New guy with some questions

[Bsktcse84]

Hello,
I have been lurking around here for a while as I have always loved these cars and have been recently thinking about swapping one of these engines into another project of mine. Also, recently I have have found a couple cars for sale in my area and would like to find out a few things before I go take a look at them Saturday.

First one is an '85 Grand National. The guy says it starts and runs great but needs a paint job. Is there anything on these cars that are known to go bad that I should really watch out for?
Second car is an '83 Regal T-Type. The '83 model is a carburated engine correct? Can a fuel injection system from a newer model be bolted to this engine or are the heads different? This car doesnt run but is said to all be there and in good shape body wise.

I am considering buying both of these cars but just want to know what is interchangable between these two engines if anything. Is the '83 worth buying and updating or is this year engine not a good starting platform for a performance build? Neither engine will remain stock for long most likely.

Hope some of that makes sense. Any more information on these cars is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[GNguy]

Welcome, I was in the same position as you 2 1/2 years ago, wait till you find a good running 86 or 87. Thats what I would do in my opinion. but yes, 85 is hot air and you can put a intercooler on there, its probably a nightmare to do a FI swap on an 83. If you want to go fast go with an 86 or 87. good luck

 

[matswtt]

Save your money...better to buy one of what you want, than two of halfs of what you want.
heck it's cheaper in the long run to buy a up and running 87 gn than to fix a broken one. I have one that I drive and one i bought to fix and ive already spent more on the busted one that the one in my signature


get something that you can at least drivable while your workin on it

 

[Bsktcse84]

Thanks for the replies. I just read my post, didnt realize it was that long of a day yesterday, lol.

Basically what I am looking at doing is getting the 85 as a driver. He says it runs and drives great but needs just some maintaince work. Eventually it will be modded, but for now just use it as a daily driver.

What I am looking at with the 83 if its a usable piece it to swap the drivetrain into another project of mine. I have a friend with a FAST system, Accel DFI, and Big Stuff 3 that I can pick up pretty cheap and start from there. I just need to know if the 83 engine is simular to the 86 or 87 and a good base block and heads or are they just better off as boat anchors?

I would love to be able to buy a 86 or 87 already in good shape, but its just a little too expensive to just throw that cash around. Theres another GN for sale on a car lot with a Wilwood disk brake kit on the rear and Crager SS rims, but I dont know the year. There asking $14,288 for it. Thats way out of my price range. I can pick up both these other cars for around $4500.

Thanks for the replies, I hope to hear some more opinions and info on these cars.

 

[corymc]

where are you from? maybe some one on here is from that area and coul dhelp you find one