Sorry if I sound stupid(I certainly feel like it). I always wanted a 1986 GN but never had money to buy one. I finally saved $$ and began looking. I found listing that said "barn find GN" so I immediately thought to buy it. To make a long story short. I thought it only needed to replace dry-rotted lines n hoses but was told that the car had motor,tranny, and rear end removed at one time(don't know why) and maybe it was a GN parts car. VIN comes back with 58k original miles n 1 owner. My question to all u experts is: Do I try to just get it started or do I pull everything and start from scratch???? I forgot to say that it is not running cuz its missing things like starter,MAF,n couple other things. I do have about $2,500 to get it running. I really do want to keep it.
Burned on a Grand National
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TurboTdr3.8
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If you are tight for money I believe I would Run Forest Run and find one in your price range that was running and go from there . The devil you know is better than the one you do not know .Just my 2 cents !!!!!
I guess I don't understand your post? You say you were burned? The ad said barn find, the MAF and starter are minor things and things you can easily see missing. You didn't know these items were missing and the car wasn't running before you paid for it? 
buickGN3:16
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i would deffinately atleast replace those things & a couple other things like plugs, drain fuel & add fresh fuel, oil & filter & the basic things like that & then try starting it up & see what ur working with.
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I ask myself why that stuff would be missing. The obvious explanation is not a good one. It has some unforeseen problem that parked the car. I would bet it's not a easy fix either. Owner started to part out or took of the parts to start and run in order to hide something.
Just a educated guess though.
Important: Make sure and prime the oil pump before attempting to turn the motor.
Rick
Just a educated guess though.
Important: Make sure and prime the oil pump before attempting to turn the motor.
Rick
replace the parts that are missing you never know what you got until you start it up and get it running small things can be replaced but it something bout a black regal that make the prices goes up by 100's. i been sticking with my car since i was in high school and wish i would've bought one put together but the price would be too high. i would rather put my own car together and ill know what i really got peace of mind and a good running car
salvageV6
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It's a fact you cannot get 'burned' by a non-running car. 
H
Heisenberg
Guest
How does the VIN come back with xxx miles?
CarFaxc or Autcheck?
CarFax and Autocheck are notorious for not showing things on cars this old.
But never the mind.
I always roll my eyes at these "barn find ads"
Riigghht...a Grand National tucked away in a barn for 20 years.
And - please include a unicorn with the car.
Let me guess? EvilBay?
Every TR car I own has had the engine and transmission pulled - so I don't see that as some sort of fatal flaw.
And unless you are going for some Barrett-Jackson resto (which it doesn't sound like you are) - who even cares if they are not numbers matching components.
You can start to match up VINs and RPO codes by looking at the cowl tag, the trunk deck lid SPI label, the driver's side door tag, and there is a VIN stamped on the frame but hard to get to without lifting the body.
The trans and engine are also stamped with the last 6 VIN digits.
As long as the trans is a BRF, and the rear end is a G80, the engine a 109 block - you're still good.
A lot of Grand Nationals get sold as rollers - or parts cars - without drivelines- and get put back together.
No foul in that.
Why don't you take a second and breathe.
Change all the fluids; plugs, wires, etc - 100-200 bucks.
Do a spring cleaning.
Change out your 25 year old rubber lines for 25 bucks.
Clean your intake
Pull the MAF tube or pipe - and look at the turbo for play.
Check your brake system.
Do a general overall - top to bottom - check up.
Then - as Rick said - prime your oil pump - disconnect your ECM and crank it.
Then connect the ECM and see if she starts?
If she does- slowly put it into Drive and see what's what.
You might actually have a running car.
If it starts after doing all of the above - your $2300 left will be a start to the endless money pit you are about to feed.
But join the club.
Post some pictures of the overall and under the hood for more assistance.
And oh - get a Scanmaster.
Now.
You're now down to $2000..and counting
IMHO, the ONLY people that should be buying a non running turbo regal is someone VERY familiar with their workings, and has worked on them enough to be familiar with what they see and hear.
Novices have no business buying a non running car of this complexity.
Novices have no business buying a non running car of this complexity.
H
Heisenberg
Guest
That I can agree with.
It' a tough way to learn.
And you should definitely have at least 2 - maybe 3 - so when you break one -learning - you have a fallback position.
I hope he didn't overpay - as it was in fact - a non-running car - as I read the OP.
That puts it into "roller / parts car" territory - price wise.
thanks to the guy who said "breathe". I know I had no business buying a non working car (especially since I do not know much about them). I dreamed of buying a small project GN and making it into a show car. Thanks for all the tips. Anyone with a tip on a great GN mechanic near WIS/IL border(gurnee 60031). Good news is that interior is near mint and body is a 8 out 10 with no rust.
H
Heisenberg
Guest
So far - you have 2 out of the Big 4 that can drain your wallet.
Paint, no rust body and interior.
So - you have a very nice roller at this point.
Engine and trans are next.
Oh my friend - you not only bought a non-running car - you bought a non-running Turbo Buick.
Big difference there - but it isn't like buying a used Space Shuttle either.
There are several guys up that way.
I can't vouch for any of them but I know Rod Gonzalez is very knowledgeable but I don't think he likes to work on others' cars
Cory Pomerich I've seen on FB doing work.
Again - I only know Rod from purchases.
Cory I don't know personally- so do your own homework.
There are some other vendors or non-supporting vendors up there as well. I just don't want to go throwing names out without knowing.
You're in a big town - I'm certain there are plenty of guys who can help or do it for a living.
Go to the regional forum and post up a help wanted thread.
Settle down on the show car dreaming.
Get you car started first.
Then running.
I'm the guy who said breathe.
Go - ahead - Say my Name.
buickGN3:16
Active Member
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he's just a little wound up that he got his hands on a turbo buick, its all good! i was too when i got my GN & i ddnt even know about this forum then so imagine how that was for me tryin to get started & learn with no advice, but like i said its all good, were all here to help eachother out right?!? Roll on homie!!
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H H H Hhhheibenserg... No.
H H H Hhhheisengerb....No.
S S S Sssseibenherg..... No.
Ahhh screw it.
Hey, Dude.
H
Heisenberg
Guest
H H H Hhhheibenserg... No.
H H H Hhhheisengerb....No.
S S S Sssseibenherg..... No.
Ahhh screw it.
Hey, Dude.
LOL - yeah - I'm the one who knocks.
Not my motor.
Now - say my name.
TexasT
Texas, Where are you from
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Plenty of help here and around the net for putting a tr together if you have some sort of wrench twisting skill.
Hit Steve wood's page and start the education. Vortexbuick.com into the google and get to it.
Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app
Hit Steve wood's page and start the education. Vortexbuick.com into the google and get to it.
Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app
Give Glenn a call. Right near you and a great guy too. http://www.nos4gn.com/servlet/StoreFront Then when you get it running, take it down a couple hours from you to TurbobuRick.
Your $2500 budget puts you well ahead of the game with most people buying into these cars with no experience with them.
There's a list of preventive maintenance items you HAVE to buy first (even it was running, this list still applies). Stuff like fuel pump, hotwire kit, valve springs, timing set, chip, injectors, all fluids, vacuum lines, check valves, hoses, scan tool(s), plugs, wires, sensor(s), radiator, MAF pipe, intercooler hoses..... and most likely a couple other thinks I can't recall since I haven't started drinking yet.
No, you don't need headers, gearz, cams, or flowmasters. They are a waste of money and will slow down an otherwise good running 'stock' car.
Then a list of labor stuff, like installing all the parts above, cleaning out the intercooler, servicing the rear axle, brakes, trans, cleaning out the timing chain teeth from the oil pickup, welding up the drivers side header, replacing the leaky valve cover gaskets, bypassing the breather from the PS valve cover to turbo bell, flushing the brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc.....
Then after all that's done, you can start the troubleshooting process for the unknown stuff that will rear it's head and all the stuff that you did on that list that was wrong (and sending you down the wrong rabbit hole).
honestly most newbies that start a project like you did will spend a bunch of cashola, never get the car running right, get pissed off and sell it for a loss...
-or-
Spend a bunch of money, take care of some stuff on that list, start beating on it, and make a good project car into a SEVERE money pit, then sell it for an even bigger loss.
You ONLY chance of turning the new toy into a reliable car is to stick with it, take all the time the car is GOING to insist you have to wait, and not beating on it until EVERY base is covered. (and after that there's still a chance the car will screw with you just for funsies)
There's a list of preventive maintenance items you HAVE to buy first (even it was running, this list still applies). Stuff like fuel pump, hotwire kit, valve springs, timing set, chip, injectors, all fluids, vacuum lines, check valves, hoses, scan tool(s), plugs, wires, sensor(s), radiator, MAF pipe, intercooler hoses..... and most likely a couple other thinks I can't recall since I haven't started drinking yet.
No, you don't need headers, gearz, cams, or flowmasters. They are a waste of money and will slow down an otherwise good running 'stock' car.
Then a list of labor stuff, like installing all the parts above, cleaning out the intercooler, servicing the rear axle, brakes, trans, cleaning out the timing chain teeth from the oil pickup, welding up the drivers side header, replacing the leaky valve cover gaskets, bypassing the breather from the PS valve cover to turbo bell, flushing the brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc.....
Then after all that's done, you can start the troubleshooting process for the unknown stuff that will rear it's head and all the stuff that you did on that list that was wrong (and sending you down the wrong rabbit hole).
honestly most newbies that start a project like you did will spend a bunch of cashola, never get the car running right, get pissed off and sell it for a loss...
-or-
Spend a bunch of money, take care of some stuff on that list, start beating on it, and make a good project car into a SEVERE money pit, then sell it for an even bigger loss.
You ONLY chance of turning the new toy into a reliable car is to stick with it, take all the time the car is GOING to insist you have to wait, and not beating on it until EVERY base is covered. (and after that there's still a chance the car will screw with you just for funsies)
H
Heisenberg
Guest
H
Heisenberg
Guest
Poor guy probably already gave up and is as we type - shoving a SBC in it.
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