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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Buick Grand Nationals?

  • Thread starter Thread starter randyp83
  • Start date Start date Aug 18, 2007
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randyp83

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May 10, 2004
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Aug 18, 2007
#1
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #1
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

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
Nov 11, 2003
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Aug 18, 2007
#2
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #2
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.
 
M

MoneygrubbinCar

Member
Apr 7, 2007
155
2
19
Jacksonville
Aug 18, 2007
#3
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #3
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

Founding Member
Dec 7, 2001
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Aug 18, 2007
#4
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #4
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/

 

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bentley429

Banned
Nov 25, 2004
528
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Connecticut
Aug 18, 2007
#5
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #5
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

"the 5.0 owns all"
Founding Member
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#6
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #6
Yep, one of my favorite cars as well...

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

superspec

Member
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Aug 18, 2007
#7
  • Aug 18, 2007
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my good friend has his in the paint shop as we speak.
 
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GTOreturns

Well-Known Member
Oct 1, 2003
51
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West Coast Best Coast
Aug 18, 2007
#8
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #8
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

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Aug 18, 2007
#9
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #9
bentley429 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,024
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NJ
Aug 18, 2007
#10
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #10
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

Advanced Member
Jun 1, 2005
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Aug 18, 2007
#11
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #11
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

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Maysville, NC
Aug 18, 2007
#12
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #12
5spd GT said:
Yep, one of my favorite cars as well...

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

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

randyp83

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Aug 18, 2007
#13
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #13
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

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#14
  • Aug 18, 2007
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T1 3VOM said:
Not positive, but before reading this, I would have sworn that GNs were all white and GNXs were all black. Am I worng?
Click to expand...

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

QUICK91LX

Founding Member
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#15
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #15
randyp83 said:
What are the diff of the T-type, a Reg Grand national and then a GNX?
Click to expand...

http://www.buickturboregal.com/

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

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
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Aug 18, 2007
#16
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #16
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.
 
G

GTOreturns

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Oct 1, 2003
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Aug 18, 2007
#17
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #17
T1 3VOM said:
Not positive, but before reading this, I would have sworn that GNs were all white and GNXs were all black. Am I worng?
Click to expand...

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

fiveohwblow

Official Member
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Jul 21, 2005
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Aug 18, 2007
#18
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #18
FastDriver said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Strippt88

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Nov 24, 2006
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Aug 18, 2007
#19
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #19
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

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#20
  • Aug 18, 2007
  • #20
FastDriver said:
Now it just looks like a turboed grandma's car to me.
Click to expand...



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.
 
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