First Impressions from a new GN owner

[86SS86LS]

With the snow finally melting, this last week I have had a chance to get my 87 GN out of the garage after purchasing it in January. The amount of torque these cars put down is simply amazing - this is a totally different animal than my SBC powered monte. I have never driven a car that can get from 0 to 60 so effortlessly and quietly. And even at part throttle with around 10 psi of boost this car is faster than 99% of what I see in my area on a daily basis.
The other thing that I was not prepared for is the attention that these cars get. I get all kinds of stares, not only from "car guys", but also from regular commuters. Totally different from the run of the mill camaros, firebirds, and mustangs.
Anyway, it is a mostly stock set-up with a 3" down pipe, exhaust, and the fuel system upgrades. I don't have access to a track or a dyno but would like to get it in a fairly good state of tune. I did get a scanmaster and am seeing as high as 4 degrees of KR at around 12 PSI - but I would like to find higher than 91 octane gas and see if I can get it up to 15 psi. On this site and gnttype I have read about tuning procedures but don't have a track nearby to determine the optimum combination. Will a g-tech work instead or would it be a waste of money?
My goals are to have mid to high 12 second stock turbo car with alky injection at around 20-22 psi. I'm really not looking to spend a lot of money, just want it to be a reliable daily driver.

 

[SouthernCal GN]

You shouldn't see any knock @ 12psi- it might be false knock, or perhaps (as you mentioned) octane related. It could also be volume related (not enough fuel- old pump/injectors) even if the pump is fairly new. Is it hotwired?

If you can't find race gas out there (unleaded if you have a cat, of course) then homebrew some hi-test for yourself.

I'd go thru the spring cleaning on gnttype, and then post your scanmaster #s. Want to get your car running in tip-top condition before you mod it.....
Getting to your goals shouldn't be any problem

Mark your calendar, and be in Seattle the weekend of July 13/14 for Turbo Thunder VIII at Bremerton Raceway- cya there!

 

[Ttype83]

What chip is in it??? Could be a bad motor mount too (driver side)

 

[graza002]

My goals are to have mid to high 12 second stock turbo car with alky injection at around 20-22 psi. I'm really not looking to spend a lot of money, just want it to be a reliable daily driver.

Your gonna hit your goal and then want more...I'm telling you; its like a drug!!!

In your case your gonna have to spend some money:
1. Check those motor mounts, I got false KR due to a bad mount.
2. Fuel pump (I run the in tank XP pump w/ hotwire kit)
3. 009 42.5 injectors
4. Alky kit with proper chip for alky and injectors
5. RJC Racing boost controller.

Tune and you will have a 12 sec. car.

Good luck with your car....

 

[Ttype83]

Your gonna hit your goal and then want more...I'm telling you; its like a drug!!!

In your case your gonna have to spend some money:
1. Check those motor mounts, I got false KR due to a bad mount.
2. Fuel pump (I run the in tank XP pump w/ hotwire kit)
3. 009 42.5 injectors
4. Alky kit with proper chip for alky and injectors
5. RJC Racing boost controller.

Tune and you will have a 12 sec. car.

Good luck with your car....

I would get the new 60lbers that work with the stock ECM if I was going to change injectors at all..009 are a waste of time now a days..JMHO

 

[graza002]

I would get the new 60lbers that work with the stock ECM if I was going to change injectors at all..009 are a waste of time now a days..JMHO

I run the 60's I was just thinking the 009's because this individual stated they only wanted a mid to high 12 sec car.

60's are the way to go...just a few bucks more than the 009's.

 

[GNRick]

I bought a G-Tech off E-bay and it is alot of fun. Not a waste of money.

 

[Ttype83]

A logging program would be more useful than a G-tech. This way you can review the runs and data. If you had any questions you can post the logs for us to see/help..

 

[jurassic five 7]

I bought a G-Tech off E-bay and it is alot of fun. Not a waste of money.

If you dont have a track, or have a car that wont spin the tires on the street, ya its fun, but really. I see it as a waste of money.

 

[Mruthula]

If you dont have a track, or have a car that wont spin the tires on the street, ya its fun, but really. I see it as a waste of money.

i chack it

 

[UNDER-PRESSURE]

Here is a nice simple Alky combo. that might work good for you. http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/turbo-lounge/203376-more-dyno-results.html?highlight=alky+dyno

 

[superjaay]

Save your money now beacause when you finally do get to a drag strip, you'll want to go faster........and it gets expensive.

 

[yullose]

If you're seeing 4 degrees KR at only 12psi boost, you need to get that squared away before going much further. Once you get that ironed-out, you will be in for a BIG surprise when you finally get it running right, and at a higher boost level.

 

[flattype]

Find out what chip is in there and what the timing is set at. I run the turbo tweak 93 octane chip and can run 17-19 psi with little to no knock (Have to go a little easy into it from a roll in 3rd and od) As everyone will agree your best bet is an alky kit to really haul butt.

 

[86SS86LS]

The previous owner installed a hot-wired fuel pump. It has some unknown aftermarket chip. This weekend, I will be installing low mile green stripe injectors with a matching TT chip that I purchased from a member here. I realize that I may need to upgrade later on but for now these are an improvement over the stock 20 yr old 150K mile injectors.

How do I go about checking for a bad motor mount? And how serious is 4 degrees of KR? I realize any amount of knock is undesireable, but how much damage is done when I see a little knock from time to time?

And finally, without access to a track, If I tune for max psi with no knock, running as lean as possible - will this get me close to optimizing my combination?

 

[BlackBandit]

I used to get KR at 12 psi of boost. 91 octane. It's crap. Get the alky injection. I went from barely able to run 12 psi (with hardly any timing and kind of rich) to being able to hit 25+ with 0 KR on 91. Best bang for the buck I've gotten.

4KR is too much if it's consistant.

Leaner isn't always better.

HTH. james

 

[BlackMetal]

Like others have said since you already have fuel system upgrades I'd be suspicious of the chip causing the knock problem, too much timing. But that depends if it's real knock, is it ever audible? Detonation will sound like gravel in a coffee can, if you ever get it serious enough to hear it.

 

[BandAid]

Sorry to lazy to read all the posts,,but the most important thing at this point is the Boost gauge and Fuel filter,,change it now ,I see you have a Hotwired fuel pump so your good there...:smile:

 

[86SS86LS]

I could not hear any knock, my only indication was what I saw on the scanmaster. I do have an autometer boost gauge. Good point about the fuel filter, the previous owner had the car sitting for a year or two without many miles, which fuel filter is the best choice?

Here are my scanmaster readings at idle:
bat 13.8
int 126
bl 137
clt 157
ats 63
r 775
tps .52
iac 53
nal 00
af 05
L8 35
O2 687 (this one moves around alot)

 

[GNTurbo6]

I've only had my GN since August but I don't get that much attention. Most people have no idea what it is and don't even look twice. Occasionally I get people who will pull up next to me and give me a thumbs up, or people will yell "Holy **** a Grand National!" when I drive by but that's about it. Still have yet to have someone try to race me.