Turbo Buick FAQ and myths

[Hypsi87]

I figured that I would post this up because of the swarms of PM's I get from people wondering exactly what a turbo Buick is. The myth part of the thread is because I have also recivied alot of PM's from people who are confused as to the differences between the many variations of turbo Buicks, so here I go.


1. When did Buick turbocharge the 231 cid engine.

Buick First turbocharged the 231 engine in 1978. It was a carburated and non-intercooled. The engine made something like 150 HP.

2. When was the first Regal Grand National made?

The first Grand National was made in 1982. They were the carburated NA v-6, not too many made. Then they stoped making it for a year then came back with an all black 1984 GN They were SFI fuel injected, turbocharged, non-intercooled engine that produced 200 advertised HP.

3. When did they intercool in Turbo Buicks?

The 1986 model year turbo Buick was the first turbo car to be intercooled.

4. What cars recived the turbocharged 231cid?

Buick regals mainly recived the turbo engine. everything from the base model regal to the rare GNX.

5. What is the GNX and how many of them were produced?

The GNX was the GN to end all GN's When Buick found out that 1987 was going to be the last production year for most of the G-bodies, Buick sent 547 GN's to AMC Mclaren for the updates to make it the GNX.

6. What is the difference between a GNX and a GN?

The biggest difference is in the suspension. Other difference were as follows. Different turbo with a ceramic turbine for faster spool up, Analoge gauges packs in the dash, different EPROM in the pcm (chip), front functional fender louvers, fender flares. Also the GN badges were replaced with GNX badges and the cars number was placed on the passenger side dash borad.

7. Did a Grand National come in other colors besides black?

Nope, all GN's were black, if you wanted a different color turbo Buick, you had to get the T-type (In 1987 the name T-type was dropped for Turbo-T)

8. what are the differences between a T-type and a Grand National?

Except for color and the Grand National apperence package, Absolutly nothing!

Turbo Buick Myths.

1. they made a limited production run of Grand Nationals that were 455 Twin turbo v-8's

Wrong, there was never an eight cylinder in a Grand National from the factory.

2. The T-type is 60 horse less than the GN.

Wrong, the T-types are accually a little faster than the Grand Natonal because the T-types were accually a little lighter. Most T-types did not have the options a Grand National did.

3. The T-type is a NA v-6, the GN was a single tubo v-6 and the GNX was a twin turbo v-6/8.

Wrong, they were all the LC2 109 casting number 231 cid V-6 engine block.

4. They made a limited 500 production models with a stick shift transmission.

Wrong, ALL turbo Buicks are automatics, usually it is a 200-r4 with a BRF yellow tag on the tailshaft of the transmission.

5. The Turbo 3.8 is a twin turbo engine.

No, they all were single turbo and the only years they were intercooled was 1986-87.

and last but not least, IT'S NOT A MONTIE!!!!!!!!!

[Hypsi87]

Ok I corrected some errors that were brought to my attention. Thanks gn1220 for pointing them out. Sorry for the errors, it was just a spur of the moment thing that I did off the top of my head because I hade 41 PM's asking different questions about the turbo buicks. I will try to be as accurate as possible from now on.

Once again thanks gn1220 for pointing them out.

Andy
Hypsi87