Correction. Corvette had Batch fire injection (full bank injection at once) from 1985 until 1993. they Adopted in 1994 sfi as standard. Buick was technologically way ahead.
I just love the age old adage of… “You can order a Buick Grand National in ANY color you’d like… just so long as it is BLACK!!!”. Gotta be one of, if not thee best, sales line of all-time!!! That and telling a potential buyer, “Yes, I know it’s a V-6, but just so you know, this lil’ thing is no slouch… it eats Corvettes for breakfast and shits them out before lunch!!!”. Man, theBuick Grand National and the Grand National GNX are two of the most iconic cars of my lifetime. I’m 45 years old, by the way.
I remember in 1984 one of Popular Mechanics issues that year had as it's top story a runoff between the Buick Grand National (a name the Corvette would later use for it's top line models) and the newly redesigned Corvette. If I remember correctly, except for a few of the road course times, the Grand National either bested or equaled the 'Vette in almost every category, yet it still got no love, the automobile press just didn't like this new smaller V6 engine, but they would come to praise it in due time.
Good old GM. Can't have Buick outperforming the Corvette; advertise it with less hp and torque than the 'Vette so not to upset the pensioners who want to feel like they have the fastest car ever made. When Hot Rod dynoed both cars, the 'Vette was getting 160hp at the wheels and the Buick was getting over 210, meaning the Net HP was somewhere in the 275 neighborhood, which was easily boosted to the 400hp range with a couple of bolt-on mods.
Drat! Now I'm lusting after a Buick Grand National. Do a nice restomod sort of rebuild on it. 400 HP from the engine. 6-speed manual transmission. Modern suspension system.
While that sounds like a helluva plan, to be cost effective, you’re best option would likely be to find you a basic, run-of-the-mill Regal and clone you a Grand National. 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
Worship the 86 87 all you want they had Put more stuff on them and only gained a whopping 35hp in 86. And 45hp 75hp in 87 ooooh. just slightly adjusting a wastegate arm and air cleaner could give you that on a 84- 85. I had a 86 setup and still cost thousands to make it fast. Now you have 4cyl cars now with over 300 hp factory eating them alive.
Randy C my 2012 regal GS weighs over 4,000 pounds. 2.0 liter 22 pounds of boost from borg Warner turbo. 292 hp 165 top speed. Brembos to bring it all to a halt. All parts and numbers is how it rolls straight out the factory. 19 mpg
Watching this series for like the 5th time lol every couple months it pops up and love it each time!
Thank you!
May the 3800 long live what a great engine this was for GM
Correction. Corvette had Batch fire injection (full bank injection at once) from 1985 until 1993. they Adopted in 1994 sfi as standard. Buick was technologically way ahead.
I just love the age old adage of… “You can order a Buick Grand National in ANY color you’d like… just so long as it is BLACK!!!”. Gotta be one of, if not thee best, sales line of all-time!!! That and telling a potential buyer, “Yes, I know it’s a V-6, but just so you know, this lil’ thing is no slouch… it eats Corvettes for breakfast and shits them out before lunch!!!”. Man, theBuick Grand National and the Grand National GNX are two of the most iconic cars of my lifetime. I’m 45 years old, by the way.
I remember in 1984 one of Popular Mechanics issues that year had as it's top story a runoff between the Buick Grand National (a name the Corvette would later use for it's top line models) and the newly redesigned Corvette. If I remember correctly, except for a few of the road course times, the Grand National either bested or equaled the 'Vette in almost every category, yet it still got no love, the automobile press just didn't like this new smaller V6 engine, but they would come to praise it in due time.
Good old GM. Can't have Buick outperforming the Corvette; advertise it with less hp and torque than the 'Vette so not to upset the pensioners who want to feel like they have the fastest car ever made. When Hot Rod dynoed both cars, the 'Vette was getting 160hp at the wheels and the Buick was getting over 210, meaning the Net HP was somewhere in the 275 neighborhood, which was easily boosted to the 400hp range with a couple of bolt-on mods.
Awesome. I know all the upgrades and horsepower to come but still can't wait for part 3 👍 TK you for these.
A lot of people don't give Buick the credit that it deserve especially being ahead-of-its-time in the 80s before a lot of other brands..
Another great video. Looking forward to the next one and getting some commentary on the legendary GNX
Cant wait for part 3!
Part 3... I feel 3 letters that spell out "GNX" are coming
Drat! Now I'm lusting after a Buick Grand National. Do a nice restomod sort of rebuild on it. 400 HP from the engine. 6-speed manual transmission. Modern suspension system.
While that sounds like a helluva plan, to be cost effective, you’re best option would likely be to find you a basic, run-of-the-mill Regal and clone you a Grand National. 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
Coming up..... Intercooled 😎
They were neat/nice cars.
This channel will blow up I've been saying this for months but it's coming
3.8 supercharger V6 231
Reminds me of how yhe twin turbo v6 in the c4 blackwing peeforms better and has more hp than the lt1 v8 in the camaro. More
Worship the 86 87 all you want they had Put more stuff on them and only gained a whopping 35hp in 86. And 45hp 75hp in 87 ooooh. just slightly adjusting a wastegate arm and air cleaner could give you that on a 84- 85. I had a 86 setup and still cost thousands to make it fast. Now you have 4cyl cars now with over 300 hp factory eating them alive.
Randy C my 2012 regal GS weighs over 4,000 pounds. 2.0 liter 22 pounds of boost from borg Warner turbo. 292 hp 165 top speed. Brembos to bring it all to a halt. All parts and numbers is how it rolls straight out the factory. 19 mpg
205 HP? How sad. Cars have come a long way. I had a 1986 Trans Am. At the time I thought it was a fast car. But by today’s standards it was a dog.
I have a 1985 grand-national v8 edelbrock 350 rocket 1,954 horse power positive rear end 400 turbo transmission😏True Power
You are funny
toyota is GARBAGE
toyota is TRASH