Hello all,

I have been receiving emails from different people asking about the Grand National motor swap in my 2nd gen. I figured I would take a ton of pictures during the process of the swap, and make a nice little web page to document how things went together. If you are interested in taking a look, please visit: www.MisRed.com. Just like the car, the web page is work in progress!

Thank You!

 

There's a 84 T-type buick in the paper local for cheap, are these the good ones?

 

Instead of reading all through your site; I'll just ask here. How much do you have invested in that swap? Why did you go for the T6 instead of the V8?

 

The Turbo powered Buick GNs were actually faster than most the V8 powered cars on the road back in the 80s. The entire reason they were shutdown was because with a turbo upgrade, a Turbo GN could keep up with the Vette no problem.

You can't have a mid-range Buick beating the Chevy flagship, the Corvette.

 

 

Good point. Especially that they make a kit that allows a 350 to bolt right into a seven.

 

Misred has a sweet conversion with one of the best bang for the buck engines around. A stock GN engine with around $500 worth of mods will make close to 400hp with the stock turbo and even more torque! This is only a larger downpipe $250, exhaust cutout $40, race chip $40, 160 degree Tstat $20, adjustable wastegate rod $3, race fuel to support more boost, and new plugs $1.40 each! Add a larger turbo $700, intercooler $1000, injectors $225 and otherwise completely stock they will make over 500hp no joke. I've seen this combo go 11.70's@118.5mph in a 3800lb GN with stock longblock/cam/heads etc and just bolt ons mentioned above.

The '84-85 GN's were non intercooled and have an inferior intake design and poor header routing to the turbo than the preferable '86-87 GN's/TType's. How cheap is cheap? If it is ultra cheap get it.

Buick Motorsports program did INDY a few times and their car went 240mph.... however ultimately suffered vavletrain related issues in the race. 274ci race Buick V6 engines can make around 1300hp with twin turbos.

Bang for the buck the Buick GN can't be beat including the LT1/LS1/13B-REW/ even the 2JZ. Obviously a huge shot of nitrous on any of these motors would be cheaper.... but not in the long run.

My fairly stock Buick GN powered RX-7 ran 11.60's@114mph with minimal tuning. Goal now is 11.20's@119mph on the stock turbo with good heads/cam. Misred's car is getting an even hairier powerplant than mine!

GNX7

 

hahah great picture!


p.s. this is the only piston engine swap I condone

 

I can't believe you guys are putting a V6 instead of a rotary. What have you been smoking? If you want a project, but a 20B in it. No rotor, no motor!

Ok, now that I got that out. I do like the GN. Those cars are real fast. That engine is almost as good as the 2JZGTE.

 

Actually the GNX could beat the Vette until the introduction of the LT engine in the Vette. Which was also timed with the death of the G-body cars

 

it's an 84 T-type, 10k on new motor, 74k on car, $1000

can you swap the good stuff from the later GN onto it, or too much work?

 

If he can verify the rebuild the asking price of $1K is well worth it. The longblocks for '84/85 and '86-87 are nearly the same. The later models had better heads identified by 8445 casting number under the valvecover. Not much better though! Also the '86-87 blocks were stronger and identified by a 109 casting number on outside. If you only want max 500hp the '84-85 style will suffice.

You can convert an '84 GN engine to '86-87 status. You need the following:
stock used headers $150
stock used GN turbo $150
intercooler $125 (if you do a 2nd gen FC conversion you can't use this as it won't fit)
intercooler up pipe $25
lower intake manifold $140
upper intake plenum and TB $100
fuel rail/coil pack/coil pack bracket $150
stock ECU $35
injector harness $60
cam sensor $75
accessory bracket $75
tensioner pulley $65
alternator $100
a/c compressor $75
p/s pump $75
stock '86-87 wiring harness (birds nest PITA install) $200
or
custom prelabeled easy install universal GN wiring harness $575 from casperselectronics.com
misc parts $200

If you only want the alternator and no p/s or a/c you can make a bracket and save $300 in parts.

For $1K IMO it is worth it!

Where are you located? If you don't want it I'm sure I can find someone who does.

Realize if you plan to do this conversion it is a timely process.... but the results are worth it. 400ft/lbs of tq easy in a 2700-2800lbs.

GNX7

 

hmm...sounds like alot of work, how much power could I get out of the car, just using the car and mostly stock stuff, no swapping into FC or swapping out everything to the later GN components?

I'd be buying the car just as a beater for the strip or something I guess, maybe I should go look at the car see what shape it's in.

OH yeah, and I'm on the otherside of the planet, Rochester NY (upstate)

 

how much compared to a 350 supercharged swap?? $$??

 

I went with the Buick V6 because I feel it has much more potential than a V8. More performance, less cash..proven fact.

I bought the complete drivetrain for about $3000. The car was $200. I spent $400 on converting the 4 lug RX-7 to 5 lug. The fuel system was about $250 including all new -8 lines and intake walbro pump. Battery was $70. Intercooler was $500. Turbo II wheels were $100. Nitto's all the way around were $500.....

Obviously it adds up. There were numerous trips to ACE Hardware. Should have opened a corporate account there .

My goal for the 4.1 motor is 550HP/650Torque.
Also it's really not uncommon for a stockish 3.8 motor in good tune to make ~400HP. The key is island towing torque. Remember, horsepower sells cars, torque wins races.

People can not swallow the idea of a stockish V6 making 400Hp that gets 25+mpg. This is half the fun........

P.S. If anyone is serious, the complete drivetrain in the MisRed car is for sale. My other motor is about done and I don't need a motor laying around. $2800 - Plenum to oil pan, ECM, turbo, headers, wiring harness the works! Perfect to drop into another RX-7. I also know of a great donor car that is $200. '88 GXL, grey, $200. I was thinking of building another and selling the final product. How much would someone pay for a 10 second car that your mom could drive?

 

Hmm don't tempt me!

 

well how fast is it?!?
what did u run in the 1/4 mile??

 

No times yet. The car isn't complete.

mid 10 second times should be the norm. With pure race gas and E.T. streets I expect very low 10's.

 

hmmm $2800 for the motor...... how much for the whole car?

i need a daily driver with a bulletproof motor, i could drive the GN-X7 during the week, and my FD on the weekends.

seriously, how much $ for you to part with it?

rfarquharson@nyc.rr.com
or PM me

thanx

 

This swap interests me quite a bit. After I get an FD I would really like to get an FC with a 3.8 turbo in it

 

you guys seen www.engineswaps.com ??

 

One other upside to a GN swap is the engine placement. Almost all of it is behind the centerline of the front wheels

I may do that swap into my FB one day

 

Went 12.37 @ 122.26 MPH tonight.

Severe traction issues. Out of 5 runs I couldn't muster any better then a 2.2 short time. The car has 245/60/16's Nittos and will blow them away no matter how the car leaves. Even an off idle launch kills the tires when the car hits 2nd gear (like 42ft). So the car dances all the way through 2nd until it finally gets to 3rd and starts moving.

What is promising is the MPH. It's making some good power, but the 4.11 gears are making things worse.

I am going to mess with some different shocks and hopefully have a temporary solution to the gearing soon. Met a guy tonight that will sell me a LSD 3.90 pumpkin that I will just swap out in place of my 4.11 door stop. This will give me a 5% difference in gearing and might be the ticket for now.

Until next time...