Convert my 85' Grand National motor to an 86'-87'

[James velez]

I am currently having my 1985 GN motor rebuilt from the ground up. I was entertaining the idea of updating it to an 86'-87' motor because of the better setup. (ie. Turbo placement, intercooler) Although involved, obviously now would be the best time to do this. What parts do I need exactly? So far I'm aware that the exhaust manifold, ecu, wiring harness, and intake manifold are different. What else? And can I use the stock 85' turbo in the new location?

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

the 86-87 have a turbo drain hole in the front of the block just above where the timing cover sits.
some guys have drilled the block (84-85) and others just run the return line to the oil pan.

 

[BobbyBuick]

Here is a start
All front engine accessory brackets with pulleys and belt tensioner
Complete intake with all sensors
87 ignition module, coil, and all wiring for it
87 hard metal heater lines on top of intake
87 throttle body
87 throttle cable
87 MAF with air intake tube and air box
87 detent cable
Downpipe
87 catalytic converter
Drivers side oil fill neck
Passenger side header
Passenger side valve cover with vent tube
87 transmission dipstick and tube
87 heater core
87 alternator, ac compressor, ps pump with remote reservoir
A/C lines
87 radiator hold down
87 radiator?
Oil cooler lines
Main engine wiring harness
87 fuel lines
Intercooler with all brackets
Intercooler fan
Intercooler piping
Intercooler scoop
87 air dams and deflector
Turbo
Turbo brackets and heat shield
Turbo oil feed and return lines
Electric fans
ECM Prom
All hardware including any nuts, bolts, or fasteners needed​

 

[James velez]

@Bobbybuick So basically your telling me to keep my 85' setup like most of my friends and more importantly, my bank account balance! Lol! Thanks for the parts list though. I had an inkling it was a bit more involved then some made it out to be. Sure the block is the same but every damn thing else off of that is completely setup differently. Even though I am having the engine rebuilt I have way too many good components of the 85' motor to just completely abandone the idea of preserving it's early 84'-85' GN pedigree. Maybe someday I can scoop up a good late production GN motor and do the swap, or just buy a whole 86'-87' car. Right now I think I'll continue preserving the 85'. Only 2000 or so made, they are pretty rare. Thanks!

 

[BobbyBuick]

Block is Differant unless it was built 4 QTR of 85 it "could " be a 109

 

[BobbyBuick]

Ive done 2 of them really not that hard .You would be best to find a removed engine, transmission ,with wiring harness , IC and radiator for a couple grand and just swap it or find a donor car and sell off the other parts to refund some if not all of the Cash

 

[James velez]

You don't say"....... Didn't know that. I'm not sure when in 85' it rolled off the line. All the more reason to keep what I got. The block that's being built isn't original to the car anyway. The original was roached. Block I'm using is bored 40 over. Bigger pistons, better camshaft. Couldn't tell you specifics too much, that would be my motor guys job! I'm learning though!

 

[James velez]

That's probably what I'll do someday. Already too far into motor rebuild to abandon and buy the newer motor. If I had a little more cabbage to play with I would do exactly what your suggesting, would be relatively easy to recoup the cost of the project by parting out a donor or my originals.

 

[Jerryl]

@Bobbybuick So basically your telling me to keep my 85' setup like most of my friends and more importantly, my bank account balance! Lol! Thanks for the parts list though. I had an inkling it was a bit more involved then some made it out to be. Sure the block is the same but every damn thing else off of that is completely setup differently. Even though I am having the engine rebuilt I have way too many good components of the 85' motor to just completely abandone the idea of preserving it's early 84'-85' GN pedigree. Maybe someday I can scoop up a good late production GN motor and do the swap, or just buy a whole 86'-87' car. Right now I think I'll continue preserving the 85'. Only 2000 or so made, they are pretty rare. Thanks!

What your HP/Performance goal?

 

[Squid4life]

There are a few hot air cars in low 11's and ever dipping into the 10's, so it is possible to run fast as HA, faster than a lot of IC'ed guys. I did the conversion way back when HA parts were not there. Now there are upgraded turbos, alky, ported intakes, etc. If I were to do it again, I'd max out the HA setup and not convert. If I wanted an IC car, I would try to pick up another later on the side or something.

Let's put it this way, I converted, but now want a hot air to play with because I didn't build it up as much as I could have and experimented with... Run what you got until you get to 11's or 10's, if that is your goal, then think about upgrading or buying another car. My thoughts...

 

[Turbo-Archie]

If your not going to convert to the newer intake, you need to at least re-work your '85 intake.


..

 

[charlief1]

This is your car first. What you need to look at is whether you want a completely original colector car that might go up in value because of the low number of production or do you want something that you can drive for fun. The 84-85 cars are worth less because of the lack of percieved performance just like the 83 and earlier cars. If you want to take the time to learn about the car and it's potential then stick with what you've got in it. If you just want a fast car and you don't have that much in it then convert it. There are more options for the HA cars now to increase performance thean there ever has been before, but they're not as inexpensive as the IC cars.

 

[RIFF RAFF]

CHARLIE ..next thing ya know you'll be hooked on alky ..and giving blood for drag radials .. selling out on old school ?

 

[charlief1]

CHARLIE ..next thing ya know you'll be hooked on alky ..and giving blood for drag radials .. selling out on old school ?

No, pointing out the differences Paul. It's very possible that the 82 GN may actually end up with a Series II engine in it that will be completely different. How about a carbed draw through system on a Series II engine with a distributor?

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

CHARLIE ..next thing ya know you'll be hooked on alky ..and giving blood for drag radials .. selling out on old school ?

Do you have an address?
how many times a day can i "give"?
can i get other parts or just drag radials?