my 87 gn

[TSHOCK84]

i just got my 87gn t-top with 60,000 mile a month ago..i just put a couple coats of zaino on ...what do you guys think?..i dont plan on doing any mods..maybe just tt chip..will the chip work good with a stock setup?
thanks

 

[2 QK 4 U]

Very Nice looking Buick !

I have heard that TT chips work good on any setup.

I am about to try one made for race gas.

 

[2 QK 4 U]

where you located, st. pete?

 

[ChavoLC2]

Very nice lookin' ride

Nice find great looking car. Only 60k sweet car looks good inside and out. Yeah you definately want to get a TT chip. Understand you wanting to keep her stock , but you may want to at least consider a CAI and a high flow CAT from BuickGN(or any of the other Buick-vendors) it will make a world of difference the engine will come alive because she can breath better. That stock intake hose canister/filter and low flow CAT setup is very restrictive you'll dfinately notice a difference . If you do nothing else I'd at least do these changes. Congrats on a great find.

 

[Blown&Injected]

WOW-mine looked like that some time ago

Man that car is right!

Yeah, that stock hose to the turbo can be trouble and just a chip, test pipe, and a means of upping the boost just a bit will make you happy

 

[Bruce Urie]

Wow!

:biggrin:

Man that car is right!

Yeah, that stock hose to the turbo can be trouble and just a chip, test pipe, and a means of upping the boost just a bit will make you happy

Ab...so....lu...tely beautiful! Very happy for you! Just beautiful...hope you'll keep it like that. What a beautiful GN!!!!
Mr. Blown&Injected's idea sounds great, I'll go that route, so thanks for the idea. This chip...where do I get it? And modified to what specifcations? Bear with me here, I'm not an expert (give me a few more decades). My '87 GN has the Kenne Bell ram air system on it, the cold air scoop to the turbo, cold air scoop to the intercooler, an angle boss for the IAC, a solid maf tube to the turo, Jet Hot coated turbo cover, but that's pretty much it. I should go to a non-restrictive cat, or a test pipe? I head that the test pipe sounds annoying. And the chip? What's your imput on this?
I had a friend make me two chips for the '87 GN, he was a programmer for GM, has the burn in stuff, manuals for them, etc. One chip has 17-18 lbs of boost, and the other is a 22 lb boost chip, all programmed to work with the above little mods I've done so far. My buddy said he took the chips and put them in a friend's 12,000 mile '87 GN, made some test runs, fast ones, said they worked great...the first chip would make me really smile a lot, the second would make me really,really smile:biggrin: . He said they didn't hurt the '87 GN at all. Made them for me for free. (my real good buddy, owns a performance shop in Oregon)
But..... I have been reluctant to put either in mine...strictly for the reason that, even running 93 octane gas (highest available here in Virginia) I'm afraid of overboosting and blowing a head gasket.(I reasoned this opinion due to the imput of all those here on the board with similar situations, overboosting is dangerous). Thus, they still sit wrapped in my garage. My wastegate is stock, non-adjustable. I have to make sure I won't blow the engine up...thus...I've been reading all of these posts on this list for quite a long time. I need to still educate myself on this...seems all of you know what you're talking about.
Any opinions on this? I sure could use some suggestions. Meanwhile, I'll go with Blown&Injected's idea here. Thank you for that suggestion.

Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[BlackMetal]

Bruce,

You can order the chip at TurboTweak.com. The order form will ask you specific questions about your car to ensure that it is right for you. Even if your car is completely stock, TT chips are known to improve idle and overall performance. The stock chip from 1987 has ignition timing that is too aggressive for todays blend of gasoline, and most stock-chip GNs will get detonation/knock even with 93 octane, because the timing in the chip is too aggressive. The TT chip will address this issue.

It's nice that your friend made those chips for you, but I can't say whether or not I'd use them. You know the guy, I don't. If he really knows what he's doing, then maybe they'd work. But TurboTweak chips have a very good reputation in this community.

If you aren't worried about passing emissions with your car, I'd go with a test pipe over a high-flow cat. Not sure where you heard that the test pipe will sound "annoying", yes it will be a little louder but the mufflers will still provide a decent exhaust tone.

Your wastegate controls your maximum boost. Installing a chip programmed for higher boost won't make you "overboost", the wastegate is still going to open at its normal setting. If the chip alone could increase your boost level, then nobody would need to run the adjustable wastegate.

If you're concerned about "blowing it up", make sure you install a high-performance fuel pump with upgraded wiring harness, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, and get a ScanMaster to monitor your engine data.

 

[ngnowner]

security, security, security

Before you spend any other $$ get a good alarm system, also put in a "pass key" and maybe lojack. That steering wheel lock won't "cut" it.

 

[TSHOCK84]

thats correct i live in st pete.....

ive been looking at some security set ups..wil soon put something on..lucky i have a garage i can store to keep out of plain view.

here are some more pics

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

DAMN GOOD LOOKING CAR

 

[2 QK 4 U]

Awesome! I vacation there every year. Stay at the Vista Verde, isla del sol.

I love that area. :biggrin:

Glad ya got a garage. Just don't leave it parked out of your site for very long.

 

[Bruce Urie]

Hit the wrong damn button, posted non complete. Sorry, reposted below. Fricken computers!!!!!

Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[Red C5]

Damn that thing is clean!! Beautiful GN, congrats.

 

[Bruce Urie]

Turbo Tweak Chip/mod suggestions

Bruce,

You can order the chip at TurboTweak.com. The order form will ask you specific questions about your car to ensure that it is right for you. Even if your car is completely stock, TT chips are known to improve idle and overall performance. The stock chip from 1987 has ignition timing that is too aggressive for todays blend of gasoline, and most stock-chip GNs will get detonation/knock even with 93 octane, because the timing in the chip is too aggressive. The TT chip will address this issue.

It's nice that your friend made those chips for you, but I can't say whether or not I'd use them. You know the guy, I don't. If he really knows what he's doing, then maybe they'd work. But TurboTweak chips have a very good reputation in this community.

If you aren't worried about passing emissions with your car, I'd go with a test pipe over a high-flow cat. Not sure where you heard that the test pipe will sound "annoying", yes it will be a little louder but the mufflers will still provide a decent exhaust tone.

Your wastegate controls your maximum boost. Installing a chip programmed for higher boost won't make you "overboost", the wastegate is still going to open at its normal setting. If the chip alone could increase your boost level, then nobody would need to run the adjustable wastegate.

If you're concerned about "blowing it up", make sure you install a high-performance fuel pump with upgraded wiring harness, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, and get a ScanMaster to monitor your engine data.

Turbo6Chicago: Execellent post . I will start with your suggestions here as soon as I get my '87 GN back on the road. I'll obtain a test pipe, since there is no emmisions test here in the county I live in. I couldn't remember where I read about the annoying sound, but due to some hard thinking today (a major accomplishment ) I read it in Kirban's latest peformance catalog, page 160, Quote: Another upgrade related to the exhaust system many owners do is to go with a free flowing catalytic converter. You also shed some weight over the factory unit. If you eliminate the catalytic converter altogether, be prepared to experience what can be an annoying drone under normal crusing speeds.Unquote. Since I also own a modified '69 350/350 Vette with factory sidepipes, I'm used to loud exhaust sounds. Matter of fact, I love the sound. The louder the better. I even disconnected the radio in the Vette, as I hate music interrupting the better music of the sidepipes .(and me being a musician for the last 49 years) So, I'm going the test pipe route. Saw many on eBay, but now haven't seen any recently due to eBay restrictions. Hope I can find one.
I'll get with my buddy who made me the chips...will discuss this conversation I had with you concerning his chips and see what he says also. He was a long time engineer for General Motors. When he left to become an engineer for paper mills in the country, he took most of the programming manuals with him. Burns his own chips, etc. as per specs of the individual owner's car.
Explain one thing to me please, if no matter how many pounds of boost the turo is putting out and the wastegate opens at a predeterminded boost pressure, how does boosting it higher via chip or adjustable wastegate help? Just want to learn something here, and will never if I don't ask. As you can tell, I'm an amature here.
Thanks for all of your suggestions. Appreciate them. Will get Scanmaster real soon.

Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[Bruce Urie]

Tshock84's Grand National

I'll have to say again, that thing is just gorgeous!!! Thanks for posting more pictures. What a sweet, sweet creampuff! I'm jealous. Will you will it to me?:redface:

Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[TSHOCK84]

sorry...my daughter already has dibs on it

 

[DailyDrifter]

The car looks horrible.........................i'll give you $1200 for it j/k looks good where did you hide the rust?

 

[87granny]

sorry...my daughter already has dibs on it

HAHAHA thats what mine said too