Grand Nationals

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Performance Mods

Date Time 60'

Dark ages Gutted cat. 7" K&N filter. 160 degree thermostat. Crane Street cam (# 813901) (202/210) Flowmaster muffler. 265/50 Hercules tires. Hypertech chip.

11/Oct/1997 15.232@91.63 2.456 I had a terrible time hooking up, must have peeled about a quarter inch off my right rear tire on my 5 runs!

Winter 1997/1998 Added a Walbro pump and a hot-wire kit. Moroso performance wires. Bosch adjustable fuel pressure regulator. Set to 46psi vacuum off. VDO fuel pressure gauge. Blue tops. Blocked coolant lines to TB.
Got TurboLink, adjusted the TPS, went from 0.38 - 4.38 to 0.44 - 4.89, with a little persuasion. Did an IAC reset, even though I didn't have a tach to adjust the idle during the procedure, it sounded like it was 500 RPM.
Ran Pig-rich until I got the new computer and JC chip.

27/Jul/1998 BFG 245/50R15 front tires

14/Sep/1998 Installed an '87 ECM, MAF, got a Jay Carter street chip. Got an EGT Meter from SMC Enterprises, 236 Mimi St., Cadiz, KY., 42211, (502) 522-9376 Oil fill tube breather from Kirban.

23/Jun/1999 TransGo shift kit in street mode.

26/Jun/1999 15.846@84.29 2.245 Back to the track. 32°C. Trouble with traction, low boost, brakes.

21/Jul/1999 Got a pair of 26x10 MT slicks on Basset rims, also added a line lock and a pair of air bags.
Changed coolant to RMI-25 and water.

24/Jul/1999 15.780@84.69 2.416 Back to the track, still hot. Set air bags to 5 and 20 psi. New trouble with breaks mushing out due to the line lock. Had to crank the wastgate rod to the max to get up to 16 psi boost.

Aug 1999 Pulled out exhaust manifolds. Both were mega-cracked. #2 and #5 tubes almost completely separated from the rest. Also replaced power steering belt and new O2 sensor. Reduced fuel pressure to 38psi.
Turboscan keeps throwing up frames where the voltage drops to 0, among other weird readings.

30/Oct/1999 15.150@86.02 2.039 It seemed to be wimping out around 4000 rpms, and I can't get the boost above 14, so...

Winter 1999/2000 Replaced the stock valve springs with Comp Cams #981-12 (100 lb, I believe). Added a driveshaft loop.

23/Jul/2000 14.801@90.47 1.870 Not bad, considering my head gasket was probably leaking the whole time! it finally gave out on the drive home.

Jul 2000 - Aug 2002 Eventually got the engine pulled, taken apart, and the block checked. There were two huge cracks in the lifter valleys. Since there were a dearth of '85 20-bolt blocks in the area, we elected to convert to an '87 engine.

Starting with a good '87 short block,

we're adding a girdle and steel caps,

ported heads,

balanced pistons

and a balanced and nitrated crank,

arp stud kit,

ported throttle body

PT52 turbo

and a 3" single shot exhaust.

Here's a few pics of the assembly work.

While it's apart, I'm adding Water T, Oil Pressure, and Knock guages. Got a LoTeK T-roof dual guage pod to install it in, '00 rearview mirror, and Poly engine and tranny mounts.
I'm also moving up to 009 injectors and a 3200 stall converter. I'm looking into a thumbwheel chip. Choices are MaxEffort, cool but strip only; Caspers UltraChip, has valet and anti-theft; rumor has it that Jay Carter will burn chips for the UltaChip carrier.
The work and the girdle and main caps are being done by Evans Race Products.
Looking at a thumbwheel chip

Date	Time	60'
Dark ages			Gutted cat. 7" K&N filter. 160 degree thermostat. Crane Street cam (# 813901) (202/210) Flowmaster muffler. 265/50 Hercules tires. Hypertech chip.
11/Oct/1997	15.232@91.63	2.456	I had a terrible time hooking up, must have peeled about a quarter inch off my right rear tire on my 5 runs!
Winter 1997/1998			Added a Walbro pump and a hot-wire kit. Moroso performance wires. Bosch adjustable fuel pressure regulator. Set to 46psi vacuum off. VDO fuel pressure gauge. Blue tops. Blocked coolant lines to TB. Got TurboLink, adjusted the TPS, went from 0.38 - 4.38 to 0.44 - 4.89, with a little persuasion. Did an IAC reset, even though I didn't have a tach to adjust the idle during the procedure, it sounded like it was 500 RPM. Ran Pig-rich until I got the new computer and JC chip.
27/Jul/1998			BFG 245/50R15 front tires
14/Sep/1998			Installed an '87 ECM, MAF, got a Jay Carter street chip. Got an EGT Meter from SMC Enterprises, 236 Mimi St., Cadiz, KY., 42211, (502) 522-9376 Oil fill tube breather from Kirban.
23/Jun/1999			TransGo shift kit in street mode.
26/Jun/1999	15.846@84.29	2.245	Back to the track. 32°C. Trouble with traction, low boost, brakes.
21/Jul/1999			Got a pair of 26x10 MT slicks on Basset rims, also added a line lock and a pair of air bags. Changed coolant to RMI-25 and water.
24/Jul/1999	15.780@84.69	2.416	Back to the track, still hot. Set air bags to 5 and 20 psi. New trouble with breaks mushing out due to the line lock. Had to crank the wastgate rod to the max to get up to 16 psi boost.
Aug 1999			Pulled out exhaust manifolds. Both were mega-cracked. #2 and #5 tubes almost completely separated from the rest. Also replaced power steering belt and new O2 sensor. Reduced fuel pressure to 38psi. Turboscan keeps throwing up frames where the voltage drops to 0, among other weird readings.
30/Oct/1999	15.150@86.02	2.039	It seemed to be wimping out around 4000 rpms, and I can't get the boost above 14, so...
Winter 1999/2000			Replaced the stock valve springs with Comp Cams #981-12 (100 lb, I believe). Added a driveshaft loop.
23/Jul/2000	14.801@90.47	1.870	Not bad, considering my head gasket was probably leaking the whole time! it finally gave out on the drive home.
Jul 2000 - Aug 2002			Eventually got the engine pulled, taken apart, and the block checked. There were two huge cracks in the lifter valleys. Since there were a dearth of '85 20-bolt blocks in the area, we elected to convert to an '87 engine. Starting with a good '87 short block, we're adding a girdle and steel caps, ported heads, balanced pistons and a balanced and nitrated crank, arp stud kit, ported throttle body PT52 turbo and a 3" single shot exhaust. Here's a few pics of the assembly work. While it's apart, I'm adding Water T, Oil Pressure, and Knock guages. Got a LoTeK T-roof dual guage pod to install it in, '00 rearview mirror, and Poly engine and tranny mounts. I'm also moving up to 009 injectors and a 3200 stall converter. I'm looking into a thumbwheel chip. Choices are MaxEffort, cool but strip only; Caspers UltraChip, has valet and anti-theft; rumor has it that Jay Carter will burn chips for the UltaChip carrier. The work and the girdle and main caps are being done by Evans Race Products. Looking at a thumbwheel chip

Got a service manual for $129US from
Lloyd's Literature
P.O. Box 491
Newbury, OH 44065
(440)338-1527
(800)BY-A-BOOK
(800)292-2665
It's a good photocopy of the original manual, except for some color plates showing tranny rebuilds, and the windshield washer motor, and examples of bearing wear. These are too dark to be really legible.

What needs doing

Other things to do:

Crushed parking brake cable
Clean up wiring
Check power/grounds to computer
Replace all body and suspension bushings. There are two rotten body mounts, just behind the read wheels that need replacing. I found a guy that makes new sheetmetal for the G-body cars. Body mounts, frame rails, ...

Conrad Lozier
Woodstock, Ont.
(519) 537-7214
Cell: (519) 536-3506
Turbo saver.
Better Instrumentation. Between the bit that are broken, and the bit that were born brain-dead, the only useful thing on my dash is the trip odometer. I'm thinking of a GNX instrument cluster, but $1200 is a bit steep. A better option may be making a blank one from sheet metal and populate it myself. It's been reported that Conley, M.M. or AVC (810-695-6699) produce a GNX style cluster.
The GNX dash holds a 160mph speedo, Stewart Warner tach, boost, water temp, oil press, and fuel gauge. Two additional gauges can be added to an A-pillar pod, and/or a pod under the stereo.
braces
re-locate battery
posi
Car Computer

"Local" tracks and their weather conditions

St. Thomas Dragway. Environment Canada Weather Forecast: London, Ontario
Toronto Motorsport Park Environment Canada Weather Forecast: Hamilton, Ontario
Grand Bend Motorplex Environment Canada Weather Forecast: Toronto, Ontario
Shannonville Motorsport Park, (150km east of Toronto, near Belleville). Environment Canada Weather Forecast: Kingston, Ontario
Ontario Weather, the best site for radar images. Unfortunately, there is no weather radar in Canada, so we have to rely on Detroit and Buffalo. This means that there are no indications of where Canadian cities are, except for the odd airport, like London (YXU), Hamilton (YHM).

Winter Storage Tips

Check anti-freeze. If changing, run the car until the thermostat opens and make sure the heater is on so it mixes thoroughly.
Top up the tank and add a gasoline stabilizer. Run the engine a few minutes to make sure it fills the rail.
Top up all fluids.
Add an extra two quarts of oil. Change it in the spring before starting up again.
Remove the plugs and give it a squirt or two of oil.
Charge the battery and disconnect it. Give it another charge in mid-winter. If you remove it, don't store it on concrete or any other conductive surface.
Leave the windows open a crack to reduce condensation.
If jacking the car up, put it on stands, and locate the stands on the suspension, not the frame.
If storing on dirt or bare concrete, lay down a vapor barrier like plywood or plastic sheeting.
If mice are a problem, pull up your plastic vapor barrier or scatter some poison bait in the car.

Resources

Number one is the Turbo Regal Web Site. There are also a couple of chat rooms:

Chat.camaroz28.com, channel is #turbobuick

And,

Buick.fiendish.net, channel is #buickgn

Turbo Buick Specialists

#BuickGN IRC Chat Homepage
National Performance, #5-18 Harlech Ct. Thornhill, Ont. L3T 2A1, 905 707 8313
Modern Musclecar - A Speed shop for the New Millennium
Conley's Performance Plus - Call - 281.540.FAST
Lambert Buick-GMC - Home Page
Thrasher Engineered Performance
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
Stewart Components
cyberbay home
Tom's Turbo Regal Homepage
Lo-Tek Main Page
The Official Gallina Racing Website
Tom's Projects (seat braces)

Others

Wanna see my repair in all their gory details. Though not!