Buick Grand National Street & Strip Upgrades - Part 3
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ต.ค. 2024
- In this episode, we focus on making some good old turbocharged horsepower on my 1987 Buick Grand National. We also take a trip back to 1987 to look at performance recipes back then.
This is part of a multi-part series where we're making a host of modifications to this classic American muscle car to improve its performance on the street and strip. Thank you for watching and subscribing!
Join me on Facebook! / tomsturbogarage
Get BLACK AIR: The Buick Grand National Documentary today! www.gnmovie.com
For more Grand National details and photos, visit my website at gn.turbomirage.com.
Disclaimer
The content provided in this video is for informational use only. Video content is provided at the viewers own risk and the viewer will not hold the parties involved in creating, producing or delivering this information liable for any loss, injury, claim, liability, or damage of any kind resulting in any way from any errors in or omissions from the information. Thanks for understanding.
That's a good tip and very true. I usually don't get that deep on my videos for a few reasons. Mainly, I would hope folks that are considering modifications have already ensured that the foundational things like this (engine with good compression, recent tune up, sensors set/operating properly, etc) have already been considered.
Thank you for that! I really enjoy reading and replying to everyone's comments, it's like having a bunch of car buddies all around the country and world. I'm still very amazed by the positivity and support- it's very inspiring!
Thank you very much for all of the kind words and I'm glad I could pass along some inspiration!
Thank you Jim, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Ryan! I've never had any issues with any water/alcohol/methanol injection on any car that I've ran it on. I've been running it on my 4G63 powered cars since 1999 and love it.
Tom and RCGuy,
The 86-87 n/a Regals and Turbo Regals did indeed use the same block (casting number 25526109); the only difference was the 1/2" hole drilled into the boss cast in the front of the block to accommodate the turbo oil drain line. I raced a 10-sec GN for many years; the 2nd motor I put in it was based on a n/a block I pulled from a junkyard Regal...I had a buddy of mine at a machine shop drill the hole and clean it up. The heads are the same as well: 8445s, cheap at the junkyard.
Regarding the porting, you're correct - that's why I only removed the small bottleneck right after the throttle body in the upper intake. It only make sense to do this while I was in there removing the EGR riser.
Thank you! The EGR gasket is placed on the intake manifold, the metal plate then goes on, then the EGR valve is bolted on, on top of the plate. You'll see that it's very straightforward once you're in there. Good luck!
Thank you Justin and I'm glad I can help!
Hi there and thank you! Regarding your question, I have a TurboTweak chip, that bypasses the EGR function. Currently, I have four videos that focus on Grand National mods, you can see them on my channel. I just watched a couple of your videos and your car is fantastic!
Thank you and I'm glad you enjoy the videos! I agree that the plate does look like a restriction, but the size of the plate openings equal the volume of the throttle body inlet. I'm going to give it a try and see if it helps.
Thank you as always for the great support Ryan! Good luck with your car, it is going to be a beast!
Thank you Robert, I'm glad you enjoyed it! That Snap-on/Bluepoint tool is very slick!
Hi Terry, it may take a little while due to schedules, etc. but I definitely plan to test it out at the track when I'm all done wrenching on it.
Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I always struggle with how much or little detail to add about certain topics, but usually if I don't mention tools, it means that it can all be done with a good starter tool set from Sears, etc. I try to call out specialty tools like the valve spring stuff. Thank you for the suggestion, I definitely appreciate that.
Thank you Jobe! I love the 89 Turbo TAs just the same. My first project car was a 3rd gen F-Body and I remember seeing a brand new 89 Turbo TA on the showroom floor. It was 32k which was a ton of money back then! I had the chance to buy one 10 years ago and passed on it, which I regret!
Thank you man, glad you get a kick out of it!
Thank you John, I really enjoy that old stuff too and I'd like to get my hands on more articles, etc. Good luck with your car and enjoy it!
Thanks and you're welcome man! Oh yeah, when it comes to auto repair work/modifications it's all pretty relative and can be applied to most cars. Good luck with yours!
Thank you Ivan, I appreciate that! Lots more cool stuff coming soon!
I agree that it is definitely weird looking. The volume of the openings total the same size as the stock throttle body. With the big open doghouse, the air simply doesn't get to each cylinder properly. Lots of cars have this sort of issue, but it only becomes an issue when adding a bunch of power. I figured I'd give it a try and see if it makes it easier to tune.
Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it! Lots more fun stuff to come!
Thanks Jeff! I had them measured at a local machine shop and they were all in spec.
Hi Daniel and thank you! Unfortunately I don't have much expertise to share on the 2.4 Turbo in your PT Cruiser. I'm sure this has been discussed in the SRT-4/GT forums. This is an issue in many cars, especially when turning up the boost. Have fun with your PT-GT, I bet it's a hoot!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate that!
Good to know and I'm sure others will appreciate this too!
You're welcome Dale, glad you enjoyed it! Lots more to come!
where did you find the value spring compression tool?
Tom, this show deserves to be on TV, its that good in my opinion!
Thank you and I'm glad you enjoy them! I grew up in a service station around mechanics, had some training and have learned lots from friends and online resources too. It's funny, one day you're doing your first oil change and it's a really big deal...then a few years later, you have a cylinder head tore apart. It just kinda snowballs as bigger jobs/projects pop up. Have fun wrenching man!
Thanks man! Yes, I make all of my own music, for better or for worse. :-) I will be taking it to rolling road/dyno if everything goes well. I also plan to visit the track later this summer. Thanks again and have a good one!
Thanks for sharing that Jobe! My F-Body was an 83 Trans Am that I modified to look (and run) exactly like the 1992 Firehawk. I would sure love to have that car back. They are inexpensive cars to buy, but finding a nice one is really difficult.
Thanks for the question! I had a new 03 Lancer Evo that I sold a few years later because I felt like I outgrew it. The interior was sparse, it was noisy, and I had the CONSTANT urge to hop it up.
I guess I like a little luxury and refinement with my performance in a daily driver. The IS-F was like a more refined, grown-up Evo to me. Plus, when I bought the IS-F new, the deals on them were awesome. I love the car- if I ran Lexus, I would have built this car. It's a great total package.
Thank you, I do enjoy that part.
Thanks man! Oh, yeah I go to Advance all the time!
I am using the TurboTweak chip that (I believe) disables the EGR function in the ECU. I would suggest a quick search of the TurboBuick Forums to see if others have had a code/ses light from that. Good luck!
Tom's Turbo Garage Hi, i found your channel yesterday while looking for GNX videos, this is an awesome channel and you make wonderfull videos. Thanks for sharing. Ben.
Thank you for the kind words and support Ben! Welcome and I'm glad you enjoy the videos!
Thanks Matthew!
Hi Mitchell, I'm pretty attached to the cars I have now, but I did sell the Miata last summer. That was a tough one, but I needed to make room for my Maxi-Van, a.k.a - The Dragon Wagon.
just would like to say, buy far your the best video, cleanness, most professionalest mechanic I've seen to date, better then any gm dealer, and far more advanced with precision
Thank you for the very kind words John, I appreciate it! I'm glad you enjoy the videos too!
Yes, I definitely considered that. I wanted to see what it would do in this form, and will probably consider a bunch of valvetrain mods in the future.
Thank you for the great compliment! As long as you guys enjoy the videos and find them useful, that's good enough for me!
Will do man, see ya!
Thanks Clement! These things don't take long in total, but it's taken me awhile since I'm usually too busy to work in the garage. I'm in healthcare technology.
10 yrs old video but still a treasure trove
Thanks man, send me any old pics, I love to see what folks are working on!
Thank you, I appreciate that!
Yes, my compressor is on the small side too. It ended up doing just fine though, but I did have the rope just in case. I just had that small problem with it as seen in the video. :-)
Thanks man, that would be cool!
Hi Chris and thank you for the support! I can't add links in this comment box, but the Facebook link is in the video comments, or just type in Toms Turbo Garage in the Facebook search bar. See ya!
Thanks and will do!
Hi Kyle, when it's just me filming and working alone, I don't always remember to catch every step. They aren't difficult to change at all, just google it or check your service manual for more info.
Thanks man, that would look good!
Growing up, I never really appreciated these Buick runners, but I am not sure if I knew what they were about. They were a bit of a secret, it seems. Today, I respect what they are and especially admire the passion of the GN aficionados.
I can totally relate to this. For me growing up it was European cars. Everyone around me at the time told me they were junk, etc. Now I've grown to appreciate them and what they offer.
Indeed. This car has a Precision TE-44, so it should be a good compliment.
You're welcome and I'm sure this has been covered on the forums at some point. Good luck!
I watch do it yourself shade-tree mechanic videos on TH-cam all the time. You have by far the most entertaining and informative. I enjoy your videos. Thanks
Thank you for saying that and I'm glad you enjoy the videos!
Love the comedy you throw into your video's, and the depth of coverage. Hard to believe the power plate isn't restriction though.
Thank you for the great support Jesse! Just help me out and tell your friends/pets/co-workers/people at the grocery store/etc. I would greatly appreciate that!
I just purchased an 87 GN. Had GN's before and had kids, sold GN, got one back and keeping it. I am doing pretty much like you. Slow and methodical. Some old school and some new. I am having a ball. 61,000 miles, TE44, 42.5 009's, ss 3" Downpipe, exhaust, Walbro 340 hotwired, a NOS 9/11 converter, Turbo Tweeks chip, stretch intercooler, new motor mounts and transmission mounts. Looking for 12's on pump gas. Love the video's. Keep them coming. Tnx
Haha, thanks man! I've always been fascinated by the rotary engine and saw many fast ones when I lived in Florida. I don't think I've heard the sound of an uncorked rotaty at full song since I lived there. :-(
Also, I don't know if you addressed this in your other videos but ensuring the TPS is set correctly is a must. Just make sure you have the floor mat taken out when you check the TPS setting, as the the floormat's thickness will throw off your voltage readings (and, hence, the voltage applied when you mash the throttle.)
Haha, thanks man - will do!
Cool, good to know!
Well that's an interesting bit of trivia!
No, according to the included instructions you just drill a hole where where the EGR port is (using the gasket as a guide) and the EGR function is retained.
Thank you!
The 1989 TTA was the fastest production car in 1989! Such a cool car!
My 1st project car was a 3rd gen -a 82' Firebird S/E, just a 2.8 v6 4 speed, with the WS6 suspension package! It handled wonderful, but it was so slow! Eventually I saved up enough to buy a 350 and 4 speed trans out of a 2nd gen Z28, rated at 360hp, it made it a whole different car!Then I got a rear end from a 88 Z28 with the 3.45's and Posi. With full exhaust, a cam, an intake and carb, I ran high 12's! I miss that car!!
Thank you sir!
Oh, those '40 hp' chips were hilarious. You were lucky if they made 10, lol! And I love how Kenne Bell is contradicting themselves with the stock ET times. On the front page it shows the stock GN's doing around 14.30's and on the inside page 14.80's. The performance market in the 80's and early 90's was very misleading, at best...
I can't believe that you don't have more subscribers, the videos you put out are produced well and are easy to follow, they're fun and informative. I look forward to every new video!
Great info!
Actually, the blocks are the same but the cranks are not. The n/a 3.8L Regal cranks do not have the rolled fillets while the Turbo cranks do. The Turbo rolled fillet cranks were also used in the 4.1L V6 Estate Wagons of the same years, which is another source. The Estate Wagons also used the same Powermaster system for the brakes as the GN/TRs.
I don't know if you are shopping there but i see a lot of the stuff we sell. Great videos though i do in joy watching them...
Thanks man!
I have always wanted a GN! But my Regal GS is doing me good now.
Hey tom. Great vid! Love the old promo stuff for GN's! I just finished installing an electric fuel pressure gauge for my WE-4 today. Love your vids !
Thank you for the kind words and our mod lists sound very similar! Best of luck with your car and send me some pics on Facebook if you get a chance. See ya!
Seeing a Zebronkey is one step below seeing a full-on unicorn in the flesh. Oh yeah.
Once again, I love the comedy. The masking trick of how to peel the tape will be very useful someday. You probably already know but Snap-On and Lisle produce some pretty nifty spring compressing tools. The Snap-On or Bluepoint part number is GA317 and works on a wide variety of springs and is very quick and easy to use. Lisle has produced two sizes but uses the same concept as the Snap-On tool. Not knocking your tool in any way, just mentioning one of the tools I have found very useful.
Robert
GREAT VID LIKE ALWAYS TOM!!! cant wait to see you rip the grand natty down the track. Im just got my head back from getting a full port and polish. Also had springs retainers +1 valves etc done. All im waiting on now is to get my fp black and put her back on the dyno. I plan on sitting on that setup for awhile. 500hp is my goal and im told that will be extremely easy on a conservative safe reliable tune.
Haha! I've gotta lay off the anti-seize sandwiches. Believe it or not, they don't seem to agree with the majority of my digestive system/other organs. Thanks for the support too!
"Matt" is a jumpsuit that I bought at a flea market many years ago. I could tell you more, but TH-cam only gives me 379 more characters. Wait, 351. Wait, it keeps going down as I type, WTF? Now I have less than 300?!
I ordered a ram air kit and chip from Kenne Bell for my T-Type. Fun car back then.
Thanks William! I like throwing that goofy stuff in there. Can't take this stuff too serious!
Tom, you should run for president. Nice work on this video. Keep up the great work.
Oh yeah, same deal!
Just watched all 4 of your GN videos & looking forward to the next one. The spring video is timely as this is the next project I plan to tackle on my WE-4. Thanks very much for posting these... They're educational, and I caught myself laughing a few times.
/inspired to get back to work in the garage! :)
sweet man your videos are amazing
can't wait to see that 4g63 project going greetings from Mexico
Thank you Cesar! I'm glad that you enjoy them and tell everyone in Mexico that I said "hi!" I realize that may take awhile, but I appreciate it! :-D
The Turbo Buicks do have unique blocks, there is tons if info on this that can be found on the gnttype website. Sorry, I can't post links in here. :-/
Tom I really wish you had a Syclone or Typhoon to go with this Grand National Build. You do Awesome vids and tutorials!!!
After being taught as a child to "Wish in one hand, then shit in the other- and then show my granddaddy the one that was full first", I quickly learned that what he said was correct-"Wishers and whiners are one in the same... and you don't wanna grow up to be a blue pill eatin' Liberal, do ya boy?" So do yourself a BIG favor and STAY AWAY from any pressurized 4,3L Chevy v6. The problem is at the bottom of it. The bottom end that is- If you try and raise any serious, fun HP outta these engines you will be in for no more than heartache and foolish expenditure of funds better spent elsewhere. Forged rotating parts and 4 bolt caps don't help that much even if you can source them. Hey wait- Being the case it's a 4.3... I think you were on the correct track originally. Let's just go back and stick with the wishing, it'll be alot cheaper and much less of a headache in the end LOL- Cheers!
still relevant. great stuff.
Hey tom I love your videos, and I strive to have a garage like yours! I have watched your videos like 5 times each, because I am currently building my own car. Just got my turbo manifold and housing ceramic coated, and ported. Now just gotta install my water meth kit! Like I said I Love your videos and how simple but in depth they are keep it up man !
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoy the videos! Good luck with your build and send me some pics on Facebook if you get a chance! Have a good one, -Tom
Sweet, looks really good, you should consider hitting those ribs on the valve cover and dog house with some finer grit sandpaper and then some aluminum polish to make them really shine!
Tom, great video. I like the humor and even more the walk thru and know how. A little more detail, maybe at the end of the video, about where to get the parts would be helpful and the tools needed. Good for you and Ill be watching!
Hi,
Im sure you get this question alot, but why did you purchase an ISF? I value your opnion alot due to the fact that your a no nonsense type of guy, and for you to choose that over what else is available, means alot
also, not sure if this info helps, but he showed me receipts for a full trans rebuild, re manufactured turbo, and fel-pro head gaskets.. He told me that his wife drove the car so little that the factory head gaskets (metal) rusted, he said this was a common problem with these cars. The car has 150,000 miles, and he said when he did the head gaskets, the cylinders looked absolutely perfect. Hope you have a few minutes to answer my concerns about this car as i respect your opinion. thanks, and love the videos, ~drew~
With the new injectors, plate and minor porting the car will wake up a bit and give you room to grow. The valve springs are huge in that they will allow the car to rev without fear of valve float and increase the effective rev range to 5200-5300 RPM. If you do the valve springs, I recommend replacing the rocker shafts with heavy duty shafts available at NAPA ($25) as the OEM shafts will break under high load, especially on Cyls 5 & 6 since the shafts "hang in space" over those cylinders.
sweet, intelligent improvements.
Wow Tom, you make it look too easy! Great Video!