You can type here any text you want

New GN Owner with 87 in need of rebuild

Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!
The oil squirters sound really expensive, but this car did have a spun bearing that caused all this in the first place...
Oil squirters are for cooling the bottom of the pistons and I haven't heard of anyone using or installing them on turbo buick motor builds . Sounds like your builder doesn't do a lot of turbo buick motors . This is from a thread back in May '11 , reply is from turbofabricator .

"Just machine a small notch in the big end of the rod to spray oil straight up into the bottom of the piston. It can be done with a small cut off wheel, or even a thin saw blade. It is also possible to drill a small hole in the top of the rod and match drill the bearing. Unless you are running endurance, I don't see a huge gain. The oiling system is pretty taxed as it is."
 
Last edited:
Way too much money for what you are getting !!!

You will be better off and money ahead shipping it to a known builder

Bryan
 
Hmm, ok. I am always open to better/less expensive engine builds.

Where is a good list of engine builders for this car?

Or would it be easier to just ask folks to post a few names/emails/phone numbers for builders they trust here?
 
I really want to get this car running. But I just don't have much cash to put into it.

Since it's all stock and in great shape, I am hoping to get the car running as quick and cheaply as possible (without screwing myself over for far future upgrades)
 
Since you will shipping it out you have several choices.

Richard Clark in Burlington NC
336-684-3653
I truly believe that this would be the most cost effective solution.
You will need to contact him for a time frame to see if it would fit into your schedule. He is extremely knowledgeable and a no BS kind of person and 100% honest.

There are others that can build what you need and may meet your time frame requirements better, this is just my thoughts. I don't think you will find another person that has done more for our community or has a bigger passion for our cars than Richard.

Bryan
 
Lou Czarnota in the Irvine, CA area.

Nick Micale in Phoenix, AZ.

Being that you are in Colorado, you won't find two more capable, dedicated and knowledgeable Turbo Buick guys in the Western United States, period. Between them they have forgotten more about Turbo Buicks than most will ever know, but don't worry, they still remember all of what it takes to do it right! :)

Lou built my car.

Since I'm in Phoenix, if I don't need to haul it out to CA to see Lou, Nick is my "go to" guy.

You can't go wrong with using either one.

 
You need to go see Nick Micale since you are so close to him.

$4000 for a stock rebuild is high using ALL stock parts. Hell for that money I can rebuild and put it in.

If you are a newbie to Buicks, have Nick intstall the motor. It will save you a bunch of time and sooner or later your time is money.
 
If you have all the pieces right now, why not just assemble them yourself? Or at least mock it up to check clearances. I'm in the Denver area, if you need anything give me a shout. You can't go wrong sending it to Nick Micale either.
 
Necromancy! But like, for the car too!

Update:
Engine is fully rebuilt! I decided to go with the best bottom end parts I could find based on folks recommendations here. So all forged internals, and such. Heads are still OEM ... so... gonna look at those at some point...

Car runs like a champ! (well as well as it did in 1987 :P )

Next up is to give it a really mild update of new injectors, plugs and other things I need to look at since the car has been sitting for almost 20 years now :p

- Rear diff leaking badly
- Brakes are sticking (gonna try full flush and reseat pads before rebuilding calipers)
- I am in colorado, so maybe get a MAF chip to help tune the turbo? dunno yet on that one...

Any other suggestions?
 
Sticking brakes can also be caused by bad rubber lines. They turn into one way check valves.
 
Ohh yeah yup yup. I will check the lines condition. Hopefully just at caliper if any issues. I had the break booster thingy rebuilt since it was some odd bit that went out ages ago, not sure if its all hard lines up there, will need to check... but most of that was replaced/rebuilt.
 
TT chip machine injectors Hotwire ,new pump and fuel pressure regulator All from TurboTweak
Ok, yeah, I will give them a call next week and get a order placed.
I was also toying with replacing the turbo with a modern one (that way I never have to rebuild the OEM and keep it in great shape, plus get a little benefit of modern design. Think its worth it?)

CONGRATS in getting it on the road after 9 years
Thanks! As a poor bastard with no monies, this has been a LONG amount of work and savings. But its running and after i get the brakes 100% and diff leak fixed, I will have the confidence to drive it.

I have tried to keep it 100% stock (with exception of things I hope add value in most everyone's eyes, such as the upgraded internals.)
 
if you replace the OE turbo you will go from poor to super poor ,its a hole new can of worms you just opened you will need a converter you will break the trans and a lot more little things that add up
I have a small 5857 it works good under 15 psi, but it at 20 + before you get your moneys worth. but you need fueling to Suport that much boost.
Get the brake and diff fixed drive it to the ice-cream shop and enjoy the many comments you will get.
 
Back
Top