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Buick Grand Nationnal ?'s


HAOLE

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I am looking at a couple Grand Nationals.... I have always thought they were one of the best looking cars of all time.

 

My questions..

 

1. What are the limitations of the stock internals and fuel system?

2. Are the any known issue with theses cars? head gaskets ect?

3. Any other advice?

 

Thanks

 

P.S. Can a mod fix the title?

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stock internals are good into the 10's, and someone just went 8's on a stock block. upgrade the fuel pump and you are good into the 10's at least.

 

Oil leaks are the biggest known problem, and that is just because they are getting to be so old. the stock head gaskets are REALLY strong.

 

Just remember you are buying a car that was made 20 years ago, and make sure to get an 86 or an 87. Tranny will only go 12's and then you will need to have it built. Oh yea, and tuning the cars sucks, it is all mostly mail order, but it is normally pretty close.

 

http://www.turbobuick.com

http://www.turbobuicks.com

http://www.t6p.com

http://gnttype.org

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Don't some tunes disappear? ;)

 

stock internals are good into the 10's, and someone just went 8's on a stock block. upgrade the fuel pump and you are good into the 10's at least.

 

Oil leaks are the biggest known problem, and that is just because they are getting to be so old. the stock head gaskets are REALLY strong.

 

Just remember you are buying a car that was made 20 years ago, and make sure to get an 86 or an 87. Tranny will only go 12's and then you will need to have it built. Oh yea, and tuning the cars sucks, it is all mostly mail order, but it is normally pretty close.

 

http://www.turbobuick.com

http://www.turbobuicks.com

http://www.t6p.com

http://gnttype.org

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http://www.turbobuick.com/

 

everything you want to know.....

 

the factory oiling system on buick's is shitty but you can go 12's on stock parts and a chip after that the tranny becomes the sticking point and then you start having to worry about pushing the crank out of the block, nothing good machine work and a block girdle can't fix, but its not cheap

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I talked to Webber racing, and through a little research of my own. I don,t think that tunning is easy on these cars. Either a 2k standalone, or burn chips. The chips I hear are close if you have someone burn it that has been doing it for years.

 

They tend to eat cams according to Webber racing. The pistons were cast from the factory. The piston has steel and aluminum in it, that leads to cracks.

 

To some it up, if the car is stock with factory pistons in it, they are most likely cracked due to the age of the cars.

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Ask Nick, he knows a LOT about these cars, and will easily be able to tell you what myths are true and which are just exagerated crap.

 

If you are interested in that motor, also look at the 1989 20th Anv. Editon Turbo Trans-Am. Same motor/tranny in a lighter car. They are rare, though, so do command a price premium.

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