Buick Grand National Street & Strip Upgrades Part 6: Results!
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- in this episode, we finally get to enjoy the fruits of our labor and take the 1987 Grand National for a ride to test out it's performance and all around drivability.
Join me on Facebook: / tomsturbogarage
See more car photos, a mod list and more on my Grand National website: gn.turbomirage.com
Get your Black Air DVD, iTunes rental t-shirts and other cool stuff at www.gnmovie.com
Thank you for watching!
-Tom
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. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
The sound of that older V6 at boost, what a unique tone.
Totally agree, it is a sound like no other engine!
that's just a 3.8 sound.
@Tom's Turbo Garage....I ran an almost identical setup in my GN. Same turbo, injectors, fuel pump, intercooler, alky, stall.... hell even our FP regulators were identical! beautiful car man. My dyno run was 489RWHP and 523 RWTQ, with a best 1/4 @ 10.89@ 121mph
You still running the stock computer on it ?and what rear suspension are you running
That’s awesome! Great job! Tom
Believe it or not, the Buick GrandNational is my dream car. I would rather have it than a Lamborghini Aventador. Lucky you! ;)
Me too :)
Its my dream as well bruh.
I HAD AN 86 GN ALL BOLT ON & I WOULD DEF. RATHER HAVE A LAMBORGHINI..... THAT HAS TO BE THE MOST INBRED, DUMBASS THING I'VE EVER HEARD.
Same that or a 70 GS stage 1
Same here!
I LOVE YOUR CAR!! One of the funniest things I've ever seen was a friend wiping a tear from his eye after a GN pulled along side of us in his souped up money pit 5.0 then promptly blew his doors off. He was like "WTF!?" I laughed & asked "Do you not know what a Grand National is?"
S A He'll never forget it!!!
Something about that power to weight ratio people tend to forget. lol
I've owned 3 Turbo buicks in my life, many years ago.....loved em all......your vids make me wanna get another!
Thanks for the kind words and good luck if you decide to go for it! :-D
notpcone same here I've had 4
Sweet car! I had 4 of these, 2 GNs and 2 T-Types. LOVED them! They kept getting stolen. The last one was an animal and they kicked us off the track because we broke 11 w/o a roll cage. I thought I was going to be smart and hit the brakes before the end, but not soon enough. I got 10.8 @ 88 mph. They never let that car on the track again so I was never able to find out what it would have done. The transmission was the loudest thing and it would break the big sticky Yokohamas loose at 60! And Granny could drive it if she kept her foot out of it. What a great car to build up. A real classic.
For me the Grand National is the most sexiest and perfect muscle car. So nice clean and mean as hell. And that rear long and sleeck rear light tho.. my god!
Joe General except it's not a real muscle car lol love em though
Up here in Canada, these supercharged GN's are a very rare sight.
One day, I was walking back home with groceries and I saw a man showing off his Ferrari at a traffic stop. I thought it was cool until I saw an 87' GN roll up and my jaw dropped. Man, was that car mean looking! Polished to a near-perfect shine! The guy in the Ferrari was pissed that I was more impressed by the Buick then his brand-new super car XD
flippedoutkyrii Great story thanks for sharing! These cars do have this sort of impact for sure!
Even if i didn't love the GN I would have done the same thing lol
I've had my 86' grand national since i was 6 years old. Dad bought it for me for my first car, and i've never driven it. lol. It's been in the garage since 1996. Needs a new set of main bearings and some misc body work, but god i want to get it out after watching these videos
Tom your car is just beautiful !! Currently I'm driving a 40th anniversary Corvette 1993 and love it but I've always wanted a 1986-1987 Grand National !! I absolutely must have one !!! Thanks for your great and informative videos !!
Great work Tommy, fast plus streetable perfect for grocery and ice cream runs, hauling the kids and kicking ass and taking names later, I love it!
"Honey- the children want ice cream *NOW !!!*"
Haha, indeed!
Broom
Thank you and I appreciate the support! It's amazing to me that these simple videos have had that sort of effect, but it's very motivating to hear. I love watching Jafro's videos too. Have a good one!
I love this car. Thanks for those videos!
You're welcome man, glad you enjoyed them!
Your a methodical and systematic tech that works from the neck up. The shop is spotless and you never shoot from the hip. I work the same way in my hot rod shop shop myself. It's hard to teach younger hot rodders to appreciate this approach. Total respect.
+Adam Gent Thank you for the kind words Adam!
Tom, just wanted to say that I initially watched this series when it came out and I had an 87 T. I loved how clean your interior was done on this car. I sold the car 5 years ago and just picked up a 40,000 mile stock 86 GN. Although I plan on doing some mods to it, I came back to this video to refresh myself on your glove box gauges. I get the same feeling in the stock car now that I’m pushing 40. So, 7 years later, thanks for these videos. They stuck out enough for my to revisit them all again.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how QUIET it is inside these cars(when they're not all hacked up)!! LOUD exhaust is certainly no prerequisite to attaining torque and horsepower. This, for me, is the joy of owning a TB- cruising at 80MPH all day with the A/C blasting when it's 90+ degrees out in comfort and in a tranquil environment... til you challenged by an unsuspecting 'whatever' at a red light LOL. Great job with series Tom, clean and clear to understand, as always- Thank you!
Thank you and I appreciate you saying that. I just like passing along inspiration and tips that I've gathered from others. Have a good one!
This series of videos on your project Grand National has been an enjoyable, interesting, and funny series. You have what I want...... a 1987 GN, and a garage!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you sir. Christopher, Queens NY.
Thank you Quinn! I'm glad you enjoy the videos and best of luck to you in your schooling.
Thank you and I'm glad you like the videos! Grand Nationals did not come from the factory with a blowoff valve and many GN folks do not run one, even in big power setups. I use to have one, but after switching intercooler piping, I left it off.
Having been a Turbo T owner for 24 years since it was new till I sold her in 2011 I appreciate this series and how thoroughly you modified your GN without losing it's streetability. Great series while bringing back fond memories for me. Thanks.
Thank you for taking the time to share that Murray! I appreciate the kind words and I'm glad I could help bring back some memories too.
Thank you and great to hear that you're enjoying yours too! I bet those heads will make a very nice improvement!
Thank you Michael and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks as always John, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Nick! I believe you may be the first person to ever watch all of my videos in "marathon" succession, and I'm glad to hear that you made it through all of that with your sanity intact, haha! I love Mustangs too and what many folks aren't aware of is how intense the dragstrip rivalry was between the Mustang 5.0 and GN was back in the day. It's funny because they were wildly different cars in my opinion, but they squared off anyway! Great story about the anticipation, loved it!
Thank you Cliff, glad you enjoyed them!
Thank you for the kind words and story too! Glad to hear you enjoyed the videos!
Thank you Jake, glad you enjoyed them!
Thank you for the support, I do appreciate it greatly!
Thank you and you're right on about the grin, it's uncontrollable whenever you breathe on the old boost pedal!
I really like the Diy videos you do. I just have a fascinations with learning. I'm glad you like to share your knowledge with all of us!
You are living the dream, dude. I think I speak for everyone when I say, great job with the GN and we can't wait to see more of it!
wow awesome job man i love it, makes me wish we had the Grand National in Australia
Love the videos on the old Buick! Back in the day my buddy had a black Buick t-type, and if we ever ran across something my mustang couldn't handle we always ran home for the Buick. I just love these cars and you just don't see them that often. Thanks for taking the time for this great car and love the videos!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Love the sound of the Grand Nationals and Regal T-types. Brings back so many memories.
Thank you for saying that! I've always loved fast stock appearing cars. Good luck with your c230, that should be a fun little beast!
I want you to know I have watched your videos from start to finish and I cannot wait to work on my 84 GN I just picked up. It will have the same IC setup. I also want to say very well done! when you put the factory stereo back in I saluted you! I am the same way factory is the only way to go as its from my childhood. I look forward to seeing more videos in the future. Well done!
Congrats,Tom! That giddy laugh and huge smile you have is the same thing that happens to me when I'm in my T Limited. I've really enjoyed watching you do your GN right. Your channel rocks, man!
Thank you and you're welcome! Best of luck with your GN too!
It's a great day for Tennessee. Tom posts another episode of TTG, and as of this writing, their underdog football team is leading #6 Georgia in the 4th. Even if they lose the game, it will be surprisingly close, and they'll still have Tom.
love the videos, I remember waking by a buick dealer on my way to school every morning and they where lined up, there had to be about 20 them. loved them ever since. dying to get one.
Hi there, I haven't measured MPG yet, but I made so many changes at once that it would be hard to single out the effects the converter alone. The stock power master brake unit has a new accumulator, but that's it. They can be troublesome, but there is tons of care/maintenance info on them. Good luck with your car and glad to hear you've kept it in the family!
Thank you and I'm glad you liked them! You're probably right, but I do plan to enjoy the car as-is for as long as possible.
The GM G-Bodies are amongst my favorite looking cars of all time. Right after the '67-'72 Chevelle, '69-72 Cutlass, '67-70 GTO, '67-72 Buick GS '68-'72 Nova and '69-'02 Trans Am.
Thank you and yes, I need much more practice. I only made three runs and I'm sure a 1.60 would be possible with a bigger burnout, more boost at the line, etc. Hopefully I can get to the track again this season.
Thanks man! The end of the 1/8 mile is well before the board, so it just looks that way. Yes, I'd like some 1/4 mile track runs too, but I don't have that luxury. I like the tune where it is now - very safe and trouble free, but with more boost/timing/leaner mix, it would really wake up I'm sure.
tom buddy,ive watched this video many of times,i just love how you brought this car to life..and then some....good job
Love your channel Tom! The GN is a beautiful machine, Buick knew what they were doing. Been hooked on the Turbo Buicks for my whole life. Keep on keepin on buddy! :)
Thank you David! I agree completely and I appreciate the support.
Tom's Turbo Garage d1
Grew up a Mustang guy but always had a soft spot for these sinister cars. On my route is a guy who is the original owner of a 16k mile GNX. Amazing, never know what people have in their garage. I once detailed a nicely modified 87GN and I remember pulling it out in front of the shop and staging it slightly to watch the boost " chicklet" lights creep up. My foot as shaking as I couldnt believe I was finally behind the wheel of one. Your plan was very well thought out!! I marathoned all your vids!
Thanks for the suggestion. I really like these, and they grip like mad when hot. I think some wider ones would make a big difference as many Buick guys prefer them. Just have to use wider wheels of some sort.
Best car I have ever owned 1987. A great mod was to put a switch inline with the lock up torque converter. Super simple the ECM is in the passengers kick panel,I made a bracket to mount it on the shifter handle. Keeping the converter unlocked while crusing in OD around town made the engine much happier, It no longer was bogged down doing 40-50 mph. Also an installation of a 60hp boost of nitrous was a game changer, again super simple as It was made for the GN. I still cry because I recked it in 1992.
I agree about the stock wheels too! I'm sure a front mount would make a nice improvement, but I went with the stock location upgrade for a few reasons.
Thank you and congrats on your GN! I'll likely do some more upgrades, but I'm going to try really hard to resist the urge and try to enjoy the car as is.
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoy them!
I can't believe I've never heard of your channel!? Amazing build! Excellent editing and commentary! Thanks for sharing! Subscribed!
Thank you David!
Thanks Charles, there are some good deals to be had out there!
What a great GN series that you've compiled here, thanks for sharing it! I love the video format that you are using along with the camera and narration too! I
Thank you and good luck with your GN!
Glad you enjoyed it!
What an awesome turnout!! I loved seeing the progress of this grand national and hopefully one day mine can be like yours. Me and my father have a 1987 turbo grand national as well and we will be working on it over the summer!!
Thank you man! Best of luck to you and your father and enjoy working on your Grand National together!
Hi Nathan, I mentioned it toward the end of the video- based on calculations from the 1/8 mile runs it's approx 440hp at the engine and 400hp at the wheels.
What an amazing series, thank you so much! I now really want to pick one of these amazing cars up myself!:)
6:09 HERO MODE ENGAGED. Hahah, nice one man, loved watching the build videos and nice to see it being given hell and used as a performance car! Love your channel! Always loved the Turbo Buicks. I'm over in the UK and whilst engine size is a different story over here, I've got a 2.5 V6, 190bhp MG ZS, and whilst I am extremely thorough and maybe a little over the top with maintenance and the work I do, (just as you seem to be!) I never forget that it's a performance car that was built to be driven and be given a damn good hiding occasionally! So nice to see someone doing work the right way, and putting the stereo back to stock got me, exactly as I would have done! Kudos to you for this and all your videos!
Hi Tom, thanks for all of you're videos. I will be a new 87 GN owner this spring and I can't wait. I owned a Monte SS for 12 years and I've always missed letting it go. I know the GN is a different beast and it took a while to get over the V6 thing. I'm sure I will keep this one for good. Your videos are great! Hopefully you will have another one someday.
Thank you for the kind words sir and I wish you all the best with your new GN! I know you'll love it and while it is a different beast, the power and how it's delivered it just too much fun. I do hope to own another again someday.
Glad you enjoyed it man!
Thanks man, not much to report on the Talon, I drive it but I don't have any modifications planned for it...just driving and enjoying it!
She's a beauty, you did a great job with tasteful mods.
I gotta say...what a fantastic GN series of vids. The GN is my dream car, has been since I first laid eyes on it. Now that I'm out of the military and focusing on a new future, I've been searching for one. Found one here in town in what looked like good shape with 51k miles for $22K but they wouldn't let me test drive it...at that price it was just waaaaay too risky. The search continues. Anyway, great great vids. Love those original GN wheels. Stay safe and enjoy the hell out of that absolute beast of a Buick. My day will come ;)
First off, thank you for your service to our country! Also, thank you for the kind words and I'm glad that you enjoyed the videos! I wish you the best of luck in your car search, as you know, it takes tons of patience when searching for a car like this. Just take your time and inspect each car thoroughly for authenticity and condition. There are some good tips here in case you haven't seen it. www.gnttype.org/general/buyguide.html Thanks again!
dang Tom! I am so jealous of you. you had 2 of my favorite cars (Talon, and Grand National) a nice work environment, lots of nice tools, and lots of experience. thanks for sharing your knowledge with us though, these vids are great!
Out of all the car/ motorsports channels I subscribe to, you Tom have the best. The real car stuff is here. I absolutely love the Buick. Btw I miss Torch on the intro. The old intro was awesome.
Still awesome, even when going on 7 years ago now!
Thank you sir! The GN is a timeless car for sure 😀👍🏻
How bout it! Spent the last 2 days watching these videos. You made one awesome car unbelievable job and I loved the way you wired in the gauge and alky injection controller. Nice and clean man. Job well done!
Beautiful car! Absolutely wonderful to see someone enjoying theire car 100% You inspire me to take my time and do things the best I can. Much Love.
Thank you Tyler and I'm glad that I can help! Good luck to you.
I can't stop watching this video. That Grand National is just such a beauty! Very, very jealous of you Tom!
Thank you and I'm glad you enjoy the video! No need to be jealous, go get a GN or T-Type! There are some awesome deals to be had out there.
I wish it was that easy around here in Denmark! American cars are very hard to come by here, especially something like a GN!
Great video man, Wished I could have Grand National myself. love what you did to the car itself!
Thank you Levi, glad you enjoyed the video!
Such a cool car and yours is sweet as hell! I love those things, the first ride in one set the bug that has me turboing my current ride..
Thoroughly enjoyed this video series Tom. As the owner of a all stock, 16k mile untouched 87 GN myself, I really enjoyed watching you turn wrenches on yours. Keep up the great work, and entertaining yet informative video's.
Thank you sir, I appreciate that and am very glad to hear that you enjoyed the videos!
Thanks so much William! That was a great game!
So sick dude. Have watched most of your build videos so far, and have really enjoyed all of them. Going to check out the Talon videos next - those hit a soft spot as my first car was a '93 Talon (..DL model), excited to watch. Keep the great stuff coming.
Im here from seeing your thread on mcm forum. one of the best decisions ever. Great chanel and great vids. Subscribed :)
Thank you and I appreciate the kind words! Glad to hear that you enjoy the videos!
Great video Tom , its been well worth the wait . I met a fellow DSM'er here in maryland and we got into a conversation about you and jafro.. awesome how much you guys influence the community ... he's got a white 8 sec Talon . Thanks for the cool Vids
Amazing work
Thank you! I do have alcohol injection, you'll see it mentioned in this video and in more detail in Part 5. Good luck with your car, it's gonna scream! I would like to build my engine someday, but it'll be awhile as it's really fun right now. See ya!
Regarding suspension work, it does have KYB shocks, drop spindles in the front and new rear control arms.
Awesome!! Love the GN!!
Yours is done perfect!
Thank you! Regarding Black Air, I hear ya, they are working on a second one, which I believe will have a much different tone.
Hi Julian, these cars did not come with a blowoff/recirculation valve from the factory. I had one on it before I changed to the new intercooler setup. I may add it back into the mix, but most all GN folks run without one.
I love this car. A good friend of mine had a 85 fully restored el camino and I have a new sense of respect for these 80's cars. I would love to have one of these one day.
I hear ya man! They are great fun for sure. You mention the el camino, which is an old favorite of mine too. How cool would it have been if GM built a Turbo Buick in the el camino body back then?
Love the car! Grand Nationals and T-types are my fave cars of all time!
Love this review. I want that car now. It's nice to see all your hard work paying off!
Oh definitely! You never see those cars around anymore, but I did happen to see one the other day on the highway.
Hi Scott and thank you! Good luck on your move and send me a message when you make it down this way. I definitely miss 1/4 mile racing really bad.
Outstanding project. Great job Tom!
I have an 86 GN that is tired. 150+k miles. I think its time to freshen her up. You certainly gave me some motivation. Great video.
Thank you Caleb, I appreciate the kind words! I work on these videos in my spare time, and that's been very limited lately.
Thanks Blacknightrising,
Yes that's about what I found to be the best psi combo for the track
Thanks again!
Hey Tom, I just watched the entire series in one seating. Nice hands and mentality, almost made me want to get a GN over an 96 impala. Inspiring to see a older maint tech doing work I start my apprenticeship very soon.
Hi Kelvin and thanks for the kind words! Good luck on your apprecticeship too!
The whistle of doom! This is a wonderful buick keep it clean and have fun!
Ok its been almost 3 weeks! I keep waiting for the next episode of whatever your doing! Cant wait. Keep it up Tom! Def look forward to another talon video with the twin plate!