82 GN, what to do?

[kh440]

In process of buying an 82 GN with a 4.1 that may or may not run.Needs paint and interior work but a near perfect body. Am also "blessed" with an 87 GN that has terminal frame/floor rot but a strong motor and usable interior. Given that only 200 and something were produced, should I retso the car as it was or go frankenstein with the 87 powerplant? Again the 82 is considered a rare bird, but when these do go up for sale they don't seem to get the $$$ that the black cars do.Any thoughts?

 

[MistaScott]

Can I help you put a LC2 in it? I will be in Chapel Hill at grad school in August...sounds like fun!

 

[INEEDAGN]

Swap in the 87 engine, trans, and rearend and have fun with it. You are right the 82's don't bring much money unless they are very nice. If it were a turbo model, or was a very nice original I wouldn't chop it up, but it's not, so make one nice car out of two poor cars. I stumbled across a real 82 GN in a field last summer (completely rust free body, fair interior, no engine/trans/vin number) but passed it up for $300. They are neat cars, and there should be no shame in reviving one with an LC2. I'd try to find an original style interior, but the 87 wouldn't be bad either if you have it. Paint it like an 82, and put the intercooled logo under the original emblems. Then I'll buy it from you.

just my $.02

bob

 

[b4black]

Put the intercooled motor in it. No one else has as far as I know. There will be plenty of restored to original '82 GN's out there.



If you don't mind, please PM the VIN to me.
http://home.flash.net/~rjgeorge/registry.htm

 

[kh440]

Thanks for the input so far. I have a fair idea of everything that needs to be swapped, don't think it'll be overly complicated just VERY labor intensive. I should have the car in my posession in about 2 weeks barring anything really stupid and the first priority is to fix all the surface rust on the roof and decklid. Also know a good pholstery guy who might be able to fix the seats, the cloth parts are in good shape just the black leather(vinyl?) is shot. I'll get the vin# soon as I can, either once I get the car or if Mike will send it once he's back from BG. BY strange coincidence it will probably be end of summer before I'll be ready to drop in the engine so keep in touch, as any extra grunt labor would be welcomed.

 

[kh440]

UPDATE: Barring anything really really stupid, will pick car up from Mike McCoy (shameless name-drop) next weekend. After some preliminary body and paint work, project "frankenbuick" will commence. Will post updates and hopefully have pics available to anyone that cares. Also thanks in advance to Sharif (seeyabye) and James (jimmymopower) for all the priceless assistance on this....going to be a long summer on this one

 

[kh440]

Thanks also to b4black, hadn't thought about the intercooled emblem, but I like it.........