In our second episode of The Downside we talk to Max about his 1987 Buick Grand National and take a look at some of the problems with it. Enjoy! "The Lounge" from bensound.com
I'm the original owner of an 87 GN. My power master system was replaced 4X, 2X under warranty and I've recently noticed the price has doubled. My tranny was rebuilt 3X under warranty and 2X on me with the last time I had the shit replaced all together. I've never power braked my car or dogged it in any way. I currently have approximately 165K with 2/3rds being highway miles and still going strong so far. My factory moonroof leaks but it will never see rain again if I can help it. With all that being said I love the car and will probably be buried in it.
the actuator ball on the power master has fluid which is to be changed just like an oil change but no one knew that so after a while the fluid will come up from being dirty in the powermaster will fail
The one and only downside to my 87 was second gear in the transmission only lasted about 20,000 miles so I had it rebuilt once under warrantee and a dozen times on my own. Yes I drove that many hard floor it from every light miles.
I love my grand national. But all of my 80's cars have so much wind noise when driving. And the seat always feels like it should adjust backwards a couple more notches.
A friend of mine had one. He had to have the engine rebuilt several times because apparently the boost was so high to get the power it was rated at, that it severely reduced the life of the engine. He finally sold it because he was tired of rebuilding it.
If the boost is high you either have to run alcohol/ methonal, e85, or racing fuel. E85 enter fuel system has to be adjusted. Race fuel available and cost. Alcohol you get more bang for your buck you have the initial cost of a alcohol pump system and cost of methonal alcohol. You can use rubbing alcohol. If not at high bost engine will be destroyed. Or you can just turn the boost down.
I had 200,000 miles on mine without an engine rebuild and I went to the dragstrip all the time. On the other hand I had multiple transmission rebuilds due to second gear wearing out.
