ok, well first of all let me say I finally got my Grand National. And I'm reading up and saving $$ to get it right-- anyway in 1990 I was working in Omaha. Bought a brand new 90 IROC, B2L (350tpi), 4 wheel disc car, 3.42. I lived in Kansas City at the time, and use to drive up I-29 to work every sunday. One sunday as I was driving back (cruise set 75) a gentleman in a GN (license plate BANZAI, think virginia tags) pulled up next to me, pulled ahead, braked etc. So I said fine, dropped the camaro into 3rd and stood on it. I will have to say I pulled ahead at first, up to about 135. The GN pulled up even, and I floored it- ran out at about 150 (at that speed the white lines go by very quickly, steering very touchy). I backed off (terrified), 75 felt like I was crawling. Does anybody know what became of this banzai GN? This is the level of performance I expect from my 87, who can help me sort it out?
A GN typically is struggling when it gets to 150 mph with the stock set up. The "fun and wonder" of a GN is not the 150 mark, it's how fast it gets to her top speed. If I am not mistaken, and i'm sure Ken M. will correct me, the speed is governed on the GN at 115-120 mph ? What year is your car? What's the condition? If you have not been arround these cars to often, you are in for a real treat. That car is a super-sleeper. If you paid me a dime for every time someone says- "hey, nice monte carlo", or "what is that?" I would be buying the presidency. Everything you need is here on this site, and everyone is more than happy to help with whatever you need. Enjoy your car, and take care of her. She's going to open a whole lotta' eyes in town. One more thing, when someone asks you what it is, tell them it's a Monte Carlo or something of that nature, not many people want to steal Monte Carlos'
The speed limiter is dependent on the chip. Most aftermarket chips raise that limit to something ridiculous like 255 MPH. The stock chip was limited by the speed rating of the stock Eagle GTs.... gotta keep the product liability lawyers happy!
7ltretr, my car is an 87. The car (body and interior) is VGC-EC, the engine is mostly original (the factory intercooler shroud, etc is still there). The car runs and idles well, I am currently sorting out a cooling problem and a "surge" condition (more like on-off-on) at WOT. But it still seems to have a lot of "punch" on highway on-ramps (yeah this car is going to be fun). I just want to get to where it goes sideways when I stand on it--
A good idea if it is not too cold where you are: The water pump circulates coolant through the throttle body, disconnect the line on the passenger side (next to fuel rail) from the hard line to the throttle body. Then disconnect it from the hard line. Cut the line to approx. 4" and loop it back to the hard line so the flow goes right back to the core. This will moderately reduce TB temperature. Also get a 160 degree thermostat, you will have to order that. Clean out your coolant reservoir, sometimes crap gets "coked" up and it will circulate through the radiator. I would definitely start with just replacing factory parts with new ones: O2,PCV,plugs,wires, fuses. Just to be on the safe side, ENJOY THAT BEAUTIFUL CAR!