I saw this unit on Craig's List today. This car could potentially be a steal. http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1739974602.html
If there isnt any BS involved, it would be the deal of the year for somebody. Too far away for me otherwise Id be all over that.
I was thinking the same thing, and would have been there in a second and then the misses would find it in the drive way.
I don't know... those don't appear to be the factory rims... might have to knock down the price a little.. o No:
The title and drive train appear to be the only items of value on this one(if the engine hasn't been messed with...). From the sound of it, it is an almost complete restoration with all of the rust the cat mentions in the add. Looks like they also may have butchered the dash getting all of the gauges and accesories in there, which makes you wonder what has been done to the engine... Too bad the seller doesn't have a clue about what they are selling. Apparently trying to ride the "Fast and Furious" GN hype. May be a good introductory TR for someone. However, the "scarce" hood and nbice 87 grille may be game changers.
The factory tach. in these cars was almost useless, so the tach. is pretty much standard upgrade. There were no gauges in the analog dash other than gas so gauges are a must too. Somebody looking for a project might get a decent buy if they are careful. The rust is a BIG problem with these cars. Lot's of aftermarket stuff available, probably more so than other Buicks. Guys that have these turbo. cars are almost a cult. They ride and drive very nice. Nice car to have if it is decent. Peace, Mike D.
Yeah,at first blush the price looks real good but considering what is costs to do one of these things anymore it might not be so good. Work is still work even if it is free. I have a friend that buys the junk kind of stuff and I just shake my head everytime I go help him pick up another one. Maybe this one is OK though,they are nice cars. Hope so. Peace, Mike D.
Gns appear to be selling for between 15 and 23k these days. I am even very surprised at what parts are selling for. The rear ends are selling for 1000 to 1500. The trans is worth 1000. The engine and computer would have to bring 2500. Then there is all the emblems, spoilers and interior components. I would think an enterprising person in the turbo Buick scene could make money on just parting it out.
There is nothing extremely special in the 3.8L turbo motors, other than the pistons, and maybe the crank. But I have heard of people running well into the 11s and even high 10s with the NA 3.8L crank. The stock turbo pistons, crank, and head gaskets were turbo specific, but if the motor was rebuilt, forged pistons are a must. But the block, rods, heads(with slightly stiffer valve springs) were all just the standard 3.8L NA stuff...dime a dozen in the salvage yards...
The blocks are different too if I recall correctly. I had both 3.8 turbo blocks and 4.1 n/a blocks. There was a significant difference in the lifter valley. The turbo 3.8 blocks were much beefier and were filled in while the 4.1 blocks were all ragged and nasty like the 455 blocks. The heads were different too. But not just for the turbo motors. The 84 and later heads had an upgrade on the water ports on the deck surface next to the end cylinders. These late heads had and extra reinforcement bridging the ports which made the head stronger in that area and more resistant to head gasket failures. The turbo cranks have reverse rolled radiused rod journals. This process imparts additional strength on the even fire offset journal cranks. Most turbo guys back in the day were very particular about having their cranks cut at all. With a standard odd fire crank you would cut it like a v-8 with as generous of a radius as possible. But the turbo cranks you need to leave that radius undisturbed because once you cut out that pressure rolled radius, you destroy the strength that the process imparts.
The 86/7 3.8L blocks had the better looking lifter valley in them. The 85 and earlier 3.8L and 84 and earlier 4.1L blocks had the rough casting hole lifter valleys. Other than a slight difference in the deck height from the 85 and earlier blocks to the 86/7 blocks, there really is no difference. The 85 and earlier blocks used a steel shim head gasket and had a taller deck height. The 86/7 blocks used a graphite composition head gasket and the deck height was slightly shorter. The 8445 casting number heads were the same whether they were put on a turbo motor or a NA motor, the ONLY difference being slightly stiffer valve springs for the turbo motor. I'm only talking about the 84-up heads. The earlier heads are as you described. The turbo cranks are like you described as well. ALL the 4.1L motors got the "turbo" rolled fillet cranks as well. Another place to look for the "good" turbo cranks are the service replacement 3.8L motors that were GM warranty replacement motors. As long as they are untouched(not rebuilt), they will also have the rolled fillet cranks in them. You can grind the cranks undersize .010 without any problem and many times can go .020 under "as long as the rolled fillet is not cut in to". The pressure rolled fillet is what gives the crank it's strength, so cutting .010 under isn't a problem. Just sharing info and not arguing or anything like that... :beer
