Turbo Buicks...
10-26-2005, 01:54 AM
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Turbo Buicks...
Someone in this post promotes putting a Buick 3.8 V6 turbo into 928s.
Two weeks ago I was at the local 1/8th drag strip and the Dallas/Fort Worth area Buick Grand National Club was there that night. Most were modified and some highly modified including running slicks.
At the track, they allow many runs for all cars - meaning once a car has lost they just match it up with other similar cars for fun-runs.
The Grand National Turbo Buick 3.8s were running from high 8s to high 7s.
For pairing, the put the Grand Nationals up against other GM cars - basically NA Pontiac, Olds and Buicks - such as old and new Firebirds, a couple 442s, old GTOs - again all were NA, all street legal and none had nitrous oxide.
The old GM V8s just obliterated the 3.8 turbo Buick Grand Nationals, one after another, to the point that spectators were laughing at the Buicks rather openly and some of the Grand National owners were visible surprised at how badly they were being beaten.
This is a low-key local track of local boys of all different type cars and a few bikes, though there always are about 200 to 300 cars/trucks/bikes that show up to run. There were over 3 dozen Grand Nationals that came.
The only car or truck the Grand Nationals could beat were each other.
I was surprised at how slow the 3.8 Buicks were, given that a turbo can make a bunch of power. Worse, the 3.8 6 cylinder motor sounds anemic, awful and like a straight 6 cylinder pickup truck motor - though the turbocharger muffles this.
The Grand National Club from the big city showed up thinking they'd just steam roll over the poor local boys - and were fully humilated to the degree most in the Grand National Club owners decided to just go home early as the area with the Grand Nationals became the loser's corner of the pit area.
Not everyone wants a fast car and a Buick 3.8 turbo is a cut above an NA passenger V6 - so this might make sense as an economy motor alternative to a 928 motor if they also didn't sound SO punny and so much like a 6 cylinder econo box motor.
I did expect a bit more of the Buicks as a 3.8 displacement motor with a turbo/intercooler set up should make some horsepower. My former Maserati 2.5 twin turbo was a real screamer. I was surprised at how underpowered the Buicks were and how awful they sounded.
Mark
DFWX
Two weeks ago I was at the local 1/8th drag strip and the Dallas/Fort Worth area Buick Grand National Club was there that night. Most were modified and some highly modified including running slicks.
At the track, they allow many runs for all cars - meaning once a car has lost they just match it up with other similar cars for fun-runs.
The Grand National Turbo Buick 3.8s were running from high 8s to high 7s.
For pairing, the put the Grand Nationals up against other GM cars - basically NA Pontiac, Olds and Buicks - such as old and new Firebirds, a couple 442s, old GTOs - again all were NA, all street legal and none had nitrous oxide.
The old GM V8s just obliterated the 3.8 turbo Buick Grand Nationals, one after another, to the point that spectators were laughing at the Buicks rather openly and some of the Grand National owners were visible surprised at how badly they were being beaten.
This is a low-key local track of local boys of all different type cars and a few bikes, though there always are about 200 to 300 cars/trucks/bikes that show up to run. There were over 3 dozen Grand Nationals that came.
The only car or truck the Grand Nationals could beat were each other.
I was surprised at how slow the 3.8 Buicks were, given that a turbo can make a bunch of power. Worse, the 3.8 6 cylinder motor sounds anemic, awful and like a straight 6 cylinder pickup truck motor - though the turbocharger muffles this.
The Grand National Club from the big city showed up thinking they'd just steam roll over the poor local boys - and were fully humilated to the degree most in the Grand National Club owners decided to just go home early as the area with the Grand Nationals became the loser's corner of the pit area.
Not everyone wants a fast car and a Buick 3.8 turbo is a cut above an NA passenger V6 - so this might make sense as an economy motor alternative to a 928 motor if they also didn't sound SO punny and so much like a 6 cylinder econo box motor.
I did expect a bit more of the Buicks as a 3.8 displacement motor with a turbo/intercooler set up should make some horsepower. My former Maserati 2.5 twin turbo was a real screamer. I was surprised at how underpowered the Buicks were and how awful they sounded.
Mark
DFWX
10-26-2005, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by DFUX
Someone in this post promotes putting a Buick 3.8 V6 turbo into 928s.
Two weeks ago I was
[snip]
- and were fully humilated to the degree most in the Grand National Club owners decided to just go home early as the area with the Grand Nationals became the loser's corner of the pit area.
Mark
DFUX
Two weeks ago I was
[snip]
- and were fully humilated to the degree most in the Grand National Club owners decided to just go home early as the area with the Grand Nationals became the loser's corner of the pit area.
Mark
DFUX
your 928 do?
--Patrick
79 (with a 50's designed, pushrod, iron Chebbie - 86 rebuilt posi 5-speed,
90 GT coilovers, S4 on all 4 corners)
82
84 (for sale, cheap! make offer!)
10-26-2005, 09:59 AM
#5
Its really not fair to compare cars that are set up for the local 1/8 mile strip to a car that might be set up for 1/4 mile strip.Maybe especially so considering that a turbocharged engine needs a little time to get everything going to build boost.When I moved to a area that only had a 1/8 mile strip I got my clock cleaned by the local guys mainly because they ran 4.56 to 5.33 gearing in the car and I was using a 3.73's
10-26-2005, 10:30 AM
#6
Three Wheelin'
I think DFWX should learn how to bite his tongue. These posts relegating any other form of propulsion inferior to the 928 powerplant lie somewhere between silly and stupid. How about the fact that a stock block Buick Turbo V6 sat on the pole at the 1985 Indy? It took me about 5 seconds to uncover that fact. And I think its safe to say that it didn't share the front row with a pair of 928 engined Indy cars.
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10-26-2005, 11:25 AM
#8
Originally Posted by DFWX
Someone in this post promotes putting a Buick 3.8 V6 turbo into 928s.
Two weeks ago I was at the local 1/8th drag strip and the Dallas/Fort Worth area Buick Grand National Club was there that night. Most were modified and some highly modified including running slicks.
At the track, they allow many runs for all cars - meaning once a car has lost they just match it up with other similar cars for fun-runs.
The Grand National Turbo Buick 3.8s were running from high 8s to high 7s.
For pairing, the put the Grand Nationals up against other GM cars - basically NA Pontiac, Olds and Buicks - such as old and new Firebirds, a couple 442s, old GTOs - again all were NA, all street legal and none had nitrous oxide.
The old GM V8s just obliterated the 3.8 turbo Buick Grand Nationals, one after another, to the point that spectators were laughing at the Buicks rather openly and some of the Grand National owners were visible surprised at how badly they were being beaten.
This is a low-key local track of local boys of all different type cars and a few bikes, though there always are about 200 to 300 cars/trucks/bikes that show up to run. There were over 3 dozen Grand Nationals that came.
The only car or truck the Grand Nationals could beat were each other.
I was surprised at how slow the 3.8 Buicks were, given that a turbo can make a bunch of power. Worse, the 3.8 6 cylinder motor sounds anemic, awful and like a straight 6 cylinder pickup truck motor - though the turbocharger muffles this.
The Grand National Club from the big city showed up thinking they'd just steam roll over the poor local boys - and were fully humilated to the degree most in the Grand National Club owners decided to just go home early as the area with the Grand Nationals became the loser's corner of the pit area.
Not everyone wants a fast car and a Buick 3.8 turbo is a cut above an NA passenger V6 - so this might make sense as an economy motor alternative to a 928 motor if they also didn't sound SO punny and so much like a 6 cylinder econo box motor.
I did expect a bit more of the Buicks as a 3.8 displacement motor with a turbo/intercooler set up should make some horsepower. My former Maserati 2.5 twin turbo was a real screamer. I was surprised at how underpowered the Buicks were and how awful they sounded.
Mark
DFWX
Two weeks ago I was at the local 1/8th drag strip and the Dallas/Fort Worth area Buick Grand National Club was there that night. Most were modified and some highly modified including running slicks.
At the track, they allow many runs for all cars - meaning once a car has lost they just match it up with other similar cars for fun-runs.
The Grand National Turbo Buick 3.8s were running from high 8s to high 7s.
For pairing, the put the Grand Nationals up against other GM cars - basically NA Pontiac, Olds and Buicks - such as old and new Firebirds, a couple 442s, old GTOs - again all were NA, all street legal and none had nitrous oxide.
The old GM V8s just obliterated the 3.8 turbo Buick Grand Nationals, one after another, to the point that spectators were laughing at the Buicks rather openly and some of the Grand National owners were visible surprised at how badly they were being beaten.
This is a low-key local track of local boys of all different type cars and a few bikes, though there always are about 200 to 300 cars/trucks/bikes that show up to run. There were over 3 dozen Grand Nationals that came.
The only car or truck the Grand Nationals could beat were each other.
I was surprised at how slow the 3.8 Buicks were, given that a turbo can make a bunch of power. Worse, the 3.8 6 cylinder motor sounds anemic, awful and like a straight 6 cylinder pickup truck motor - though the turbocharger muffles this.
The Grand National Club from the big city showed up thinking they'd just steam roll over the poor local boys - and were fully humilated to the degree most in the Grand National Club owners decided to just go home early as the area with the Grand Nationals became the loser's corner of the pit area.
Not everyone wants a fast car and a Buick 3.8 turbo is a cut above an NA passenger V6 - so this might make sense as an economy motor alternative to a 928 motor if they also didn't sound SO punny and so much like a 6 cylinder econo box motor.
I did expect a bit more of the Buicks as a 3.8 displacement motor with a turbo/intercooler set up should make some horsepower. My former Maserati 2.5 twin turbo was a real screamer. I was surprised at how underpowered the Buicks were and how awful they sounded.
Mark
DFWX
Funny, when i was at the track last week there were 3 GNs there, and i didn't see any of them lose a race. The fastest one was running a 8.42 i think...and the track conditions sucked.
There was a steady drizzle a little earlier, and it was only 55 degrees farenheit. I was barely able to run a 14.2(14.242@97.85mph), and my cousin who normally runs 14.4s in his SC miata only broke into the 14s once.
Yet there were the GNs, all running sub 10 second times in lousy conditions.
As far as 1/8th vs 1/4 mile running, the 1/8 mile cars are geared much lower.
10-26-2005, 11:32 AM
#10
Originally Posted by FBIII
Come on Sniper, I expected more from you than that! You're not getting soft now!
But i'll sit in this loser corner any day:
10-26-2005, 12:13 PM
#11
Race Car
They've got you exactly where they want you (and everyone else). They are obviously hustling. Just wait 'til the next event when under-the-table bets are placed. 
10-26-2005, 12:56 PM
#12
Drifting
The GN's were damn quick for what they were, the GNX's were even better.
But...they still had the standard GM build quality and handling which sucked. They were a fat, lazy, heavy car (sound familiar?) until you got into the boost. Really fun in a straight line but a cloverleaf on/off ramp was scary.
But...they still had the standard GM build quality and handling which sucked. They were a fat, lazy, heavy car (sound familiar?) until you got into the boost. Really fun in a straight line but a cloverleaf on/off ramp was scary.
10-26-2005, 01:00 PM
#13
Originally Posted by Ketchmi
The GN's were damn quick for what they were, the GNX's were even better.
But...they still had the standard GM build quality and handling which sucked. They were a fat, lazy, heavy car (sound familiar?) until you got into the boost. Really fun in a straight line but a cloverleaf on/off ramp was scary.
But...they still had the standard GM build quality and handling which sucked. They were a fat, lazy, heavy car (sound familiar?) until you got into the boost. Really fun in a straight line but a cloverleaf on/off ramp was scary.
GN Motto: "Fast? Nah...it's just a big black family car".
LOL
10-26-2005, 04:51 PM
#14
If I remember correctly, the '87 GNX was the fastest accelerating car in america for a short time period. Maybe it was just the '87? They ran low fourteen second quarter mile times stock ALL day long. That motor can take a beating too. The only motors that I have seen take more power on the street are the 2JZT motors that were in the Supra.
Jon
Jon
10-26-2005, 05:12 PM
#15
Originally Posted by FBIII
I think DFWX should learn how to bite his tongue. These posts relegating any other form of propulsion inferior to the 928 powerplant lie somewhere between silly and stupid. How about the fact that a stock block Buick Turbo V6 sat on the pole at the 1985 Indy? It took me about 5 seconds to uncover that fact. And I think its safe to say that it didn't share the front row with a pair of 928 engined Indy cars.