Hi everyone. I just bought my first grand national and was happy to find this site. I've always liked the turbo buicks just haven't had the opportunity to own one until now. Unfortunately so far it hasn't been as I hoped. The first time I took the car out it popped a head gasket. I'm hoping after I get it all back together it's smoother sailing.
My first gn
- Thread starter Jjm86gn
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Phoneguy
Cometic HG stress tester
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Welcome aboard. You are not the first...
You need a Scanmaster/Powerlogger to keep an eye on these cars and tune for no knock. Do some reading, lots of info here to be had.
Bryan
You need a Scanmaster/Powerlogger to keep an eye on these cars and tune for no knock. Do some reading, lots of info here to be had.
Bryan
Phoneguy
Cometic HG stress tester
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Please finish filling out your profile page so we know where you are located, there are plenty of people willing to help if they know where you are...
Bryan
Bryan
Phoneguy
Cometic HG stress tester
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If money is no concern then go for it. There is a new Speed Density chip that will allow a lot of the same programming without the large cash outlay.
Bryan
Bryan
I don't want to spend the money if I don't have too. I've built a lot of mustangs and always had them dyno tuned with a sct chip. I'm new to the whole gn world. I'm not sure how far I can push the stock ecu. From what the guy said that I bought the car it has a lot of work done to it. He said it has a turbo tweak chip already in it. He said the only problem with the car was it was over boosting. I think the head gaskets where already blown and he put some stop leak in it and unloaded it so he wouldn't have to mess with it.
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You need to find out why it blew the head gasket, or it will do it again. List the parts/mods that are done. I know that it kinda sucks now, but you will be a very happy camper when you have a healthy running GN. Take your time. Get with the Turbo Buick people in your area. Here's some bed time reading for you to do in the mean time. http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/threads/info-for-new-turbo-regal-owners.380856/
Use the search function here to find the answers to your questions. If you can't find the answers, don't be afraid to ask.
Welcome to the site and happy spooling.
Mike Barnard
Use the search function here to find the answers to your questions. If you can't find the answers, don't be afraid to ask.
Welcome to the site and happy spooling.
Mike Barnard
This is what I was told the car had. Ill find out for sure when I pull it apart. Stock heads and intake ported by gn1. 3.625 crank and 5.970 rods. Not sure of the cam but I was told it has an after market cam in it. It does have a hot wire kit, and I'm told an aero motive 330 pump. 42lb injectors a percition 68mil turbo a large front mount 3in down pipe and the ls1 maf with the transducer box. The trans is supose to be all built with a ptc 2800 stall converter and the rear all redone with 3.42 gears. I'm unclear at this time why the head gasket blew. I'm hoping once it's apart ill know more. Hoping to have the motor out and stripped down by the weekend.
Phoneguy
Cometic HG stress tester
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If he told you it was overboosting...there is your problem with the head gasket blowing...what were you doing when the gasket blew?? How much boost??
What do you have for a boost controller? Fuel Pressure ? The stock ECU has been pushed into the 8's I believe...
Bryan
I agree that that was a big part of it. When it blew I was on my way to a buddy's house to go over the car. I wouldn't say I was driving it hard at all. I didn't want to get on it hard until I fixed the over boosting. He said the chip is set up for 15-17lbs and the car is making 20-25lbs. The car dosnt have a boost controller on it. That's something I have to do when I get it back together and before I drive it. I'm not sure of the fuel pressure. What is the best way to control boost? It has an internal waste gate now, I'm thinking an external waste gate with an electronic boost controller is the way to go.
Phoneguy
Cometic HG stress tester
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What kind of fuel are you using? If this was on pump gas with no ALKY, you have your answer as to why it blew. Get a fuel pressure gauge and monitor the pressure for a 1:1 rise with boost. External gate will give you better control but I think you need to slow down for now...
Bryan
Bryan
2QUICK2B6
Black Car Fever
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cometic hg
Phoneguy
Cometic HG stress tester
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Yes, a teardown is in your future. Antifreeze and bearings dont play well with each other. You have a fuel pressure gauge...and dont know what the pressure is?? Stock style gaskets unless you are getting the block and heads surface prepped.
Bryan
Bryan
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Hello and Welcome To Turbobuick.com!!!!
Sorry to hear about your HG problem! I guess the good side is
that it will help you learn about these cars quicker!
Sorry to hear about your HG problem! I guess the good side is
that it will help you learn about these cars quicker!
So I pulled the motor apart in my gn and everything the guy told me that it had wasn't there. No stroker kit, no ported heads or intake and no cam. So I'm torn whether to fix it, put a stock turbo on it and sell it or start from scratch and build it. I guess my question is what does it take to get a gn to run mid 10's and be able to take my family out for a Sunday drive? Any help would be a big help!
