Resurrecting a HA GN. Suggestions requested

[Dmrtn9203]

First and foremost, I'd like to say i'm new on this forum so if this is in the wrong section I apologize.

Okay, I just bought a 1985 GN that has been sitting since at least 1997. I believe the intake gasket or the turbo seals went out before the car was parked, and was never replaced. I just moved the car into my garage, put it up on jack stands and pulled the wheels off, and drained the oil so far. The oil was dirty black, but was not milky or anything. I do not believe there was any moisture in it. I know the car is going to need all new brakes, fuel lines/pump/maybe tank, vaccuum lines and All the basic tune up stuff. This isn't my first rodeo with getting an old car that has been sitting forever running again. But it is my first turbo buick. So is there anything I need to check for?

Also, If the turbo seals are bad, I'm probably just going to replace the turbo with an upgrade unit. Is there any that are preferred on these hot air cars?

The thing is, I have a diesel truck that runs low-mid 12's in the 1/4. I'd like for this buick, at less than half the weight, to be able to run the same if not faster times. So, if there is anything in this ressurection process that I can go ahead and upgrade, I will.

What are these HA cars capable of power wise? This car has family history and I feel like I got it for a great deal, so I dont want to hear "sell it and buy an IC car, you'll be miles ahead"

Thanks for reading and I look forward to reading your suggestions

 

[turbonut85]

Get the car running first....then upgrade things as needed. Go through the sticky at the top of the page....there's a ton of good info there. I would suggest new plugs/wires, fuel pump, fuel lines if necessary, and a scan tool (scanmaster or powerlogger...or both) What makes you think the seal is out of the turbo?? Oil in the throttle body?

As for what a hot air car is capable of.....the only limit to how fast you can make it, is how much you wanna spend....and get ready to SPEND....modding a hot air isn't cheap....lemme tell ya. Low 12's aren't out of th question.....there are a few (very few) hot air cars that run high-mid 10's out there...so it IS possible. Bear in mind, performance parts aren't as readily available for them as they are for the IC cars....but, they ARE out there....if you are patient. Be sure to post and ask questions....the help and info is here....you just gotta be willing to ask. Post up your location as well.....you never know what buick nuts are lurking in your area. Good luck! ---Keith

 

[Dmrtn9203]

Thanks for the reply. It's been cold the past couple days and my garage isn't heated, along with my work schedule, I haven't spent a whole lot of time out there tearing into the car.

I am located just northwest of Columbus, Oh, off of 33 just outside of Marysville. I will be celebrating my 21st this next week, so if there is anyone around here sometime after that who knows these cars, and would want to stop out and help me figure out what I have, I would be willing to buy the beer for someone else for a change lol.

I got this car off of my Uncle. Like I said in the OP, It has been parked since before '97. Other than my dad's trucks, this is the one car that I always remember from my childhood. I always thought this car was so cool, but don't have any memories riding in it. I had talked to my aunt and uncle a long time ago about the car, and IIRC I believe they said that the turbo seals went out on it. Back then they weren't willing to part with it, and I'm glad they didn't. I have no idea where this car would be now if I had it when I was at the stupid age of 16. My aunt has since passed away, and I've grown up a little bit. I tried my luck again and my Uncle decided that he was willing to part with it. He told me that the intake gasket was bad and it was leaking coolant out of the intake when they parked it. So, I figure i'll have to check out the charger and make sure all the gaskets are good.

I know this project is going to take a while, but i'm the kind of person who would like to at least hear it run sometime in the very near future. Money is not an issue, I don't have much money to spend on it out of every weeks paycheck, but I will take as long as needed to get this one right. And people expect these cars to be fast, so i'd like to not be able to outrun it with a 7k lb truck lol

Sorry for the rant, but thanks for reading. Just stuck inside instead of the 25* garage and thinking about how i'd like to get this thing on the road soon

 

[turbonut85]

Oh yeah......post pics too!!!

 

[alec296]

contact bison here on the board for a turbo upgrade he can get you the setuo you are looking for.

 

[Dmrtn9203]

I will get ahold of him sometime in the near future. As of tomorrow, I will be getting the intake and valve cover gaskets, all brake parts on all 4 corners, ordering a Walbro 255 fuel pump from turbo tweak, all the tune up parts. If budget allows it I might go ahead and get a 86 and up ECM and order a chip and injectors from turbo tweaks as well. I have a huge list of all the things I know I need for right now but I'm sure I will be finding other stuff as well. I can't figure out how to post pics from my phone but they are coming

 

[alec296]

big upgrade would be to dump the early style exhaust and cat for 86-87 and custom downpipe, and check your tps to see in you have 4.5 volts or more at wide open throttle these fixes will open performance up more then an 86-87 ecm

 

[turbonut85]

At this point, the 86-87 ECM along with a scan tool would be more of a priority than a down pipe and exhaust. Like I said before...keep it simple, get it running, get it running good, then start modding it. I agree a set of injectors and a chip wouldn't be a bad idea....but along with some injector cleaner, I'd start with what you got for now. Fuel pump is a no brainer though....

 

[Dmrtn9203]

Since I'm already going to be this far down into the engine do you guys think I should go ahead and pull the heads and replace head gaskets? I feel like it may be a smart move just to make sure it's all fresh and take a peek down in the cylinders, but if it's not necessary then I won't and spend that money elsewhere

 

[RUDE DOG]

Since I'm already going to be this far down into the engine do you guys think I should go ahead and pull the heads and replace head gaskets? I feel like it may be a smart move just to make sure it's all fresh and take a peek down in the cylinders, but if it's not necessary then I won't and spend that money elsewhere

If you are going to pull the heads off, I would get a valve job and port the heads, but a compression and leak down test should be able to tell you wether you need to remove them at all. If it tests good then you might not need to tear into the engine and use the money saved to get what you need.

 

[alec296]

is there any reason to pull heads other than to see whats inside? i would say get it running first. as far as a scan tool look on ebay for a otc monitor i use a monitor 4000 E gives you most of your readings, check voltages. got mine for 200 bucks works on 84-85 ecm or 86-87 ecm