Opinion's on GMC Syclone!

[RUQWKNF27]

I am looking @ one right now that all the bolt on's and upgrades and was wondering about the weak points.

 

[garyk1970]

you mean the "weak" points,right

i bought a typhoon,and the best thing about these are the take off since they are AWD. i traded for one in Tampa,and after some launches on the way home,it didnt make it to Georgia

 

[RUQWKNF27]

What happen?

 

[Ross L]

From what I've read 1) transmission, although some are going high 10's and 11's when built right. 2) rods, because the headgaskets are less likely to blow than on our GN's. 3) stock ic is marginal on the street, ok for the track with ice bags and a cool down. 4) more difficult to work on than our beloved Buicks:biggrin:

 

[garyk1970]

"it" meaning the transmission:biggrin: stripped the drum out if i remember right.

 

[garyk1970]

i remember once i put a stereo system in a syclone,and my then shop entrance had a slight incline,when i pulled it in,i BARELY hit the trans mount and it broke!

also i remember it being a reg cab,so you will have to get out just to change your mind

 

[1BADTT]

Weak points...you've got to remember that it's a N/A engine with EFI & a turbo attached to it.

 

[ChavoLC2]

Ru27

Would love to have a Syclone as well as a Typhoon to go with the GN. They have their own set of problems. Just like our cars they don't like detonation. They are cool looking and tuned right can flat out run. One of the GM High Tech mags had and article on a Syclone from the Netherlands/Sweden one bad 10sec pickup. This guy had his act together as there isn't very many Syclones across the pond so he didn't have the community of Turbo fiends nearby to help him with hand on type stuff.

If you can get ahold of one thay sure are nice. Friend of mine had both a GN and a 25,000 mile Syclone that he picked up in Florida. They are definately different then the LC2 but unique and can be made to go fast with bolt ons just like the Buick. From what I've heard they don't have as bad as problem with HG's, guess some like to beef up the bottom end. Heard some had problems which are fixable with the 700r. Think we've all beefed up the 200. Like with any forced induction vehicle you learn about the particulars of that car/truck, you strengthen the weak links and tune,tune tune to prevent detonation. yeah they're heavy luggin that extra differential but how cool is that to have all 4 tires hookin up and carrying you down the 1/4. If it's nice and ain't been horse whipped you ought to get it very unique pickup.Decisions ,decisions, show then Subaru STI guys how AWD is supposed to be done.

 

[jurassic five 7]

^^^^^That'd be Robert's syclone. He was here in the US with his truck at the Nationals. He has a video of an in-car footage on the board here...

I love the Syclones. I cant wait till the 10th aniversary of the Nationals this year! wooo!!

Anyways, i'd like to get one someday down the road. I've been told the intercoolers pretty much cant really handle the full 1/4th. As in, by the end its barely cooling the charge. But thats what i've just read.

Either way, if i had the chance to get one, I WOULD! Wait...i do kinda, but im still paying on my car.

Buy it!!!

-Adam

 

[notacarlo]

Take that 4.3 out and put in a built 4.1

 

[Ross L]

also, they have a 2 bar map sensor(vs buicks 3 bar). So 14.7 psi is all the computer can read. Chips are much more expensive and did I mention more difficult to work on
I have a vid of a 4.3 making 700 hp on 91 octane and meth injection,,,,, not bad!

 

[dgoodhue]

also, they have a 2 bar map sensor(vs buicks 3 bar). So 14.7 psi is all the computer can read. Chips are much more expensive and did I mention more difficult to work on
I have a vid of a 4.3 making 700 hp on 91 octane and meth injection,,,,, not bad!

The stock chip and 90's aftermarket chips are 2 bars, but any decent aftermarket chip is 3 bar. The stock IC isn't that bad as long as it work properly, with Alky you see MAT's below ambient.

Weak points, yes on the transmission, stock internals of the engine, also the ignition components need replacing often.

The transmission just doesn't hold well to 500ft-lbs+ modified truck make. Anything but the smallest turbo upgrade will need a built up tranny, so basically if your appraoch 11's be praper for a tranny. $l80E are available and nearly indestructible for all but the Hgh HP motor, but they are $5000+.

Internals- The stock motor is a run of the 4.3 with hypereutic dished pistons & nodular main caps. The can be pushed into the 11's, stockers don't blow headgaskets, they melt piston and through rods. A built motor can remedy this. Stock motor can do 11's, one guy pushed his to 10.9's with a small shot of N20 (he was running 11.1 without it) He did it with stock cam & heads as well. The key is key the revs down and concentrate on the tune & adding boost. The stock heads are detonation prone, the stock chip is set for 14 degree timing Vortec head conversion allow much more timing to level your guy are used to seeing.

This ignition cap/rotor/plugs seem need replacing with the oil changes. The LC2 ignition is light years ahead of these trucks. Their is LS1 coil conversion, but I don't know many people using it.

The AWD is cool for a street vehicle. 400rwhp & 600+ ft-lbs of torque will actually hook up in the lower gears on real street tires that could driven accross the country and back. They aren't the fast thing at the track, due to the AWD limitations, but they are quite formidable on the street, especially if you catch any RWD vehicle in street trim. They aren't nearly as well know as GN's so they don't atrack much attention. They have more unique parts than a turbobuick. They are finicky due to its ignition.

The ECM is further advanced than the turbobuick ECM, but since its MAP based it doesn't compensate without changing the tune for major changes. The TB buick ECM's simplicity makes for far easier tuning. Just recently the their has been major overhaul of the ECM's code done by enthusiast, it has the functionality to compete any Aftermarket EMS, it just doesn't have the nice interfaces they do. If your into tuning, getting your hand dirty work on them, they can be very fun and rewarding. A lot of the people who own them are like that as well. If your going to fix the above weak points to make them bullet proof, they can be very expensive. If you want to get into something and drive then they aren't the best daily driver.

 

[dgoodhue]

I am looking @ one right now that all the bolt on's and upgrades and was wondering about the weak points.

As I mentioned above the ECM doesn't respond to changes in air flow like the Turbo Buicks, so often you will find truck with many mods on them that run like crap. If you find a truck with a catalog parts catalog of upgrades, it could be quite the task to get it running right. Also most of the upgrade that were done in 90's now have better solutions as well.

 

[insane6]

I have not had mine long but, it sure is fun to drive ,and I get alot of complinments too,it had a dead miss in it when I bought it, 2 plug wire burnt though on ex manifold and replaced cap and rotor corroded really bad and now it runs good, but as fate would have it or just my luck the turbo had too much slack in and out on the shaft (48,000 miles).

Removing the turbo was not a simple task and out of the 10-15 nuts ,bolts, tools that I dropped in the engine bay only one hit the floor I've never seen anything like it. But the more I do to it the easier it's getting.

At this point I love the truck and have no intentions of getting rid of it.

 

[GregInAtl]

We had a Typhoon w/ bolt ons including upgraded turbo and it was a blast to drive, it'd beat up most everything on the road, including a local guys 360 Modena to about 75. The lighter brother in law to the Typhoon has always been a favorite of mine, and well worth having as a play toy. As with most "street" vehicles, keep it simple and you'll be much happier.