Hey all I am new to this site, but not new to hotrodding. Anyway I recently purchased a 1985 GN, not a wanna be, for $2200.00. It has 124000 miles, new radiator, heater core, dual exhaust, windshield, door seals, door hinges and a couple little odds and ends. The paint has typical blemishes and sort of fading but not bad at all (never been wrecked or painted) and one slight ding on the driver fender down low. The interior is good besides the headliner is starting to sag in a couple small places and the driver seat has the usual wear and a couple small splits in the seams, everything else inside is absolutely great shape. It has the digital dash and has never been tampered with (nor any performance mods). My concern is why did the guy sell it so cheap or did I just get a good deal? he was an older gentleman who has owned it for 8 years and is the second owner of it. It does not really matter I guess I just thought they had a better re-sale value. What kind of inexpensive performance mods can I do to this car and just general things to look for? My dad used to have an 84 and I loved that car, but it got stolen several years ago and was never recovered it had the rare(?) leather insert recaro type seats and a moon roof factory. Anyway, sorry to ramble just thought you all might have a word or two to add or help me. Thanks!
Well, i'm sure you will get a lot of help here, but the "first" thing i would do is visit the "spring cleaning" section & "do it"!! Then check out some of the "recipes". Surley some of the "hot-air" guys will help you out also. Although maybe not as easy to "mod" as the 86/87 models you can still make them quite quick. I would also HIGHLY recommend you going to the "Nats" in Bowling Green if you have never been. Hundreds of cars for you to check out! Take care, Jay.
I purchased a 1985 GN with 70,000 miles on it for 5700.00. The guy told me that the turbo was going out on it. I don't know to work on the turbo so I called around to see if I could find someone who did. No luck. So I called Dan Tobin in Columbus,OH. 3100.00 dollars later my car is running great. The turbo was fine, all the vaccume hoses were cut and blocked, parts were missing off the motor, and the electrical was just a mess. The computer sent 14 codes at the start. They fix all of it. I got a bad deal. But it all worked out in the end. Sorry for the rant.
Hey you guys dont have anything to complain about I bought my 85 GN for $4000.00 put $1700 in repairs already and guess where it is right now.Yup in the shop just spent 500 tuning it up put in a map sensor like the mechanic told me went about 15 blocks and she was shaking and backfiring like crazy finally she just died in the middle of the street.Left it at the shop till mon the mechanic said it needs a ignition module went to the parts store and when i tried to put it on it didnt fit .It had only 3 screws the one i need has 4screws .When i returned it and they looked up the one i need they told me it costs about $800 i almost had a heart attack right then and there.So i8 guess illwait till monday to see what the mechanic says.Not to mention i still have to buy the headers for the car(my manifolds are cracked)thats another $1000 plus new seats ,headliner,trunkliner,hoodliner and i havent got to the intercooler yet .This car will wind up costing me about $10,000.00 when its all done but i think itll be worth it.
Not to rain on your parade, but it probably won't be worth it. For $10K you can buy a really nice lower mileage 86/87 and have something still worth $10K. The 84/85s are hovering around $5-7K in volue right now.
If you can do the work yourself, sometimes these types of projects can be a real bargain. For example, you can use the articles on this web site to convert the 84/85 over to the 86/87 ignition module and ECM (which is what you bought at the parts store). That would save you a bunch right there.
You might want to consider pulling the rip cord on this project before you sink that kind of money in it, unless you plan to do a lot of the work yourself.
Just something to think about ...
FWIW, the MAP sensor has nothing to do w/ the way the car runs. It controls the dash boost ga. and nothing else. The "mechanic" is replacing "stuff" hoping to find the real problem??? From what you are saying, I'd find another shop that specializes in TR'S if you can't do your own work.
As for the module... You had the 86/87 module. He was right tho on the 84/85 price...[You can adapt the 86/87 to the 85. Caspers has the kit/harness]
The problem w/ the bucking and backfiring leads me to think the MAF sensor took a dump. If it actually was the MAF he was referring to and had replaced it, then the "new" MAF is defective.. A VERY common problem w/ rebuilts from the corner auto parts store...
A quik check is to start the car, let it idle and then rap the MAF w/ a screw driver handle. If the engine stumbles, then most likely the MAF has "gone south".
I TOTALLY agree w/ the other comments about unloading the 85 for a clean 86/7. Do it and don't look back. Consider it a time and money saving act!!
I paid 3,000 for an 85 abused and with about 80,000 miles on it. The car has underwent a ground up restro. I think it depends on what you want. Anyone can have an intercooled car run the 11's, but having a hot air do it is worth it in my opionon. That's just my two cents. Especially since these cars are getting more rare all the time. The blue book value is just that.
All this talk is making me sick. I just bought a 85 GN with 124K miles for $6000 because I couldn't find an 87 for under $12000 in the area (Washington state). The car is in decent shape with normal wear and tear, but doesn't seem to have the power I would expect out of it. Is this a car worth keeping or should I sell it and get an intercooled version (86/87)? I plan on running it in the 1/4 mile and would like to get it to run high 12's without spending alot of $$$. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
I bought An 84 GN T-top fully loaded with lear siegler seats, dual exhaust ported turbo and a bunch of little performance mds for $2,000. Though i have had to spend about 300 to get it running perfect but now i found out my ignition module was all melted inside i too went to GM and they wanted 800 so im thinking of switching to the 86-87 ignition. The way i see it if you like the car you can pay whatever and it would be a good price
Again I would like to point out it's what you want to put into it. There are more vendors now then when I started that are actually showing support for the hot air and upgrades. I have already ran 12.87 with my hot air and that was with tranny issues. I have money stuck into it but there are engine things that can be done to make your car whatever you want. Upgrading the turbo is one for more power, fuel pump would be first on the list, injectors. I know someone who ran have low 13's with just a turbo upgrade after he had the motor freshened up. It can be done and don't let what others say deter you. Not everyone has to have an intercooled car to run 10's, Lee Thompson proved that, he was running low 11's with a stock block and 64 turbo. Yes he went to a stage two block only cause he wanted it to hold up to his larger turbo and injectors. He sprays alcohol on a combo of 94/114 and ran 10.78.
I'm sure the "hot Air" cars are great cars, but I've decided to sell mine and get an 86 GN.
i just bought a 85 grand nat for $2000,it has 98k miles on it and runs great,all it needed was some body work (fender bender) all i had to get was a bumper it came with a brand new fender,i just need a drivers side header,anyone have one? where can i get a new one?
I picked my first GN up for 3 grand a few weeks ago. It's an 85 with 130K miles on it. The problem is it's in pieces in my garage. Yeah, I was stupid enough to buy a car without hearing it run first. But, it does have quite a few new parts (MAF, powerbooster, alternator, fuel pump, but I'm looking at considerable time and money involved. Ugh.
Here's a question for those who might know...Did Buick ever stamp their con rods and caps with letters? If not, then I have a rebuilt engine. I'm planning on removing the crank to see if it's within tolerance, and if it is, do you think I can get by with a re-ring kit with a new oil pump added and water pump? Or should I totally disassemble the engine and mic out the cam and heads?
I bought an 84 t-type with 102k miles, slipping/leaking tranny, absolutlely terrible running motor, shot body for 1200 bucks. not a great buy, but oh well i love these cars.