My 1986 Grand National rebuild project is almost done! Have a look pics inside.....
Long story short bought the car and it was making metal. It spun a bearing before I could get it out and look into it more. I wanted to rebuild it eventually only because I hate to own a car like this with an "unknown" engine. Now that I've had my hands all over this project I "know" what I have that is for sure! :) While the engine was out I had the trans rebuilt as well because that was another unknown part. Found out later that it needed a rebuild anyway. New converter while I was there.
Took the car to a local turbo Buick specialists Jim Dunn from http://www.buickturboperformance.com/ to pull the engine and clean up the engine bay and frame for me. Him and his guys are detail oriented people like myself and I know and trust him with my car(s). He also did the engine project on my 87 GN over 5 years ago. That car I've drove to Bowling Green and back and to Ohio 2 years in a row! I took the engine and trans once it was out and I did the rest while Jim and his guys cleaned up my engine bay.
I took the engine to a local place MAR Automotive. He has done about a dozen local turbo Buick engines and all those guys are beating the hell out of them at the track so I figure they would be a good start! I just did some research and tweaked and tuned all the parts I used. I wanted a stock build up within my budget. While we all would love to to the best of the best my budget didn't allow me to go nuts. I'm also going to put the car in stock classes so a clean fresh stock look is what I went for. Went with hydraulic cam from Comp Cam's. It's a Weber Racing 206/206 custom grind. I did NOS GM lifters. Some mild head work with new LT1 springs, new valves, and a 5 angle valve job. Every sensor, switch, and electrical part on this car is new GM parts right down the cam sensor. I wanted to replace it all while it was out.
Took the trans to a local guy as well. He's done a large number of the 200R4's and I haven't heard any complaints yet. http://www.michaelsautocenter.com/ I found it had a wide 2nd gear band and some extra overdrive clutches. So we went that way with a shift kit and billet servo.
So this past weekend the engine went back in the car with the trans and Jim is hoping to fire it up this week and break it in. I see this weekend the weather is looking good so I know where I'll be all weekend! Behind the wheel of my 86 GN!
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I heard the best comment yet. A friend of mine from Las vegas (who comes out to BPG every year) said he can't stop looking at my engine pics I posted. He said it's better then looking at porn! Now that's the kinda comments I love to hear! 
WARNING ! there will be no warning shots
