ideas ideas.......
 

this just struck me about 20 min ago. this summer i was going to buy this grand national that my one friend found for me. the guy had a rebuild on the engine, says that the turbo is good. the only problems was rusted out rocker panels and rust all over the bottom of the car. so i decided not to get it. he was asking 3,000 for it. it's a 84 i believe. i just had the idea of doin an engine swap or using the turbo from it. ohh boy, if only money weren't an option. it's still sitting on his driveway soo.... maybe this summer if i can get up the money for it i'll make him an offer on his turbo or maybe even the whole engine. wouldn't that be awsome? muhahah :twisted:

There was one version of the G/N engine that was FWD so yes you could do it. Just get that tranny and that engine and put them together.

Ya, I'd try it out. That would be really cool to have some GN power.

If it's no a FWD, it'll be way too much work to convert to your car. Big differences.

There was a Grand National engine that was FWD Will. I forgot the tranny code and what car they put it in but I know they exsist.

Yeeesssiiiirreee...... That is the GN engine in FWD mode. Go and make all your dreams come true. Or wait for ADTR to do it for you. :wink:

the car was rear wheel drive. o well. maybe i can use the turbo from it? :lol:

There was a post not long ago that had a link to the "before black" GN website. It has a lot of good information on the HP ratings and the various years/drive trains. According to that source, there were no FWD GN's, but rather there was a LaSabre that was all black and carried the Buick 6 logo--which is the orange/red 6 with an arrow integrated. This is the same logo--less the "Grand National" words that the GN used...but it is neither turbo, nor is it a GN. I believe it was a 1987 or 1988 model. It was very sharp and did have the 3.8 Buick FWD.

As for the GN's, The years of production were '82, '84-87, and all were RWD. They also made Buick Regal T-Type's, some of which were Turbo 3.8's. Others were 4.1 NA and 3.8 NA. As for the HP, only the 1985-1987 GN's had more HP than our Series II NA engines. The early Turbo 3.8 were producing around 170 HP. Of all the GN's, the 1987 was by far the quickest, having an intercooler.

I believe that your motor mounts would be the most dificult physical barrier, along with finding a bellhousing for the tranny. But then you will get into PCM problems as well.

Even if the '84 GN is rusty and not as fast as an '85-87 GN, it is still a collectors car and can most likely be restored. This was before they were painted black, and are generally not recognized as collector cars by the uneducated...yet. This happened to the GTO in the '80's, you could pick them up cheap. Now you can't touch one in rough shape for under 5 Grand. If you get the money, pick it up. Even if you can't do anything with it now, it will be worth your investment in the long run.

Good luck in your decision.

Tim

P.S. I am not an expert on the subject, I am only telling what I remember from past drooling and from reading the guy's website. I believe he is knowledgeable but I have not done the research myself, and I welcome any proof to the contrary to what I have posted above. NO FLAMES PLEASE!

As stated above NO GN came with a turbo 3.8 in FWD, BUT there was a turbo riveria with a SIMILAR engine that WAS FWD :)

Personally it wouldn't be worth the time, the motor is a dog, a total dog...

The only turbo engine worth getting is the 86-87 GN motor, or the 89 TTA motor which I have :)

Good luck :)