Freshening up my 87 National

[LI6pack]

Hey everyone, its been a while since i played with my GN, mostly washing, cruising. Very slow cruising at that too. anyway, i'm looking to freshen her up a little. i have an old applied technologies chip, over 10 years old since i upgraded. couple of questions if i may.

My GN an 1987, original owner has only 26k, and the best time i ever ran, holy, 20 years ago, was 12.98 @ 101mph. basically stock. fuel press regulator, plenum spacer, chip, no CAT exhaust is really all i ever did besides running CAM2 at the track. I have some other cosmetic and suspension mods but all bolt ons.

whats the latest :

* Chip
* Spark plugs and wires
* any other must have tune up stuff.
* motor oil? I've been running Castro 20/50

 

[Red C5]

Sounds like a very nice car. How long has it been sitting?

 

[Dabigguy]

I guess the first question is, what are your goals for your car? Do you just want a cruiser, street/strip....how fast do ya wanna go and also, how much money do you want to spend?

Chip: TurboTweak is what I prefer.

Plugs: AD/Delco R43TS I gap mine around.030

Wires: http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/general-turbo-buick-tech/342208-its-just-plug-wires.html
1987 - GRAND NATIONAL - REGAL - V6 - BUICK - Spark Plug Wire Sets - SummitRacing.com

Spring Cleaning: The Grand National / T-Type / Turbo Regal Buick Spring Cleaning Guide

Oil: Depending on where you live, 10w-30, 10w-40 is all you should need, unless you live in a VERY warm climate.

Also, check out this website. It will answer most of your questions, and stimulate your mind to ask many more !!!! Vortex Buicks

 

[LI6pack]

I use it when its nice out, winter has been rough though here in NY so she sat 2 months but i sart her regularly.

 

[LI6pack]

thanks for that i appreciate the info. whats your car?

 

[LI6pack]

hey sorry just read the entire note back. Pretty much want to keep her street with a possibility of heading to the track with my boys to show them how its done, that is if i can remember. Money is not a real object here since I'm not that interested in 10 sec anymore. Maybe 11's though,haha. Over the last year if i punch her, i get like a backfire under the hood. sounds terrible. So i figured i need a top own tune. thoughts?

 

[Dabigguy]

I've got an '87 GN, 42# injectors, 62mm turbo, Cotton's front mount cooler and I am hoping to run some 11.50's on 23-24# of boost once I install my injectors and alky kit.

Since your car is mostly stock I wouldn't try as much boost....15-17# of boost, depending on octane. If you don't already have a scan tool, BUY ONE !!! Scanmaster, PowerLogger or DirectScan should be high on your list so you can see what is going on with your engine.

 

[LI6pack]

Thanks, the boost, believe it or not is still set stock as far as i know. I have installed a GNX type ask board that Kirban was offering so i do see the boost gauge. I used to beable to punch it an not worry, thats my goal now

 

[LI6pack]

That a pretty quick car. are you the original owner?

 

[LI6pack]

BTW, all tune up parts are order, including the wires from Summit, thanks for that.

 

[Dabigguy]

Nah, I bought the car a few years with 180k miles, but the engine and trans. had been rebuilt.

It may be a good idea to find someone close to you that has a scan tool that can help you find the problem. The backfire is an indication of a lean condition and lean conditions blow up these motors !!!

 

[challengermike]

or the battery cable hitting the pass side exhaust manifold when the engine torques up.