1987 pro-touring grand national, from the ground up

[dsapper]

It actually started in February for me. There was quite a bit of down time waiting on parts and things. Also I waited until full teardown to start posting. But yeah its been going fairly quick. Huge delay with the transmission that set me back almost 6 weeks but it looks like the body will be done in record time so it will work out.

After body its just a bit of reassembly (lol), the interior, stereo and final tuning.

So quick question from everyone that has been following along.

1. Should I keep the emblems, shave them all or keep some/shave some?

2. Suggestions on a head unit? I'm leaning towards navigation touch screen to go with the more modern theme and also considering maybe mounting an ipad in the stock stereo/climate controls area (I tested it fits perfectly left to right, just a tad bit of adjustment up and down would be needed). The ipad would be 3g, so gps, stereo and all the associated ipad goodies.

 

[ZNix]

It actually started in February for me. There was quite a bit of down time waiting on parts and things. Also I waited until full teardown to start posting. But yeah its been going fairly quick. Huge delay with the transmission that set me back almost 6 weeks but it looks like the body will be done in record time so it will work out.

After body its just a bit of reassembly (lol), the interior, stereo and final tuning.

So quick question from everyone that has been following along.

1. Should I keep the emblems, shave them all or keep some/shave some?

2. Suggestions on a head unit? I'm leaning towards navigation touch screen to go with the more modern theme and also considering maybe mounting an ipad in the stock stereo/climate controls area (I tested it fits perfectly left to right, just a tad bit of adjustment up and down would be needed). The ipad would be 3g, so gps, stereo and all the associated ipad goodies.

That would be very interesting! I would do it if I could. I also would shave the badges personally. Your car is too modern and sleek looking to have the badges on it.

 

[dsapper]

All of the badges? There is the option on the grill to do that grand national emblem too. Once I trim those brackets off there is no going back lol

 

[charlief1]

Removing all the marking will get you the typical "nice monte" remarks, even though it will look clean. Something to think about. LOL

 

[dsapper]

Funny because my body guy said the same thing. He has a GN that is shaved and gets mocked for driving a "wanna be GN" haha

 

[charlief1]

Funny because my body guy said the same thing. He has a GN that is shaved and gets mocked for driving a "wanna be GN" haha

What you might think about is having the logos painted on under the clear coat. I've seen one done like this in person and I thought it was the real deal until I touched it. Nicely done and no one can steal them off the car then.

 

[dsapper]

Yeah, I would have no idea who to get that done by locally. I'm leaning towards getting them.

 

[longball]

My car is close to being finished. There will be NO badges of any kind on the car (including BUICK on the grill). I like the no badge look.
I have never mistaken my car for a Monte.......of course, to each their own........

 

[ZNix]

Yeah, I would have no idea who to get that done by locally. I'm leaning towards getting them.

Buy the stickers and put them under the clear coat I think gbodyparts sells the stickers.

Nix

 

[dsapper]

I did that once, it was a good body shop and the clear started cracking over the decals like 5 years later. Lesson learned

 

[big reazon]

There's tons of air brushers in vegas. Call a couple lowrider shops I had my malibu ones pinstriped under the clear.

 

[wmerrell]

After painting my GN, the body looked so nice, so smooth, so shiny , so clean. I just replace the grille emblem with a NOS one. I like the idea of the GN emblem on the grille. Even with GN emblems I got the nice Monte comment.

 

[tonysmach]

Consider eliminating the hood emblem since it is a PITA to clean around. Maybe just have the trunk emblem and the grill emblem. Similar to how the GNX was badged.

 

[dsapper]

The GNX didnt have fender emblems? Hmm.. Yeah I already wasn't doing the hood emblem

 

[T-CHRGD]

If you go without the emblems, you could get a set of the magnetic emblems from Kirban. Just slap them on if someone calls it a Monte.

 

[jlat]

hello; I got rid of the hood and rear trunk emblems but kept the side ones on my T type. I like the side red T emblems that came on a 86 T. As far as someone thinking a TB is a Monty I guess you can but it really shows what they know. Just string them along and say you converted the Chevy to a Buick and have some fun with it.
How's the interior comming along?
IBBY

 

[scgnx2]

Removing all the marking will get you the typical "nice monte" remarks, even though it will look clean. Something to think about. LOL

After getting my GN freshly repainted, I left all badges off. Amost everytime I drove it, people would follow me, roll there windows down and yell "What the heck is it?".
I put the GN intercooled badges back on..LOL.

 

[dsapper]

Interior is almost done. I still have a few panels to paint, interior guy is basically done with the seats and door panels. I have to decide what I'm doing with the center console, order the headliner/carpet and the dynamat still

 

[Top Speed]

Looks nice! I like your car!

 

[dsapper]

carpet, secondskin sound deadening, headliner and gentex mirror showed up today. Its getting close!