new to GN's - question on mods

[windshearalert]

Gents, as you can see, i am really new to the GN scene. I am looking to acquire a 87 GN in the near future. I would be starting with a generally stock car with prob around 100K miles. My question is this: With what you guys know from years of modding, what would be the best things for me to do when i get the car? Just to give you some info, i would like to build up a nice, streetable car, capable of say low 12's in the 1/4 mile. I am quite capable of mechanical aspects of the mods, but i honestly don't know my way around the buick V6. I havent read up enough at the moment to understand the electronic ECU system of this car, and i am assuming you can run some type of EFI live , etc, via laptop. Please understand and bear with me that i am starting to learn these cars, and any info, ideas, etc would be greatly appreciated. I know the car is very adaptable, but i didnt want to waste money and time on mods that are outdated or not worth the expense.
Thanks for your time!

 

[turbojd]

Well for starters if the car you purchase is stock or basically stock, start out with a good tuneup(spring cleaning) after that you could start like this,

1. A scanmaster scantool or powerlogger
2. Modern chip
3. cat back exhaust
4. adj. fuel reg.
5. adj. wastegate
6. k&n air filter or a cold air intake
7. if fuel pump is stock, swap it out, and add a hot-wire kit to the pump, this is a good starting point.

oh and some good reading info http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com

 

[Sweet6]

Well for starters if the car you purchase is stock or basically stock, start out with a good tuneup(spring cleaning) after that you could start like this,

1. A scanmaster scantool or powerlogger
2. Modern chip
3. cat back exhaust
4. adj. fuel reg.
5. adj. wastegate
6. k&n air filter or a cold air intake
7. if fuel pump is stock, swap it out, and add a hot-wire kit to the pump, this is a good starting point.

For the chip, get a Turbotweak chip and I would say add the alcohol injection too. And take the cat off. And good tires of course. Mid 12's should be no problem.

 

[coach]

I did alot of of those things to my car when I got it, but the biggest difference was my new downpipe and 3 inch exhaust. Even with the stock turbo and inj, turning up the boost to 17-18lbs was pretty awesome. It all really boils down to the amount of $$$ you want to throw at it. I threw so much $$$ at mine, I now live in a real nice box in an alley...LOL. Car runs awesome though...

Suspension is often a forgotten performance upgrade. A set of cheap boxed arms really helps with driveability as well as hard take-offs.

I am no expert, these guys are the best. I have only had my GN 2 years.

Listen to them,
Coach

 

[sugarandopium]

I'm still learning too, so I can't be of much help.

Read that vortex page 50 times, alot there.

This is the spring cleaning link if you haven't found it yet.
The Grand National / T-Type / Turbo Regal Buick Spring Cleaning Guide

Can find some various mod recipes here too:
Turbo Buick Performance Build Ups/Recipes

Good luck with it.

 

[windshearalert]

thanks a lot fellas, so far im already learning! i feel like a complete dolt after spending most of my life learning old school engines, carbs, and being scared of electronics. And you would never guess i work on aircraft turbines for a living, but for some reason, i always shied away from anything fuel injected up until prob 7 years ago. Heck i drove my 95 chevrolet truck because it had a TBI unit and i didnt like the idea of port injection...It all changed when i picked up my first 5.0 mustang (I know , arch nemesis) but i learned a lot on the EEC IV system and associated hardware. Now im running 95 impy SS and 03 Silverado SS and loving it. Just feel like a tool not learning the turbo V6 somewhere in my past. Keep any ideas coming....
Oh quick question, If i ever have to open up the engine, what would you guys recommend for heads? I dont even know what is desirable. Hang tite with me, im soaking up everything i hear.... Thanks!

 

[windshearalert]

thanks again fellas, the vortex page has a lot of good info! this car platform was without a doubt very far ahead of its time....No wonder GM killed it, they wanted the corvette to be king....its sad, this car had a lot more potential i never realized....amazing

 

[QUIP'6']

thanks again fellas, the vortex page has a lot of good info! this car platform was without a doubt very far ahead of its time....No wonder GM killed it, they wanted the corvette to be king....its sad, this car had a lot more potential i never realized....amazing

when you get a car make sure the motor is sound. then make sure the fuel system is up to snuff with a new 340 pump and hotwire kit. then get a TurboTweak Home chip and finally a scanmaster. tune the car for no knock in all gears especially in top of third. then when you get comfortable with 17 psi of boost. get an alky kit from http://alkycontrol.com/ and with this kit combined with a good set of dragradials and 23psi of boost you can get a low 12 sec et. with a bone stock gn. good luck with your choices and most of all read, read, read!!!!!

 

[turbo39151]

+2 on the read, read, read.... Lots of good info here.

As for the heads, the irons are fine, ported irons even better. If you want to race or just like spending money- Champion makes some nice heads...

Good Luck and Welcome to the Darkside.

 

[sugarandopium]

when you get a car make sure the motor is sound. then make sure the fuel system is up to snuff with a new 340 pump and hotwire kit. then get a TurboTweak Home chip and finally a scanmaster. tune the car for no knock in all gears especially in top of third. then when you get comfortable with 17 psi of boost. get an alky kit from http://alkycontrol.com/ and with this kit combined with a good set of dragradials and 23psi of boost you can get a low 12 sec et. with a bone stock gn. good luck with your choices and most of all read, read, read!!!!!

Should the injectors be upgraded when the pump is on a stocker?

 

[turbojd]

Should the injectors be upgraded when the pump is on a stocker?

I would if you have the extra coin, it would just care of the fuel delivery end of it, well depending on how crazy you go!

 

[QUIP'6']

Should the injectors be upgraded when the pump is on a stocker?

depends on the miles and condition of them. if you plan on going in the 11's with one step up on stock turbo like a te44 or a ta49 then i would upgrade to 42 pound injectors. or you can just jump to 60 pounders and be done with it if and when you upgrade to go low 11's or high 10's which you will.
heres a link Racetronix-Delphi_Injector_Sale-42s