b4black '82 GN project take 2

b4black

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 24, 2001
I had a thread call b4black '82 GN project. It's so old that the picture are all lost, so I'm starting it over.

Soon after I bought my '82 GN back in 1990, I had an opportunity to buy another. I drove this second GN for just a few years, then the transmission went out and it sat - for a long time. I started to restore it a couple times, but both times stalled. Third time is charm, and I am finally making good progress.


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That's it in the background. It's an '82 GN, but it's been repainted and is missing the two tined paint job.

Somewhere along the way, I had the trans rebuilt. It's the original 350C. Now it has a performance build with a 10" 2800 stall torque converter. I pulled the motor that was in it. I installed a 4.1, then pulled that back out and put in my first GN when it blew a head gasket on the NA motor that was in it. I stated to collect parts to rebuild the motor it came with (not the original engine), when I decided to take a short cut. I bought a running long block from a friend. His car ran 10's - it's an 85 block with good internal and champion aluminum heads. I installed it, and started mocking up all the parts to see if everything fits.

First step was trying out a champion ac delete bracket from an IC motor. That moved the alternator to the other side, mounts the power steering pump and clears the HEI distributor. A good start.

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Next up was a set up GN1 headers and a borrowed turbo. Then a Weiand intake and nice new holley carb set up for blow thru and E85.

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looking like this will work. More to come.....
 
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Next came the downpipe. I had bought a Terry Houston style DP a long time ago at a swap meet for $50. Now it was finally time to put it use. But it didn't fit! :mad: I borrowed some other DPs and they would fit either. Even if I tried using the stock IC header and turbo, nothing would fit.

So I loaded up the car and took it to the Turbo Farm. There a local welder was able to cut and paste a downpipe together.
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Next came the downpipe. I had bought a Terry Houston style DP a long time ago at a swap meet for $50. Now it was finally time to put it use. But it didn't fit! :mad: I borrowed some other DPs and they would fit either. Even if I tried using the stock IC header and turbo, nothing would fit.

So I loaded up the car and took it to the Turbo Farm. There a local welder was able to cut and paste a downpipe together.View attachment 390313View attachment 390314View attachment 390315
That looks like great work!
 
Intercooler next. I believe this was made by Eastern Performance. It already had a bracket made to mount to the core support. Then a test fit with a header panel. The turbo to IC pipe it came with was fine, but a new IC to carb pipe would need to be fabricated.
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Get to the good part. The best part! The fuel pump header assembly.
 
Here are some pictures of everything mocked up. The turbo inlet with the red coupler is just a place holder for now. It's tigght, but everythihg fits. The carb and it's hat do sit up high. I didn't think they would clear the hood, but after trimming the inner support, the hat fits nicely under the hood bulge.

Fuel system next (the good part).

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Start of the fuel system. I replaced the tank a few years back and used the baffled tank from an SFI car (Spectra BM307C). I'm going with a in-tank pump (Walbro 450). With Steve D's (BEATAV8) help, I place a big order with Racetronix for fittings, hoses and filter. Stating with a stock sending unit, it was cut and rebuilt for the Walbro. About the only thing left is the top plate and the actual fuel gauge sending unit/float, which was welded to a stainless steel rod. AN fittings and the rest is from Racetronix. Just need to replace the rubber hose with submersible grade, add a fuel sock and then install.

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