get a fox body snake?

thanks, Randy

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Easily in my top 5 favorite cars of all time, specifically the GNX's. They can be made 12 second cars with a very minimal amount of work....more or less "tuning" is all you need (more boost basically). Also the GNX's handled quite well considering how big they are. They were easily one of the best cars to come out of the '80s.

 

[MoneygrubbinCar]

235 @4600 rpm horses stock with 355 ftlbs torque @2000rpm capable of low to mid 14's. I likem but they're getting older and they are rare enough as it is so I'd be a little hesitant on getting one just because of parts availability. It's somewhat of a challenge already finding certain parts for a fox. Heres a link to help ya out though http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/buick-grandnational/buick-grandnational.shtml

 

[QUICK91LX]

I agree with above, easily one of my favorite cars of all time. They suffer from all the usual fit and finish interior issues as other similar cars of the day, but I would own one in a heartbeat. The 1987 GNX was the quickest production car of that year, even quicker than the Corvette.

http://www.buickgnx.com/

 

[bentley429]

If you already have a non cobra fox get a GN. Very cool cars and like said before are 12 second machines with very little work. Fastest car from the 80's. Plus they only came in one color, black like every car should be including mine haha.

 

[5spd GT]

Yep, one of my favorite cars as well...

Not the T-type's, or regular grand nationals...but the GNX

 

[superspec]

my good friend has his in the paint shop as we speak.

 

[GTOreturns]

High 13's from the factory. Fastest car made in the 80's. Im a little older then you guys, I remember when they were new,fast? yeah, but always breaking! (motor)

 

[T1 3VOM]

If you already have a non cobra fox get a GN. Very cool cars and like said before are 12 second machines with very little work. Fastest car from the 80's. Plus they only came in one color, black like every car should be including mine haha.

Not positive, but before reading this, I would have sworn that GNs were all white and GNXs were all black. Am I worng?

 

[2000xp8]

Unless your budget is huge, there is no point in mentioning gnx's, they are very valuable.

As for i do like the grand national, they aren't exactly known for their reliability, especially when they are beat on. A 5.0 mustang will take a massive amount of abuse, a 20 year old 6cyl turbo will not.

 

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

uh yes a 20 year old turbo 3.8 will take abuse!!! my uncle has one, and from the factory it was missing a compression ring on the no#5 piston and still held 22psi for 15 years, then it started getting blowby, then he build it up and now it has 600hp at the tires!!!! it is wildly insane, it will literally blow the tires off at 70mph.

 

[randyp83]

Yep, one of my favorite cars as well...

Not the T-type's, or regular grand nationals...but the GNX

What are the diff of the T-type, a Reg Grand national and then a GNX?

 

[randyp83]

Oh when people rebuld these cars do they stroke/bore the engine? Or do they get a bigger turbo? Sorry for all the ?S thanks, Randy

 

[QUICK91LX]

Not positive, but before reading this, I would have sworn that GNs were all white and GNXs were all black. Am I worng?

all GNs and GNXs were black. Regal T-Types came in other colors, often white or silver.

 

[QUICK91LX]

What are the diff of the T-type, a Reg Grand national and then a GNX?

http://www.buickturboregal.com/

get some info here...the engines were all the same, available in the entire range of regal models...

 

[FastDriver]

I used to like them more before I turboed my fox. I didn't understand turbos back then, and they power and ease of modification from this little V6 seemed "magical" or too good to be true. Now it just looks like a turboed grandma's car to me. Turbo fox > GN

Give me an '03-'04 Cobra before any of them, GNX included.

 

[GTOreturns]

Not positive, but before reading this, I would have sworn that GNs were all white and GNXs were all black. Am I worng?

GN's were black. Your thinking of T-Types

 

[fiveohwblow]

I used to like them more before I turboed my fox. I didn't understand turbos back then, and they power and ease of modification from this little V6 seemed "magical" or too good to be true. Now it just looks like a turboed grandma's car to me. Turbo fox > GN

Give me an '03-'04 Cobra before any of them, GNX included.

I am going to go outside what everyone else is saying and agree with you as well. Fox>GNX

 

[Strippt88]

Randy, the younger guys wouldn't know, so ask- these were the ONLY thing you didn"t wanna see in your mirror of your 5.0 back in the day. Nightmares. Now I'm having flashbacks. Helpless, unless you knew just how to drive your Fox, you would be. And then, if your Buick owner had made proper adjustments...cold sweat. I don't feel good. They had a certain parking light position, unmistakable on the street at night. Woulda bought one of these instead of my beloved LX, but the $20,000 back then was a big hit. Nitrous Oxide was invented by a Mustang owner who raced one of these, I think. GN's were all black, 87's were 245HP, 86's 235, older ones were no concern, T-Types were black, silver, and white(the 86's had a chrome strip at the top of the grill, meant you weren't in as much trouble). Don't see them much, anymore, the turbo oil seals went away after 60K miles or so. That 89 Indy pace car Trans Am sported this same motor- look I'm shaking- punk kid bought one back then, put a bigtime ass-whooping on my 3.55, off-road, 13.40 running 88 LX hatch on Torrence Ave. As he was driving by, saw the word "TURBO" between the taillights. I need Advil.

 

[NKau]

Now it just looks like a turboed grandma's car to me.

That was always kind of the appeal of those cars for me; a lot of people still don't know what hit them when they are looking at the tail lights of a modded regal t-type. Definite sleeper appeal.