Intercooling a 84/85 questions

[Spoolin-GN]

I recently just picked up a 85 Grand National and to be honeset I have much bigger problems then this to worry about but I was just wondering about a few things, so here it goes. As we all know our cars come non intercooled, Now there are some places out there that offer an after market IC kit for our cars or you can be creative and make your own. It seems to be a hell of a lot cheaper then doing a full 86/87 swap. Now my question is , will it bring our car up to par with the 86/87? I know our intake is more restrictive from what ive read but that can be greatly helped by porting even if it does require to open it up and weld back together. Also we are limited on the size of the turbos we can run but with todays technology in turbos there has the be some rather good turbos that will get the job done. So again the main question is if we intercool our 84/85 and port the intake so its not restrictive will it be up to par with the 86/87? Your guys thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I am no genious to these. Thanks in advance!

-Jordan

 

[forcefed3.8's]

You can get the 86/87 stuff to put on your HA block. I have yet to see any pieced together intercooler set ups run as good as a 86/87 set up with a stock or TA49 turbo. This is my opinion though.

 

[charlief1]

There were (key words here) intercooler set ups for the 84-85 systems but they're long gone now. Sometimes you find them in the for sale section or evilbay but you'd be better off converting to E-85 with a bigger turbo. Some of those that are HA die hards (me included) don't think they need to be changed but rather updated to a more modern standard.

 

[6 to go]

It is an easy matter to add a IC to a HA car using an 86/87 intake and a modified upper
plenum. I have 2 and an 87 GN and I can tell you that the 2 IC'ed HA's run very well,
and run as strong as my stock 87 GN.

 

[HOTSIX]

I bought one of those kits....mine was from J&S Manufacturing. Works incredible BTW...love it. Here's a pic.....

 

[Spoolin-GN]

I wouldnt mind doing the 86/87 swap but there is so much needed to do it and its very expensive. Thats why I would just like to intercool my HA. A lot of people I see that do it switch to a 86/87 intake. Is there anything needed to switch or modify to switch intakes besides the piping obviously like sensors or anything? Also can anyone post pictures of a bare intake 84/85 and some bare pictures of a 86/87, I would like to see the differences between the two. Thanks!

 

[charlief1]

Here's a HA intake for you to look at.

 

[Spoolin-GN]

Awesome, now if only I could get a shot or two of the 86/87 intake

 

[Shamusvelez]

Just run an alky kit. You'll reap the same benefits as if you intercool except a hell of a lot easier to install, and probably a lot cheaper than piecing together an 86'/7' upgrade. Which by the way is a lot more complicated than just swapping intakes. There are posted threads on the subject as well as parts lists and the like. I myself am somewhat of a purist. Our 85' hotair beauties were only two thousand or so in the making, and i bet my dollars to anyones dounuts that only a couple of hundred true examples still exist! Most were abused and crushed or converted. If what you have is a true 85' GN (still original or damn close) than know that it is the last few of a dying age. I would keep it as close to original as possible as our hotair beauties are becoming more rare by the day, and someday will be quite valuable. Because there will always be guys like me that have a love affair with them, and would pay top dollar for a good example. That all being said. Its your girl to do with as you wish. But my advice to you is please dont pimp her out to the easily gotten cheap pervert, keep her an escort that causes many a politician to resign early!
- James

My bitch is purebread hotair 85' completly redone mechanicals. Bored .40 over, comp cam, port matched stock Gn1 heads and intake, Tr cold air kit, ta-33, 60lb-ers with alky and a tt chip. Only things 87 are ecm, maf, and map, but her original boobs sit in a plastic tub for the day she may roll over the block completely restored original. $$$ im not sayin, im just sayin.... =p

 

[Spoolin-GN]

Im trying to stay away from additives, just going to run pump gas. Im not talking about doing a 86/87 swap, just the intake its self so I can easily route the intercooler piping. I'd like to run a BOV to save my turbo some life aswell. I do understand what your saying about our 85's becoming a gem. I will be keeping everything off the car as it is all 100% original in case the day comes where I want to bring it back to its original form. Im not looking to make a 9 second car. I have a turbo'd cobra for those needs . At the moment I am just looking to get it going but began wondering about a few future possibilities. Is there any sites that sells full rotating assemblies or shortblocks. I usually just see pistons and rods and sold seperately.

 

[Spoolin-GN]

Your car sounds like a keeper. Have you had it on the dyno or any track times?

 

[Shamusvelez]

Best place to look for stuff like that is here. You should be able to find everything you need and more. If you dont see what you need keep poking around. Guys will come out of the woodwork and most bend over backwards to help you. Start a thread on the parts wanted page and post a list, myself and im sure several other guys will keep an eye on it and make sure you get hooked up with whatever you need. -James

 

[Jerryl]

Here is my humble opinion;
Although you did not list any type of goal . . . . If you already have a 9 second car, you will get very bored with even an intercooled 85 that runs high 13’s on pump, after you put some cash in it . . . and tune it.
If you want to do it just for fun . . . do it but . . . . We have seen it many times when people try to upgrade . . . they can’t get things to work, loose interest, and sell a roller, or a blown car.

These cars are NOT like a Mustang where you can litterally buy any part you want in multiple configurations, and they fit/work out of the box.
If you are used to that, and expect that, you are in for a long and frustrating ride!

The guys and gals (TMK . . . The ¼ mile performance record to date is held by a lady . . .) who make these cars work, are some of the hardest working and most patient people I know.
I had to learn the absolute hardest thing to build these cars . . . “Patience”.

Based on my observations . . . . My advice is to leave it alone and spend the money on a tuning tools.
Now if you wanted to run e-85, and had a "budget balanced goal", the possibilities would open up.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

Here is my humble opinion;
Although you did not list any type of goal . . . . If you already have a 9 second car, you will get very bored with even an intercooled 85 that runs high 13’s on pump, after you put some cash in it . . . and tune it.
If you want to do it just for fun . . . do it but . . . . We have seen it many times when people try to upgrade . . . they can’t get things to work, loose interest, and sell a roller, or a blown car.

These cars are NOT like a Mustang where you can litterally buy any part you want in multiple configurations, and they fit/work out of the box.
If you are used to that, and expect that, you are in for a long and frustrating ride!

The guys and gals (TMK . . . The ¼ mile performance record to date is held by a lady . . .) who make these cars work, are some of the hardest working and most patient people I know.
I had to learn the absolute hardest thing to build these cars . . . “Patience”.

Based on my observations . . . . My advice is to leave it alone and spend the money on a tuning tools.
Now if you wanted to run e-85, and had a "budget balanced goal", the possibilities would open up.

Good luck whatever you decide.

This advice is dead on and correct. Brad