General Buick GN question

[maleduc123]

Hi,

I am new to the forum but I know this is the best place to get answers to my questions. I am looking for a new toy and I am looking a a classic muscle car (60's – 70's) and a 87 Buick GN ( I love the look of these cars).

The friends I hang around with all have muscle cars and this is what I know the best. (Actually one of them has an original 70 Buick GSX stage 1). What is holding me back with the GN is the technology. It seems a lot more advanced that a carbureted, big block car.

My question is: how reliable is a bone stock GN? ( One that was properly maintained). All I am looking for is reliable muscle that can run in the 13's. Can a stock GN run in the 13's?

Thanks

 

[Antagon]

I cant say a 100% stock GN wil do 13 in the quarter, but with MINIMAL (cant stress that enough) mods you'll crack low 13's easy, may be hard not to break 12's.

These cars can be reliable, but it's always safe to keep an eye on whats going on with a scanmaster or other scantool.

 

[SS/GNX]

Whats your budget and I assume you are thinking of using it as a daily driver?
What state to you live in?

 

[corsair231]

Outside of being a 20+ year old car with the normal wear and tear maintenance issues they are very reliable. Once you learn your way around these things they are not any harder and maybe even easier than a carbed car to tune and maintain (with the right equipment that is). Mine's been my daily driver since Jan. of 1988. I never had to take the valve covers off until about 180k when I freshend the engine up and upped the power. It's got 230K on it right now and with no extra prep for the track I can drive up, stage, turn mid 12's and drive home without having to get out of the car and my mods are very mild with a very safe tune.

 

[maleduc123]

Thanks for the info. I always thought that Buick's were generally better built than other GM products. Since I would be using my toy only during the summer months ( I live in Canada) I would not be using it as a daily driver. Taking it for a cruise once or twice a week, maybe a track day here and there.

I am leaning more and more towards a turbo Buick instead of a 60's - 70's muscle car. I think they look so cool and from what I can read and see they are fast and reliable.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

well check this link out http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/cars-sale/197799-1968-chevelle-87-gn-engine.html
i have a 68 chevelle with a GN engine coming up for sale very soon.

 

[dgoodhue]

What is holding me back with the GN is the technology. It seems a lot more advanced that a carbureted, big block car.

Atleast IMO in term of electronics and computer controls, GN's are advance enough that they work and generally can compensate for changes. They are relative simple enough that the average personal can easily make changes without being an expert. I personally think they are a hell of a lot easier to modify than dealing withcarbs, jets, distributor timing, and reading spark plugs.

My question is: how reliable is a bone stock GN? ( One that was properly maintained). All I am looking for is reliable muscle that can run in the 13's. Can a stock GN run in the 13's?

They are 20 year old cars, so find one that someone has kept up the maintenance might be a little harder. Some of them run 13's stock, more them run low 14's. Its super simple to make them run 13's all day long.

 

[SS/GNX]

All I can say to you man is this:

These boards have some of the best and most helpful people you will ever meet or speak to in your life!
If you EVER have a problem and you post it here, chances are you will have at least 3 people trying to help you figure it out. And most of the time they do it very quickly.

In case you havent noticed already, people respond to posts pretty fast because they watch the boards all the time. Its a great community, not just a great car.

If thats whats holding you back, then dont let it. And you WILL NOT get that with a 60s-70s muscle car... there are not any other forums like this anywhere.

Do the research before you buy one, so you get the right price. Then do the spring cleaning and get a scantool the second you buy it. Keep your eye on your 02 levels so you make sure you're not lean ever, and you are good.

 

[maleduc123]

I have to agree, this place is great source of information and help. It is reassuring to know that there is help for me in case I need it.

 

[FreeBoost]

Thanks for the info. I always thought that Buick's were generally better built than other GM products. Since I would be using my toy only during the summer months ( I live in Canada) I would not be using it as a daily driver. Taking it for a cruise once or twice a week, maybe a track day here and there.

I am leaning more and more towards a turbo Buick instead of a 60's - 70's muscle car. I think they look so cool and from what I can read and see they are fast and reliable.

I'm an old grey hair that grew up with the old time muscle. I love the looks of the old cars too but their technology really sucks, they were anything but reliable and they weren’t that fast compared to GNs. My first GN was a totally stock daily driver that I drove all winter (that’s Alberta winters) and all I did was change oil and air filters (by the way a GN really rocks at -20C but traction is a problem). Hell, I didn't even change spark plugs for six years. As said in other posts they can be made to go really fast with minor mods. What wasn’t said was even tweaked into the 12’s you’ll still get great gas mileage (easily 500-600 km to a tank travelling 130-140 kph) and you’ll still have AC. You definitely won’t get that with old time muscle. Simply said – GET A GN, you won’t regret it, unless it gets stolen.
By the way, where in Canada, us Canuks have to stick together.

 

[usetaboost]

Oh yes, a fricken animal when its below freezing out . Sucks mine is tore apart for teh winter.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Trying to find a factory stock one, that was never rode hard, is going to be a task. most of the lightly modified ones floatin around, have at least a fuel pump, chip, mass airflow pipe, and exhaust done. which is fine, theres nothing wrong with that. And as far as reliable 13's? No problem. If you buy one, you'll soon find out how easy they really are to make fast. Ever wonder why most turbo buicks you see run drag radials? Because they all have traction problems. Because they make power like its goin outta style. They came with an advertised 355 pound feet of torque, and that was padded a little. They can average anywhere from 365 to 370 pound feet stock, and if you so much as throw a chip in there, add an air filter and free flowing exhaust, and drive it when its under 60 degrees outside, you'll already need drag radials. tires die early deaths underneath these cars. the torque is just stupid.
With a scan tool, and this board, you'll soon wonder how you made it thru the carbed years without beating your car with a ball pein hammer out of frustration. These cars rock. Though forget about trying to make it a 'sleeper'...theres no such thing. You have NO clue about the dark side of the force, till you start tryin to pick races in one of these cars.... Wail till you see how many people turn you down... It can get downright frustrating lol. These cars really hurt a lot of peoples feelings in the late 80's and early 90's. Their reputations are second to none. I aint NEVER seen a car, after this many years, still scare people lol.

 

[SS/GNX]

my last 2 cents....

these cars are fuel injected and dont get horrible gas mileage if you stay out of the boost...

60s-70s carbed cars... OUCH! And with oil at $100 a barrel, the projections are for gas prices to rise to $4 a gallon... so that maybe a consideration too.

 

[usetaboost]

Or you can really mess with people and buy a turbo buick with all chrome or a limited turbo. put on a flat hood, stock chrome buick wheels or hubcaps, n/a steering wheel and a single exhaust with a quiet muffler. Wouldn't that be fun:biggrin: . I've been thinking about doing something like that with my n/a limited if I don't sell it. Just gotta make the decision, go cheap and get a carb turbo setup, or go big and get a 455 with quiet exhaust

 

[maleduc123]

Fuel millage is one aspect I did not think about since it will be a toy, and I will use it 3 -4 times a month but If I do start having fun with the car than it is a big advantage. I know a big block engine can drink a lot!

Another interesting aspect I did not think about is the cold air. Since I live in Ottawa, cruising at night in the spring and fall there is plenty of that!

I think most of the car guys I hang around with know about GN and how fast they are. It was a real eye opener when when I saw GN several years ago running low11 seconds run at a dragstrip near Montreal. All of us were amazed that these car can make such power.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Or you can really mess with people and buy a turbo buick with all chrome or a limited turbo. put on a flat hood, stock chrome buick wheels or hubcaps, n/a steering wheel and a single exhaust with a quiet muffler. Wouldn't that be fun:biggrin: . I've been thinking about doing something like that with my n/a limited if I don't sell it. Just gotta make the decision, go cheap and get a carb turbo setup, or go big and get a 455 with quiet exhaust

LOL this is what I've been considering....either this or put an 87 GN engine into a 4 door Regal.

The thing I like about the GN's is they can be fast, yet docile, fuel efficient yet blow some gas guzzler's doors off.

I also happen to own a 69 Nova 350 small block and a 71 Chevelle 396 big block (that happens to be for sale).

Compared to my Turbo T (GN car minus the monochrome black paint) the Chevelle can't get any better than 10 mpg on a good day, and it's not as comfortable as the Turbo T, plus it doesn't have some of the creature comforts as my Turbo T....albeit it runs like a scalded dog, screams like a banshee, looks and sounds like a bat out of hell and get's attention from everyone, including the pretty ladies.

The Nova is a little more docile and gets a little better gas mileage than the Chevelle but not the Turbo T, and it isn't all that fast but it's just my cruising car anyways. :wink: Did I forget to mention both are cold natured??? The Turbo T she fires up in the cold and runs thanks to the fuel injection.