So this Grand National comes in the shop today.......

[Cooter]

I saw it come in on a roll back and figured it had major problems. Owner tells me he had it at another shop and the engine "Mysteriously" blew, and he had another built for it @274 C.I. I ask what's wrong with it and the owner begins to tell me the whole story. It seems he dropped it off at "His mechanic's" shop and asked for a trans rebuild and a few upgrades to the engine (231 V6 Stock). After the mods, then is when the engine problems arose and he didn't think it was an accident...So, he brings it to the shop and asks if we can get the new stroker engine running as all the other shop did was get the engine in the car. Somehow, the other shop managed to strip out one of the spark plugs in the ALuminum heads, so we had to repair that, along with some electronics on the car. Just then, the owner comes by and begins to talk about how fast this thing was and shows me a timeslip from one of the local 8th mile tracks here....I looked at the timelsip and asked the owner if it belonged to this car...He states, "yes, that was with the stock motor and before the heads, upgrade injectors, etc.." I didn't buy it as it read "WINNER 7.33" (8th mile)..

I didn't think much more about it, till the boss came over and asked how the GN was doing and he explained again. I, along with the bossman, heard the owner a 70 Y/O man, tell the boss to "Run it" as he needed to know if it was "right" or not...So, we get it running and out in the street we go..The bossman tells me "I know you are all about big inch motors, but check this out" and he got into it..........

Now, normally, I wouldn't get all gooney goo goo over a turbo'd V6, but this thing was Nasty to say the least..
When the throttle was mashed, it took out spinning on Drag Radials, then hooked about 4 cars out, SLAMMED 2nd gear (Metric 200 Trans, 3500 Converter/with lockup), and broke loose at around 45 MPH, didn't hook up again till the top of 2nd, hit 3rd and we were running, by the speedo, right at 90 MPH in about an 8th mile...

I imediately thought it was a fluke, so I asked to run it MY WAY...I said pull it out dead flat, ease into the throttle and let the engine work..So, he did......
I couldn't believe it...That thing would give my 505 C.I. Dart on Nitrous, a run for it's money...Geeesh! I've ridden in some pretty quick V8 cars, but nothin' like this thing... Even while spinning, still planting you in the seat..
There's even this kinda goofy sticker in the rear glass that says "EXPECT NO MERCY"..
Mine eyes have seen the light...There's gonna be a turbo on something in my future....Will Post pics tomorrow all I have now are cell phone pics and I don't know how to post those...

[brads70]

   Yep they do demand respect!   Even more fun when you stick a 455 Buick motor in them! 

I have clutch issues, and the roof is still cracking in mine!

[scatpack_69]

Those Turbo Buicks are bad. I've been looking off-and-on for a GN for awhile.

Forced induction is where it's at

[BB73Challenger]

There is a twin turbo 1,100 HP GN around me.

Just evil....
The tip-off is the enormous amount of "whistling" it does at a stand still.

[elitecustombody]

I saw it come in on a roll back and figured it had major problems. Owner tells me he had it at another shop and the engine "Mysteriously" blew, and he had another built for it @274 C.I. I ask what's wrong with it and the owner begins to tell me the whole story. It seems he dropped it off at "His mechanic's" shop and asked for a trans rebuild and a few upgrades to the engine (231 V6 Stock). After the mods, then is when the engine problems arose and he didn't think it was an accident...So, he brings it to the shop and asks if we can get the new stroker engine running as all the other shop did was get the engine in the car. Somehow, the other shop managed to strip out one of the spark plugs in the ALuminum heads, so we had to repair that, along with some electronics on the car. Just then, the owner comes by and begins to talk about how fast this thing was and shows me a timeslip from one of the local 8th mile tracks here....I looked at the timelsip and asked the owner if it belonged to this car...He states, "yes, that was with the stock motor and before the heads, upgrade injectors, etc.." I didn't buy it as it read "WINNER 7.33" (8th mile)..

I didn't think much more about it, till the boss came over and asked how the GN was doing and he explained again. I, along with the bossman, heard the owner a 70 Y/O man, tell the boss to "Run it" as he needed to know if it was "right" or not...So, we get it running and out in the street we go..The bossman tells me "I know you are all about big inch motors, but check this out" and he got into it..........

Now, normally, I wouldn't get all gooney goo goo over a turbo'd V6, but this thing was Nasty to say the least..
When the throttle was mashed, it took out spinning on Drag Radials, then hooked about 4 cars out, SLAMMED 2nd gear (Metric 200 Trans, 3500 Converter/with lockup), and broke loose at around 45 MPH, didn't hook up again till the top of 2nd, hit 3rd and we were running, by the speedo, right at 90 MPH in about an 8th mile...

I imediately thought it was a fluke, so I asked to run it MY WAY...I said pull it out dead flat, ease into the throttle and let the engine work..So, he did......
I couldn't believe it...That thing would give my 505 C.I. Dart on Nitrous, a run for it's money...Geeesh! I've ridden in some pretty quick V8 cars, but nothin' like this thing... Even while spinning, still planting you in the seat..
There's even this kinda goofy sticker in the rear glass that says "EXPECT NO MERCY"..
Mine eyes have seen the light...There's gonna be a turbo on something in my future....Will Post pics tomorrow all I have now are cell phone pics and I don't know how to post those...

LOL, all this time you though all GN guys are posers?

These cars deserve all respect and can make tons of power. Turbo power FTW! That's why I love beating on my fully built single turbo Supra everyday
 

['Cuda Hunter]

When I used to street race every weekend, I was skunked by one of those on Academy Blvd in Colo Springs.  I couldn't believe he passed me.  I took him through second.  About half way into third, I heard that engine whine and he took off from me.
I was in a 1998 Pontiac Trans Am with the vette engine.  I was very impressed. 
That is a cool car.  V6 and all. 

[Oldschool]

Some of those things will hurt some V-8 folks feelings...       

[Chryco Psycho]

a friend has one that will get into the 9s in the 1/4 , totally street drivable & sounds like nothing idling , this is why I wanted to twin turbo my 440 Charger , I picked up two turbos from T type buicks for $50 each at the wreckers !!

[Topcat]

The Hemi cuda of the late eighties was the Buick GNX. Very rare, highly sought after by collectors, will certainly become big money in the future at the big auctions. Came from the factory with twin turbo's. I actually saw one once many years ago on the freeway. I couldn't believe it driving right next to me. I gave the driver the look of a  and a thumbs up. Back then, hardly anyone even knew about them

The goal for GNX performance was a 1 second reduction in 0-60 mph time through power and traction enhancements. The accepted times for production models was 0-60 in 5.3 seconds and quarter mile in 13.3 @ 104mph.

http://www.buickgnx.com/

[hpe600rt]

he 1989 gta trans am pace car has the same motor it is a nice car i had one along time ago

[Street_Challenged73]

Those GN's are definitely not like your grandfather's Buick!!!   Those GNX's are definitely cool in their own way (read fast!), but the interior styling has little to be desired (never liked the door panels & instrument cluster).

And yes, turbos are fun!

[brads70]

Came from the factory with twin turbo's.

They only had one turbo but an upgraded one (from a regular GN), bigger intercooler, and a different rear suspension, as I understood it?
I've enjoyed my Buick for 15 years now. It's fun because most people just don't expect a Buick to be fast. From what I have read the 1970 Buick GSX stage 1 and 2 was quicker than a 70 Hemi Cuda at the drag strip? ( both being stock)? The Buick guys would say ( to add insult to injury) with the A\C on too!

[Topcat]

They only had one turbo but an upgraded one (from a regular GN), bigger intercooler, and a different rear suspension, as I understood it?
I've enjoyed my Buick for 15 years now. It's fun because most people just don't expect a Buick to be fast. From what I have read the 1970 Buick GSX stage 1 and 2 was quicker than a 70 Hemi Cuda at the drag strip? ( both being stock)? The Buick guys would say ( to add insult to injury) with the A\C on too!

I may be mistaken but recall reading a HR article on them that said they had ceramic turbines inside. This allowed them to spool up faster. It's been a long time since I read about them. For whatever reason, I recall a pic of them having twin turbo's. Certainly I'm not a Buick expert by any means either.

[moparclown]

Love them turbo cars
caught many sleeping at the wheel with mine and its a mopar

[Cooter]

Will post better pics tonight...Thing is, I'm not above gving respect where it is due, but! this old man has around $20K in this engine so If it didn't blow most everything off the road, I'd be pissed myself...Now, ifn' he'd a done it with about a $3K engine, then things woulda been different in mine eyes..Going fast with junk is where it's at as most anybody can take out a second mortgage and make most anything fly even with a few mistakes...It's when you are forced to spend VERY little by comparison and are running or outrunning them..THAT'S what hurts..