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Buick Grand National

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Old 11-22-2006, 07:36 PM
  #46  
speedracing944
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Yup its a GN in a 931 modded pretty heavy.

Speedy
Old 11-22-2006, 08:34 PM
  #47  
Micah
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Hey, don’t take my word for it. Look it up in Guinness, +170mph at Boneville

The Bonneville S4 was not stock. Not that the GN had a higher top end than an S4 off the dealership floor either, but you were not going to coax a bone stock 928 to 171.blah in 1987.

My redneck side always thought the Typhoon was pretty snazzy Didn't you own one of those too, Dan?

Micah
Old 11-22-2006, 09:32 PM
  #48  
Robby
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The Typhoon was a bad-***. Was the Typhoon the SUV or the pick-up & which was the other? I knew a guy w/the SUV. Both were rare.

I have to say, GN's had some of the ugliest interiors (& exteriors) ever built- I've always tried to be fair & not a Porsche snob- I admit 944 shortcomings when asked & there are plenty of them. But one thing I've always liked about these cars is the styling- interior AND exterior! I honestly think the overall styling of our cars is one of the best- some small updates complete it. But, I'll give credit where credit is due- GN's are fast in a straight line- I think they only had ~240HP, but were lighter than 944's. I think they also had ~300TQ from their huge 6-cyl-> 3.8L V-6...?

Question- what's the dif b/t a GN & a GNX? What type of LSD did they have?

Kenny Dutweiller ran Pro-stock w/Grand National's (not sure about GN or GNX) but it was the fastest of either, in the world- He ran a 7.0X at 199.9X at the 1/4- corrected speeds for altitude were a HAIR UNDER 7 flat at a HAIR OVER 200mph... He ran on low boost- ~30psi & >2000HP- high boost was like 3200HP @~45psi IIRC- it was insane, whatever it was... I could look it up if anyone really wanted to know, but it sounds like some of you have owned these cars & know tons more about them than I do- I just remember a Turbo magazine from '99 or '00 when he did it- he painted his red to stand out from all the black ones...

Sure, they don't handle very well, but I wouldn't say they were horrible- no match for a stock 944/924 of any variety, but again, not horrible- I think their worst point was powering out of corners, w/a light back-end, slightly short wheelbase, heavy nose, & all that TQ. BUT, that engine can be MODDED! Anyone know what their engines weigh? I've always wondered- if no heavier than a 951 engine, it might be a good donor for our cars. Also, I wonder where the engine would sit in our cars?

As for which car was the fastest in whatever year- there are all kinds of BS claims. You get dif cars from dif magazines & dif ads, etc- look at all the "fastest cars in the world" & the records at Bonneville- there are like 700 of them!!! So many categories, people go out & look for new ones to make up, so they can make the books. As for top speed, they surely weren't the fastest- their claim was acceleration, but some said the 911 Turbo was faster- it was close, but depended, again, on the magazine & the person telling the story.
Old 11-22-2006, 10:08 PM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by Robby
The Typhoon was a bad-***. Was the Typhoon the SUV or the pick-up & which was the other? I knew a guy w/the SUV. Both were rare.

I have to say, GN's had some of the ugliest interiors (& exteriors) ever built- I've always tried to be fair & not a Porsche snob- I admit 944 shortcomings when asked & there are plenty of them. But one thing I've always liked about these cars is the styling- interior AND exterior! I honestly think the overall styling of our cars is one of the best- some small updates complete it. But, I'll give credit where credit is due- GN's are fast in a straight line- I think they only had ~240HP, but were lighter than 944's. I think they also had ~300TQ from their huge 6-cyl-> 3.8L V-6...?

Question- what's the dif b/t a GN & a GNX? What type of LSD did they have?

Kenny Dutweiller ran Pro-stock w/Grand National's (not sure about GN or GNX) but it was the fastest of either, in the world- He ran a 7.0X at 199.9X at the 1/4- corrected speeds for altitude were a HAIR UNDER 7 flat at a HAIR OVER 200mph... He ran on low boost- ~30psi & >2000HP- high boost was like 3200HP @~45psi IIRC- it was insane, whatever it was... I could look it up if anyone really wanted to know, but it sounds like some of you have owned these cars & know tons more about them than I do- I just remember a Turbo magazine from '99 or '00 when he did it- he painted his red to stand out from all the black ones...

Sure, they don't handle very well, but I wouldn't say they were horrible- no match for a stock 944/924 of any variety, but again, not horrible- I think their worst point was powering out of corners, w/a light back-end, slightly short wheelbase, heavy nose, & all that TQ. BUT, that engine can be MODDED! Anyone know what their engines weigh? I've always wondered- if no heavier than a 951 engine, it might be a good donor for our cars. Also, I wonder where the engine would sit in our cars?

As for which car was the fastest in whatever year- there are all kinds of BS claims. You get dif cars from dif magazines & dif ads, etc- look at all the "fastest cars in the world" & the records at Bonneville- there are like 700 of them!!! So many categories, people go out & look for new ones to make up, so they can make the books. As for top speed, they surely weren't the fastest- their claim was acceleration, but some said the 911 Turbo was faster- it was close, but depended, again, on the magazine & the person telling the story.

Defnitely much heavier. Iron straight sixes are as heavy as it gets because of the length - it will be much heavier than a small block v8 also.
Old 11-22-2006, 10:20 PM
  #50  
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it's a v6 and it is smaller and lighter than a 944 motor fwiw
Old 11-22-2006, 10:31 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by nickg
it's a v6 and it is smaller and lighter than a 944 motor fwiw


Jeez - always thought that was a straight six.

Don't know if I am giving you lighter than 944 though.
I can pick up an empty 944 block with one arm.
Old 11-22-2006, 11:19 PM
  #52  
Micah
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IIRC, the pickup was the Cyclone. I thought Dan had a story about the Typhoon running so hot it melted the adhesive on the back of the carpet by the gas pedal

Micah
Old 11-23-2006, 12:26 AM
  #53  
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Here is what it looks like in our engine bay
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Old 11-23-2006, 02:04 AM
  #54  
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Wow, this guy let up at 3/4 track (nice way to regain control) and still ran an 8.87/115.9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8P2u1Pd7pw

Almost ate the wall:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a7P9haCIWo

Wow: 7.592 / 181.42:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6kIwJRNWKc

Double wow: 7.25 / 188.25:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VspSgW_mgI

Mid-8 second pass from inside the car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLZtmjsZGPQ
Old 11-23-2006, 02:05 AM
  #55  
944Fest (aka Dan P)
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That hybrid pic is AWESOME!! I for one say "Hell Yea!!"

Micah, I have driven a Typhoon (the Ute) and raced a friend with a stock Cyclone (the pickup). I don't think the glue story came from me, though.. Those two GM teasers were such odd beasts. Definately the Grand Nationals of the GM Truck world. We need pics..
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Old 11-23-2006, 02:24 AM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by Micah Jones
The Bonneville S4 was not stock. Not that the GN had a higher top end than an S4 off the dealership floor either, but you were not going to coax a bone stock 928 to 171.blah in 1987.

Micah
What, exactly, was not stock in that car? The mirrors?
Old 11-23-2006, 10:06 AM
  #57  
Micah
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Modified undertray, adjustable venting in the schnozz, no mirrors, shaved tires and lowered.

I thought I read an article somewhere where an observer (the photographer?) claimed some other stuff, but I could be wrong (see above w/Dan and the Typhoon ).

Micah
Old 11-23-2006, 10:53 AM
  #58  
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Sean,
My wife just commented on your avatar.
Old 11-23-2006, 11:06 AM
  #59  
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Great ebay ad for a GN:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick...56776001QQrdZ1

I found this treasure, and kept it for myself. I have been in the Car business for 15 years and always wanted a Grand National. I have gotten 2 in my life. This one is worth saving. I know it will make a great investment. I am relocating and my new home is short on garage space. I have a Harley, SL500, and this car. One must go. I guess this will be what I give up. My wife doesn't like this car. What does she know. She loved the mullet back in the day. I am holding the right to stop the auction early (just in case I can't take the heart breaking feeling of selling her) But I know I must do it.
Old 11-23-2006, 11:23 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by Micah Jones
IIRC, the pickup was the Cyclone.
Yes it was. I worked at a GMC dealership in '91, and we had two of those on the lot. We had massive discounts available on them and couldn't give them away.

They handled very well in snow, but with a payload capacity equivalent to a six-pack of Diet Coke we couldn't get truck buyers interested in them at all.


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