Hi Steven, the biggest benefit is that stronger control arms won't deflect like the stock ones will, and this deflection is known to contribute to wheel hop. Also, the polyurethane bushings reduce deflection too vs. the softer stock rubber ones. Shocks, springs and tire choice play an important role as well.
Hi Bobby and I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! There is tons of 4.3 info out there - I have never tinkered with them, but have known folks that have and loved them. I wish you the best of luck and would love to see some pics if you're on facebook. See ya!
Thanks! I don't plan to drag race this car often, so rod ended control arms were too aggressive for my goals. The main use of this car is cruising with my wife and kids with the occasional trip to the track.
Thank you! It's amazing what a little time spent on details will do. I REALLY want to go crazy and detail everything under the car, but this is a long term project and there will be plenty of time for that in the future.
Thank you! That could be a variety of issues- I would recommend searching the forums and see what people have done in that situation. Good luck to you!
Ha! Love you too man- in a very straight way, of course. Best of luck with your GSX! Just keep working much harder than everyone around you while keeping the distractions to a minimum and the rewards will come. See ya!
Thanks man, I understand what you're saying about budget builds and doing things yourself- as I've always gone that route. Your point regarding cleaning up old bolts sounding ridiculous could be said about most car how-to shows that share budget tips within the content of a high-priced build where they're bolting on $7,000 supercharger kits, etc as well. It's just an observation that I'd hope would help someone along the line and I believe that is their goal as well.
The sti is a fantastic car, as are Evos for a car that does absolutely everything a car enthusiast could want. That said, the Grand National is a time machine. Walk up to it, get in, turn the key and suddenly...it's 1987!
That's a great question. The interesting thing about these cars is that there isn't a glaring issue that needs addressed right away- as long as you accept them for what they are, they are complete cars right out of the box. That said, when age sets in the darn powermaster brake setup can be a nightmare.
Thank you and building your skills is easy, just start with small jobs and work your way to bigger ones as your confidence grows. Before you know it you'll be doing all sorts of stuff. Good luck!
Good deal! Mine had battery drain problems until I unhooked the memory on the cheap aftermarket stereo. That thing was pulling some decent power and since I don't drive it much, it was enough to drag the battery down.
Thanks man! I'll probably only race this car once or twice a season and won't be running slicks and/or thick centered racing wheels, so I think I'll be all right. It's mainly a crusier with some occasional racing thrown in for giggles.
Thanks Ryan! Good luck and I can't wait to see that! I absolutely loved my old Evo with the stock turbo/tune/bolt ons. I drove other Evos with bigger turbos, etc. and although my car wasn't as fast, I preferred my setup for responsiveness- especially when it came to the twisty roads.
Hi Nick, well if you're referring to the organization, I have lots of cabinet space and shelving upstairs for things like spare parts, steel stock, etc.
I still have the powermaster setup as mine still works good and there are some drawbacks to the vacuum brake conversion. The previous owner did some work to refresh this PM setup and included the 5,000 page rebuild manual for it- so if it ever gives me trouble I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. :-/
I remember seeing my first Grand Nat when I was 15. The guy had one running 9's and two more that were for sale dirt cheap and super clean back then. Ever since, I still want one.
Me and my dad own an 87 turbo grand national as well. It hasn't been on the road in a few years but this summer weve been working on it. It's quite the beast hahaha
Hi Kyle, the control arms come exactly as shown, ready to grease up and bolt in. They don't include hardware to keep the price down, I would imagine. They do offer hardware if needed though.
I haven't yet, but plan to do a little reinforcing in that area in the future- probably when I lift the body off of the frame. Luckily they apparently aren't as weak as the Mustang setup can be.
This is awesome! My father took a Grand National drive and chassis and put an 83 Olds Cutlass body on it, ultimate sleeper! It has a nice sleek black paint job on it.
I'll definitely try, thanks for replying! Although, it has a little problem. It Runs about 22 psi but it will have a hiccup under 5k rpms and will backfire.. Any idea what that could be?? Currently running 93 octane.
Hi Bruce, it really wasn't in that bad of shape- the main issue appeared to be the pinion gear having some slop in it and eating into the ring gear. This was likely caused by the pinion nut coming loose or being torqued improperly. Hard to tell with cars of this age really what has or hasn't been done. Either way lots of folks probably wouldve just ran it this way and turned the stereo up, but I'm picky. :-)
Wish i had money to get a Proper V8 american Car to drive here is South Africa. This Buick brings back memories from my Grandpa back in the day. Nice Job Tom and thx!
I love how you made the underside look instantly better whith that general chassis enamel! Great work! Your videos are always making me want more! Good work!
Thank you very much! As long as y'all enjoy these videos and find them useful/entertaining, that's all that matters to me. Oh, and my first couple cars had 4 wheel drum brakes and were pretty scary!
Tom, I came to say PLEASE come back or at least put something up letting us know you're okay & that you're no longer going to be uploading any longer for personal reasons or whatever the case may be. I've read through a bunch of the most recent comments & there are countless people just like me that value & miss you... and torch. Don't leave us long time subscribers hanging bro. Your content was worth watching amongst the millions upon MILLIONS of automotive videos on TH-cam.
Well, it all adds up. For example, new replacement control arm bolts were $23.95 plus $9.95 shipping and handling. If the stockers are serviceable but just need a little cleaning, this is a big money saver in my opinion.
Haha, indeed. I just like the feedback that wrenches and ratchets give. I find air tools distracting in many situations. Oh, and I'm not on the clock either. :-)
It's a surprisingly large and comfortable car inside. Huge back seat and lots of legroom up front. The very long doors make getting in and out of the back seat a snap. That said, nothing tops the dragon wagon in the family hauling department! :-)
Subscribed. Awesome that you're local to me. Chip's put a steering rack in my car last year. I figured it was easier since they do alignments there and are just 2.5 miles away.
Thank you! I'm glad to hear that you enjoy the videos and I appreciate the kind words. Best of luck to you and send me some pics of what you're working on to my facebook page if you have a moment.
Tom; while I note this was posted over two years ago, it is timely as the dickens for me... My '74 GMC Sprint (is still) awaiting it's engine as I've mentioned a few weeks ago to you. I redid the entire wiring,(Painless) suspension brakes etc and have an "upgraded" T400 ready for the Sprint if it's ever done. just wanted you to know I bought and am about to install the 4 rear control arms from UMI as you put on the Buick. My 403 won't make any more hp than your Buick so it should be comparable in performance. Detroit Speed stuff was way more $ and complicated by dealing with "pinion angle adjustments etc. I've a Torsen, Moser and Richmond kit professionally done with 3:36-1 in the original 10 bolt as well. Kept the drums though as the rear of the Sprint is lite... More later. Jim
Haha, yes I have plenty of air tools but often prefer the tactile feedback of regular wrenches and ratchets. Sometimes the "sound and fury" of air tools is distracting to me.
I'm so glad I found this channel. Your cars are beautiful! I love Grand Nationals, I hope to one day own one. I also think your videos are great and informative, and they have a nice style to them! Just my 2 pence!
Thank you sir, and I appreciate the support very much! I've never liked the "artificially hyped" voices that you typically hear on car guy shows. I suppose that's what you have to do for the general audience to pay attention, but it's not my style.
GREAT VID LIKE ALWAYS!!!! I absolutly love the Grand Naty! Cant wait to see you do some pulls in it. I dropped the evo off to Greg @ ucs performance today we are shooting to get as close to 400 as possible without changing the turbo. I plan on going with a gt35r in the fall. Ill post vids when shes done at the end of the week!
Very nice rear end!! lol This vid completely reminds me of working on my regal GS & I find wrenching and fixing problems is satisfying, but can be disappointed from part failure! Keep mouth closed when using grinder lmao!
Great video's. They answer alot of questions. Thank you for sharing your data and listing where to get these great bolt on products. I will be reviewing them frequently as I am aquiring 2 turbo buicks, a GN with t tops and a t-type both 87's. :)
That's surprising. The ride-height, to my eye, looks to be factory spec. How far of a drop overall did you put on it? Can you tell a big difference in handling since the suspension add-ons? Nice, well done videos, btw.
Regarding the powermaster, there isn't enough space in this comment box to explain the ways. :-) A google or forum search will give you all the info that you'll need. The wheels are from American Racing and Enkei. I think the better choice are the repros that Kirban sells. A little more expensive, but really nice!
Toms Turbo Garage deserves to be on TV! Prime time slot on SPEEDtv sounds pretty good :) Drums are the worst! It always amazes me to think that not too long ago most cars relied on 4 wheel drum brakes to stop a 4000 pound piece Detroit steel. Scary thought isn't it? lol
I just wanted to tell you I stumbled upon your Miata video and it made me subscribe to your channel. I love the quality videos you post keep it up man!
Hi Tom, I've been looking for a channel like this. I bought an 87 Caprice three months ago, one owner, low miles. I had been looking for a Cressida but after a test drive I couldn't resist. I installed a new a/c compressor, did some detailing and general maintenance. Here's the problem; it's totally under powered with the 4,3 v6 it was born with. I'm going to turbo it, the goal is reliable power and decent gas mileage. I need more info on the 4.3, I don't know if it is even feasible.
Of course i agree. bolts are reusable here But it sounds and looks "ridiculous" in the video after the money you spent on repair and upgrades parts,labor for the rear end etc... It's your money you do like you want and i would certainly be cheaper than that doing the rebuild myself,, cleaning without expensive can spray cleaner and using a paint brush to finish the paint i have yet... But it's still funny hearing that anyway. Nice job and cool to see a stock 4 link.
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Hi Steven, the biggest benefit is that stronger control arms won't deflect like the stock ones will, and this deflection is known to contribute to wheel hop. Also, the polyurethane bushings reduce deflection too vs. the softer stock rubber ones. Shocks, springs and tire choice play an important role as well.
Hi Bobby and I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! There is tons of 4.3 info out there - I have never tinkered with them, but have known folks that have and loved them. I wish you the best of luck and would love to see some pics if you're on facebook. See ya!
Thank you! I plugged the other ratios into my gearing calculator and 3.42 is just perfect for all around use.
Thank you for the support and will do!
Thanks! I don't plan to drag race this car often, so rod ended control arms were too aggressive for my goals. The main use of this car is cruising with my wife and kids with the occasional trip to the track.
Thank you! It's amazing what a little time spent on details will do. I REALLY want to go crazy and detail everything under the car, but this is a long term project and there will be plenty of time for that in the future.
Thank you! That could be a variety of issues- I would recommend searching the forums and see what people have done in that situation. Good luck to you!
Ha! Love you too man- in a very straight way, of course. Best of luck with your GSX! Just keep working much harder than everyone around you while keeping the distractions to a minimum and the rewards will come. See ya!
Thanks man, I understand what you're saying about budget builds and doing things yourself- as I've always gone that route. Your point regarding cleaning up old bolts sounding ridiculous could be said about most car how-to shows that share budget tips within the content of a high-priced build where they're bolting on $7,000 supercharger kits, etc as well. It's just an observation that I'd hope would help someone along the line and I believe that is their goal as well.
The sti is a fantastic car, as are Evos for a car that does absolutely everything a car enthusiast could want. That said, the Grand National is a time machine. Walk up to it, get in, turn the key and suddenly...it's 1987!
That's a great question. The interesting thing about these cars is that there isn't a glaring issue that needs addressed right away- as long as you accept them for what they are, they are complete cars right out of the box. That said, when age sets in the darn powermaster brake setup can be a nightmare.
Thank you and building your skills is easy, just start with small jobs and work your way to bigger ones as your confidence grows. Before you know it you'll be doing all sorts of stuff. Good luck!
Thank you! That's a wild car with the 4 speed in there. Have fun helping him out with the restoration!
Thanks for sharing the story Tyler! Good luck and I hope you find yours someday.
Good deal! Mine had battery drain problems until I unhooked the memory on the cheap aftermarket stereo. That thing was pulling some decent power and since I don't drive it much, it was enough to drag the battery down.
Thank you sir! I don't see any burnouts in my near future- too much stuff left on the old "to do" list. Hopefully soon though!
Thank you for the kind words!
I like your clean and organized garage. It's not all cluttered up and used oil laying around like the Scotty Kilmer Channel
Thank you and glad you enjoy them!
Thanks man! I'll probably only race this car once or twice a season and won't be running slicks and/or thick centered racing wheels, so I think I'll be all right. It's mainly a crusier with some occasional racing thrown in for giggles.
Thanks Ryan! Good luck and I can't wait to see that! I absolutely loved my old Evo with the stock turbo/tune/bolt ons. I drove other Evos with bigger turbos, etc. and although my car wasn't as fast, I preferred my setup for responsiveness- especially when it came to the twisty roads.
Hi Nick, well if you're referring to the organization, I have lots of cabinet space and shelving upstairs for things like spare parts, steel stock, etc.
Thank you sir! There are rear disc brake conversions, but there are trade-offs, as with anything. I'll likely do it in the future.
Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I still have the powermaster setup as mine still works good and there are some drawbacks to the vacuum brake conversion. The previous owner did some work to refresh this PM setup and included the 5,000 page rebuild manual for it- so if it ever gives me trouble I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. :-/
I remember seeing my first Grand Nat when I was 15. The guy had one running 9's and two more that were for sale dirt cheap and super clean back then. Ever since, I still want one.
Me and my dad own an 87 turbo grand national as well. It hasn't been on the road in a few years but this summer weve been working on it. It's quite the beast hahaha
Hi Kyle, the control arms come exactly as shown, ready to grease up and bolt in. They don't include hardware to keep the price down, I would imagine. They do offer hardware if needed though.
Thank you! There are good deals to be found out there, it just takes some patience. Good luck!
Thanks man! Nothing new going on for the DSM at the moment, but I hope to take it racing this spring/summer.
Thanks Sean, glad to hear it!
Thank you for the very kind comments sir, I greatly appreciate it!
I haven't yet, but plan to do a little reinforcing in that area in the future- probably when I lift the body off of the frame. Luckily they apparently aren't as weak as the Mustang setup can be.
Thank you, great to hear!
This is awesome! My father took a Grand National drive and chassis and put an 83 Olds Cutlass body on it, ultimate sleeper! It has a nice sleek black paint job on it.
TheComputerZombie Thank you sir, sounds like a great sleeper to me! Get some video of that beast!!
I'll definitely try, thanks for replying! Although, it has a little problem. It Runs about 22 psi but it will have a hiccup under 5k rpms and will backfire.. Any idea what that could be?? Currently running 93 octane.
Hi Bruce, it really wasn't in that bad of shape- the main issue appeared to be the pinion gear having some slop in it and eating into the ring gear. This was likely caused by the pinion nut coming loose or being torqued improperly. Hard to tell with cars of this age really what has or hasn't been done. Either way lots of folks probably wouldve just ran it this way and turned the stereo up, but I'm picky. :-)
Wish i had money to get a Proper V8 american Car to drive here is South Africa.
This Buick brings back memories from my Grandpa back in the day.
Nice Job Tom and thx!
Thank you sir and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Oh and tell everyone in South Africa that I said hello! :-D
Part 1? That means there's going to be a part 2! SWEET!!!!
Thank you Gary!
I love how you made the underside look instantly better whith that general chassis enamel! Great work! Your videos are always making me want more! Good work!
Hi Ramone, no not at the moment, but I'd check the turbobuick forums as there are typically a bunch of great ones on there for sale.
Thank you very much! As long as y'all enjoy these videos and find them useful/entertaining, that's all that matters to me. Oh, and my first couple cars had 4 wheel drum brakes and were pretty scary!
Tom, I came to say PLEASE come back or at least put something up letting us know you're okay & that you're no longer going to be uploading any longer for personal reasons or whatever the case may be. I've read through a bunch of the most recent comments & there are countless people just like me that value & miss you... and torch.
Don't leave us long time subscribers hanging bro.
Your content was worth watching amongst the millions upon MILLIONS of automotive videos on TH-cam.
Sounds awesome man! Love that it's a family hobby for you guys.
Thanks Cody!
Thank you Chris!
Thanks Zachary! Oh yeah, the whole family will appreciate that. Some people could probably tune it out, but not me! :-)
Well, it all adds up. For example, new replacement control arm bolts were $23.95 plus $9.95 shipping and handling. If the stockers are serviceable but just need a little cleaning, this is a big money saver in my opinion.
Hi there and thank you! That's a good tip and will make a note of that in my service manual. See ya!
Haha, indeed. I just like the feedback that wrenches and ratchets give. I find air tools distracting in many situations. Oh, and I'm not on the clock either. :-)
Sounds like fun! Be sure to read the faqs on the gnttype website for new owners. I can't add a link here, so just google that and you'll find it.
Thank you sir, I appreciate that!
Awesome video......thank you for posting your time and dedication. !!!
Really like what you're doing with the grand National thanks for the videos
It's a surprisingly large and comfortable car inside. Huge back seat and lots of legroom up front. The very long doors make getting in and out of the back seat a snap. That said, nothing tops the dragon wagon in the family hauling department! :-)
Subscribed. Awesome that you're local to me. Chip's put a steering rack in my car last year. I figured it was easier since they do alignments there and are just 2.5 miles away.
Thank you!
Thank you, I agree!
Finally got to this awesome badass Buick video, Tom, American cars are the best!
Great vid!
Thank you sir, glad you enjoyed it!
The instructions are on the umi performance website so be sure to check those out. I believe I used a floor jack and jack stands under the rear end.
Loving the GN vids. I've always wanted one from the day I heard one on the street. Maybe I'll get inspired to finally get one too.
Thank you! I'm glad to hear that you enjoy the videos and I appreciate the kind words. Best of luck to you and send me some pics of what you're working on to my facebook page if you have a moment.
The hood release cables can stretch/break/stick too.
Tom; while I note this was posted over two years ago, it is timely as the dickens for me... My '74 GMC Sprint (is still) awaiting it's engine as I've mentioned a few weeks ago to you. I redid the entire wiring,(Painless) suspension brakes etc and have an "upgraded" T400 ready for the Sprint if it's ever done. just wanted you to know I bought and am about to install the 4 rear control arms from UMI as you put on the Buick. My 403 won't make any more hp than your Buick so it should be comparable in performance. Detroit Speed stuff was way more $ and complicated by dealing with "pinion angle adjustments etc. I've a Torsen, Moser and Richmond kit professionally done with 3:36-1 in the original 10 bolt as well. Kept the drums though as the rear of the Sprint is lite... More later. Jim
Great to hear! Enjoy working on it with your dad and send me some pics on facebook if you get a chance!
Tom, your videos are great. I really like the Grand National vids. Most Excellent!
Good start. Glad to see you kept the 3.42's So many people mess it up buy going to 3.73 or 4.11
Thanks man!
Thank you sir!
I like 'em! Hard to find a nice, unmolested one I imagine. My first new car was a 1998 Neon R/T and I loved it.
Haha, yes I have plenty of air tools but often prefer the tactile feedback of regular wrenches and ratchets. Sometimes the "sound and fury" of air tools is distracting to me.
I'm so glad I found this channel. Your cars are beautiful! I love Grand Nationals, I hope to one day own one. I also think your videos are great and informative, and they have a nice style to them!
Just my 2 pence!
Thank you sir, and I appreciate the support very much! I've never liked the "artificially hyped" voices that you typically hear on car guy shows. I suppose that's what you have to do for the general audience to pay attention, but it's not my style.
GREAT VID LIKE ALWAYS!!!! I absolutly love the Grand Naty! Cant wait to see you do some pulls in it. I dropped the evo off to Greg @ ucs performance today we are shooting to get as close to 400 as possible without changing the turbo. I plan on going with a gt35r in the fall. Ill post vids when shes done at the end of the week!
Oh yeah! There's going to be at least 3 parts I'd imagine.
Cool, good luck!
Very nice rear end!! lol
This vid completely reminds me of working on my regal GS & I find wrenching and fixing problems is satisfying, but can be disappointed from part failure! Keep mouth closed when using grinder lmao!
Bob M. Tyranny Destroyer Haha, thank you sir! Glad you enjoyed it! :-D
Great video's. They answer alot of questions. Thank you for sharing your data and listing where to get these great bolt on products. I will be reviewing them frequently as I am aquiring 2 turbo buicks, a GN with t tops and a t-type both 87's. :)
You're welcome and thank you! I wish you the best of luck with your new cars! Send me some pics on Facebook if you can.
That's surprising. The ride-height, to my eye, looks to be factory spec. How far of a drop overall did you put on it? Can you tell a big difference in handling since the suspension add-ons? Nice, well done videos, btw.
Another great video. Glad to see you are enjoying the good life.
holy cow.... your a sevier count boy. Awesome car man. ill keep my eyes open for it locally.
Regarding the powermaster, there isn't enough space in this comment box to explain the ways. :-) A google or forum search will give you all the info that you'll need. The wheels are from American Racing and Enkei. I think the better choice are the repros that Kirban sells. A little more expensive, but really nice!
Thank you! I meant to show that in the video- I used Redline gear oil.
Ha! Thanks man!
You are killing it!
Toms Turbo Garage deserves to be on TV! Prime time slot on SPEEDtv sounds pretty good :)
Drums are the worst!
It always amazes me to think that not too long ago most cars relied on 4 wheel drum brakes to stop a 4000 pound piece Detroit steel.
Scary thought isn't it? lol
I just wanted to tell you I stumbled upon your Miata video and it made me subscribe to your channel. I love the quality videos you post keep it up man!
Hell yes!
Not right now. I'll likely consider it someday, but I would want to completely re-do the whole braking system.
LOVE your garage, super clean!
That does sound pretty good!
Hi Tom, I've been looking for a channel like this. I bought an 87 Caprice three months ago, one owner, low miles. I had been looking for a Cressida but after a test drive I couldn't resist. I installed a new a/c compressor, did some detailing and general maintenance. Here's the problem; it's totally under powered with the 4,3 v6 it was born with. I'm going to turbo it, the goal is reliable power and decent gas mileage. I need more info on the 4.3, I don't know if it is even feasible.
Great vid Tom, been waiting a while for a new upload. Just out of curiosity what gear oil did you decide to run in the new rear?
Of course i agree.
bolts are reusable here
But it sounds and looks "ridiculous" in the video after the money you spent on repair and upgrades parts,labor for the rear end etc...
It's your money you do like you want and i would certainly be cheaper than that doing the rebuild myself,, cleaning without expensive can spray cleaner and using a paint brush to finish the paint i have yet...
But it's still funny hearing that anyway.
Nice job and cool to see a stock 4 link.
Oh no! Have you tried spraying a little lube inside the keyhole? Does the key turn?
Yeah, I just don't like the additional noise and harshness that the heim joint versions introduce into the cabin. This is primarily a cruiser.
Nobody has better videos then Tom.
End of story, These belong on the Speed channel
You can buy a kit to re-blacken the hardware. Looks great!
Haha, lots more to come!
Looks great tom! I bet the wife is happy about the quieter cabin noise. I know my girlfriend was when I sent my noisy rear diff the get rebuilt LOL
Haha, thanks Adam!