Buick Regal Grand National purchase

Thank you Bobby. Its here as of last night.

I only had a minute to inventory it so that did not pan out, but I will soon. I drove it about two miles & I will say its boosting way too much ~ and its sideways at any speed as they say in the GN world.

More soon!
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I think I recall that when watching "Black Air" the documentary about the GN. There were three 1st renderings of the then project. A red one, a two tone one, and a all black one. Obviously we all know how that panned out.

I luv design & have a lot of respect for those who do it right. We have a automotive designer on this forum who brought us quite a few stunning shapes (the AudiTT was/is his). He hangs out at the Porsche subforum.

 

Well... Them there are fighting words where I come from.

Why dont you keep thinking that - then in five years or so check the market again. You may understand the interest by then.

On another note. I have gotten a inventory together (small bits I want changed or cleaned up) yet still have not driven it (lots of snow & salt now). But video clips of me laying blocks of rubber down is inevitable. Stay posted.

 

Thank you sir. Welcome back into the club you mean (great pix btw)

So here is the deal... I have plenty of cars that peeps may think are more "collectible" or perhaps interest them more... But let me say that when I pull up to a gas station in my Stradale, or 930, or Vintage tangereene short wheels base Porsche, or my RS striped up early 911 etc... No one will dare acknowledge that I am even there (which many times suits me fine !). But with the Grand National - 90% of the stops you make become rap sessions. Everyone is your pal & each one of them has a GNX story (like I said most people think they are ALL GNX Buicks). And I too have a ton of stories that I like to tell.

These cars are ingrained into society as an epic modern muscle car. And most everyone has a sweet spot for them in their memory. This was/is the Hellcat of its day. Fondly remembered by the up & comers who will want to experience that memory - over & over again.

This car is a win.

Buy rubber futures my friends ~ cause as soon as the salt is gone I am about to put a run on the tire market.

 

Videos are coming... I had mentioned that it was making a lot of boost (really a lot) and found that the wastegate valve was not acting correctly, so I will tend to that 1st before burning anymore rubber.

In the meantime I have found that its pretty darn solid. No squeaks or rattles. Goes down the road just like I remember. Gets the looks too (silly people, its just a Buick right?). The exhaust hearkens back to the eighties for me. The fat steering wheel, the hood bulge and black out treatment... Even the floor shift automatic.

This is a fun ride.

 

Oh i found the issue. Actually the puck & sleeve are stuck within this cars downpipe. The wastegate rod attaches to a small arm that is supposed to swing with the wastegate action. But the valve (puck) wont move. It remains closed. This will really bring up the boost! Its a common Turbo Buick issue ~ I have found out.

The car has an A-pillar boost gauge for additional boost confirmation. It is what alerted me to the spike as the factory digital gauge stops at 15-16lbs.

This is no biggie. It is nearly funny how cheap parts are from my perspective (Ferrari/Porsche world). And you can nearly fix anything on this car with hand tools.

Takes me back to my youth.

 

Here is my culprit. The frozen wastegate puck.

I am going to press it out and replace with a better unit. The new ones are a little larger & have better sealing ability ~ allowing for a better boost punch.

I am headed for the 24 hours of Daytona so the fix will have to wait for another day!
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Hey I appreciate that.

This is a little different though my man. No seals, its just like a cylinder head with a valve stem, driven through a "valve" guide. Metal to metal, with corrosion in this case. The puck you see is pivoted towards a valve seat (if I may) and held by the actuator rod (no spring to select). Then of course it will only release off of that seat once the wastegate actuator pushes it off to do so. The actuator is working well, and I have it set (adjustable rod) for the boost pressure action that I am looking to achieve. (The original actuator was non-adjustable). But I have to replace that puck 1st of course. That requires pressing out the pivot through the stuck guide - then sliding in a new guide & pivot.

My 930 has the spring choices for the wastegate (external gate) like you mention but this Buick is set up a little differently. Just what you would expect from a domestic!

 

Yeah mine did that.

One time it let go under big throttle with me on the nitrous. That led to a big 'ol upward dent smack dab in the middle of the hood. I pulled all the nitrous stuff off - clamped on the stock pipe and drove to the dealer. They said "yeah we see this now & then" and replaced my hood.

I got better clamps after that

 

Oh & here is an update on mine...

I found the replacement wastegate puck available through a few vendors. I ordered it up before the Daytona 24 but when I asked that vendor if it had shipped yet (once I returned) the answer was no. So I am getting it from another vendor.

Anyhow I drove it today to my workshop & unbolted the down pipe to find that the last bubba style wrench who worked on it thought that welding the exit of the downpipe to the converter was a good idea (plus the clamp). So tomorrow I am cutting the welds & removing said clamp so I can pull the pipe off & then press out the faulty puck & guide.

I also did a number of other things ~ and have plenty more to come.