Here’s what I know about my brother’s 1986 Grand National:
It’s been in the family since it was new. My uncle bought it in Aug. 1986 from the Buick dealership in Monroeville, PA. At the time he was 75—when he left home that night, it was his goal to buy a new car…the GN is what he came home in. My uncle was not the fast car type. He died 2 years later, and my aunt kept the car but didn’t drive it. When my aunt died 3 years later, she left it to my brother as “payment” for being her executor.
My brother was a meticulous mechanic. He did all of his own work. Once the car was titled to him, it was garage kept most of the time…except when he was visiting my father in Leeper, PA. Once while there, he parked the car under a few pine trees, and that left pine sap on the hood…it looks like water marks, and it cannot be seen in the photos, but the hood needs repainted.
When the car is sold, I will give its new owner the 2 volume set of GM shop manuals that covers the car. Also, there’s a bunch of newsletter-type publications by Applied Technologies & Research, Inc. that he had. I don’t know what all my brother did to this vehicle, but I know it’s not all stock.
Mileage is 64,000 miles and I just had it inspected 2 weeks ago.
My brother used an HP 200LX pocket computer to record his data. I haven’t been able to figure out how to get into that thing to learn what it has, but I have been able to copy files to my computer, and although my computer does not have the software to open .gdb files, I have opened them in Notepad and have gotten some data that way. I cannot be sure I have all the columns properly aligned, but you guys will be able to tell, I’m sure.
That data, from Notepad, is as follows:
Turbo TE-62 Limit Engineering
Wastegate Turbonetics Racegate ext adj
Injectors Bosch 40Lb/hr
Intercooler Charges Air Systems V2
mount front
Boost 24-25
Fuel Pump upgraded in tank + external puller pump
Fuel Reg adjustable
Headpipe ATR 3 inch
Cats? gutted
Exhaust ATR 2.5" stainless
Chips (1) Street, (2) Strip
Tuning OTC Monitor 4000E w/ECM access
custom chip programming
Fuel 117 octane
Engine Timing Chain double-roller
Valvesprings Chevy LT-1
Ignition stock
Cam stock
196/194 deg duration @ .050 lift
lift .420/.410
200-4R beefed
Converter Precision Industries 9.5" 3200 stall
Rear End stock 3.42 w/posi & airbags
Tires street P235/61R15
strip 26x10.0x15 MT ET Drags on 15x8.5
wheels
Suspension modified see article
MPG 17 in street tune
Emission trim: w/good cats,internal wastegate,& stock
intercooler
That’s what I’ve got on the car. I understand…stainless exhaust!
Help in deciphering this would be nice.
Photos attached too.
Thanks,
Barb
