New GN owner already DISGUSTED !

Cres171 · 05-09-2007, 02:01 PM

Hi all, I sold my perfect Harley Davidson in order to purchase my GN in December. The car appeared to be in super condition and had some nice mods to it. After only putting 150 miles on it I blew a head gasket. (No I didnt beat on it) Now the damage just keeps stacking up. At first it was the cam and lifters, then got a call saying main bearings and rod bearings were also damaged. Now today after the test drive they found car was not getting any boost. Turbo needs to be replaced or rebuilt..still deciding. What else can a blown $75.00 gasket destroy?? I love the car but I am forking out alot more $$$ than I had planned. Am I alone here ?

turbojd · 05-09-2007, 02:11 PM

Sorry to hear that about the GN, sounds like you had lots of detonation with all that damage.You should buy a scan tool such as scanmaster to monitor whats going on with the engine, and monitor any engine knock.

Just a Six?? · 05-09-2007, 02:14 PM

Wow? A blown head gasket did all that? Are you 100% completely sure of the shop? I could see some bearings if you run antifreeze but cam lifters turbo?
Where are you located so maybe someone else can look at the car? No boost does not mean a new turbo just like that! Many other things to look at. Does this shop work on Turbo Regals a lot?

chrisgarrett46 · 05-09-2007, 02:45 PM

Sometimes these cars can be very frustrating and expensive. Pretty much all of the guys on these forums have been through these things. But the fact is that these cars are unique. A few bolt-ons and you've got a car that will outrun Porsches, Mustangs and Corvettes. You have to have a few extra dollars and you have to enjoy working on your Buick. For the majority of the guys here, half of the enjoyment comes from working on their cars, not just driving them. Anyone who has had a Turbo Buick for any length of time has spent lots of money on repairs and upgrades.
But rest assured we have all had things break and we have all been very frustrated from time to time. I guess most of us feel that it's worth it in spite of the negatives.

Yullose · 05-09-2007, 02:57 PM

It sounds like some cars and/or some people are just prone to trouble with these cars and other people see just the opposite.
I've been damn lucky with the two Turbo Buicks I've fiddled with. 11-teens on the first one and 10.90's on #2 with simple bolt-on stuff...
Not a single problem other than basic maintenance issues.

ULYCYC · 05-09-2007, 02:57 PM

How did you blow a headgasket with a turbo that has no boost

Sounds like you need to find new shop that knows about turbo buicks

chrisgarrett46 · 05-09-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ULYCYC

How did you blow a headgasket with a turbo that has no boost

Sounds like you need to find new shop that knows about turbo buicks

ED, please stop asking logical questions.

Top Speed · 05-09-2007, 03:02 PM

Sounds like you had a bum motor in it when you bought it.

Nordy racer · 05-09-2007, 03:27 PM

Buicks will do that to you... but just like it was stated above.. sounds like a lot of denonation happen which would blow the head gasket and could hurt the bearing.. the cam and lifters could have happen if you still ran the car with the blow gasket so oil and water mixed. once you get it fixed by a TR shop she should be fine..

Cres171 · 05-09-2007, 03:43 PM

Thanks for replies. The shop working on the car specializes in turbo buicks. In fact they did all the mods to the car. Everything, including the turbo was fine until the friggin' head gasket blew. I may have driven it 10 miles before the temp went way up and I knew something was wrong. The mechanic showed me the damage when the motor was apart. I saw the bad lifters, bad lobes on the cam and bad bearings. On some bearings I could see them worn to the brass. Mechanic told me the car was not tuned right which probably caused the gasket to blow in the 1st place. Do you think these parts were on their way out even without the blown gasket? The cam is about 4 years old. Anyway I sure hope this is it. And yes..I also bought a scan tool.

Nordy racer · 05-09-2007, 03:50 PM

thats one thing you don't know when buying someone else car.. when i purchased my car 13 years ago the person told me it that the motor had never been open or touched.. RIGHT 1 year later the motor went. when it was pulled a lot of bolts were missing and you could tell it was opened up due to the wrong gaskets.. anyway, the only way you will know that the parts will be right is to start off freash..

PhillyTurboSix · 05-09-2007, 04:55 PM

This is almost typical of these cars. I don't care what anyone says 90% of these cars get the living $hit beat out of them. Everyone says garage kept and little old lady only drove it on Sunday's but that is never true. I've seen GN's with under 10K on the clock and they were beat to death. Seems if you keep them stock they tend to last longer depending on how hard the owner is. If someone has their foot into it allot and has no type of scan tool hooked up to monitor knock chances are the tongue is hanging out of the engine just waiting for that right time to grenade! I know at least a dozen guys who had major engine problems within a month of ownership including my self!

Most of the time small block and big block guys get in these cars and mash it to the floor thinking it can take the abuse. It's still a fragile V6 so it can't take the woopin. The only plus side is you'll know the car in and out and you'll feel good when it's all squared away. Read these boards and everything on GNtype.org as well. Get a Scanmaster ASAP if you don't already have one. All the moons must be in aliment for these cars to run well. A major must is to find a good shop who knows and works on these cars all the time. They are not for the every day repair shop. Someone I know took his car to a Goodyear shop for service. Well after they beat the living hell out of the car for him he was worse off in the end! The search button on these boards will be your best friend. These cars are great when they are running well and when they are not you want to burn it to the ground. Took me 4 years and I'm still learning and I've had it all apart from front to back!

NOCOOLER · 05-09-2007, 06:54 PM

at least you aren't riding a harley any more

tony moore · 05-09-2007, 10:21 PM

hey i resemble that remark!

Steve Wood · 05-09-2007, 10:30 PM

Who is doing the work on the car?

05-09-2007, 02:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cres171 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 14	New GN owner already DISGUSTED ! Hi all, I sold my perfect Harley Davidson in order to purchase my GN in December. The car appeared to be in super condition and had some nice mods to it. After only putting 150 miles on it I blew a head gasket. (No I didnt beat on it) Now the damage just keeps stacking up. At first it was the cam and lifters, then got a call saying main bearings and rod bearings were also damaged. Now today after the test drive they found car was not getting any boost. Turbo needs to be replaced or rebuilt..still deciding. What else can a blown $75.00 gasket destroy?? I love the car but I am forking out alot more $$$ than I had planned. Am I alone here ?

05-09-2007, 02:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
turbojd Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Monmouth County, N.J. Posts: 1,058	Sorry to hear that about the GN, sounds like you had lots of detonation with all that damage.You should buy a scan tool such as scanmaster to monitor whats going on with the engine, and monitor any engine knock. __________________ 1987 GN 3" ATR downpipe, PTE TA-49 turbo & ,adj. wastegate,adj. fpr.Art-Carr shift kit 2 1/2"hooker ex. 3" Hi-flow cat,gutted, aero chamber muffs.9" k&n filter, 60/65 lb.mototron injectors, heads pocket-ported 3 angle valve job, LT1 valve springs, 340 walbro fp. hot- wired, plenum spacer, ATR drivers side header, 160 therm. cross-drilled, slotted rotors,vacuum brake conv.Kirban GNX style rims,48k. on car. 93 turbotweak chip, 2.1 scanmaster, knock guage, 3" LT1 Maf w/translator, VDO guages,manual boost controller.

05-09-2007, 02:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Just a Six?? I Buried Beachbum Here! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 10,812	Wow? A blown head gasket did all that? Are you 100% completely sure of the shop? I could see some bearings if you run antifreeze but cam lifters turbo? Where are you located so maybe someone else can look at the car? No boost does not mean a new turbo just like that! Many other things to look at. Does this shop work on Turbo Regals a lot? __________________ 87 LTD. Purchased May 88 Doeskin leather, coach lites, moonroof & carpeted trunk. No Factory Hood Ornament! Special order by the VP of GM Canada! Not another like it! Lots of Go Fast goodies! 11.5 is as Fast as I go! Thats what the track told me! It's a Small World, but I wouldn't want to Paint It!!

05-09-2007, 02:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
chrisgarrett46 Out, damned knock Join Date: May 2004 Location: Highland Park, ILLinois Posts: 5,603	Sometimes these cars can be very frustrating and expensive. Pretty much all of the guys on these forums have been through these things. But the fact is that these cars are unique. A few bolt-ons and you've got a car that will outrun Porsches, Mustangs and Corvettes. You have to have a few extra dollars and you have to enjoy working on your Buick. For the majority of the guys here, half of the enjoyment comes from working on their cars, not just driving them. Anyone who has had a Turbo Buick for any length of time has spent lots of money on repairs and upgrades. But rest assured we have all had things break and we have all been very frustrated from time to time. I guess most of us feel that it's worth it in spite of the negatives. __________________ Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. 2008 rebuild, Comp roller cam, Cat stroker, RJC gridle, CPT66BB, PTE Stock Location IC, Champion iron, T&D roller rockers, 60# Mototron injectors w/Turbotweak chip, Monroe-ported throttlebody, RJC Power Plate, Jimmy-built trans w/Precision Vigilante converter, ATR SS dual exhaust, ATR rear sway, BMR upper and lower control arms, Edelbrock Performance shocks, Razor alky, Tinman cold air intake, MT street radials. Oh, and Russ Merritt spark plug wires.

05-09-2007, 02:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Yullose Certified gun nut Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mooresville, NC Posts: 1,389	It sounds like some cars and/or some people are just prone to trouble with these cars and other people see just the opposite. I've been damn lucky with the two Turbo Buicks I've fiddled with. 11-teens on the first one and 10.90's on #2 with simple bolt-on stuff... Not a single problem other than basic maintenance issues. __________________ '87 GN...(SOLD Fall '07) Best ET: 10.95@122...1.54 60ft...(25psi/C16) NO Nitrous...NO Alky...On a STOCK UNOPENED LONGBLOCK...PT6776e...PTE FMIC...MSD50's...Razors Dual nozzle Alky system...Turbotweak chips...Big Mouth cold air kit...LS1 MAF...Trans+...TH400w/transbrake...10"/3000converter...100HP NOS kit .

05-09-2007, 02:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
ULYCYC Fuhgeddaboudit Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 16,721	How did you blow a headgasket with a turbo that has no boost Sounds like you need to find new shop that knows about turbo buicks __________________ ED BAKER 87-T, Maplight equipped rear view mirror.. 93 PARK AVE"SUPERCHARGED" BPG#1458 My Photo Page buickperformancegroup.com "As democracy is perfected, the office of President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."---H.L. Mencken 1927

05-09-2007, 03:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Top Speed Don't Tread On Me Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: the ATL Posts: 2,575	Sounds like you had a bum motor in it when you bought it. __________________ -Chris '86 Pro-Touring T-Type

05-09-2007, 03:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nordy racer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sunny Cali Baby Posts: 932	Buicks will do that to you... but just like it was stated above.. sounds like a lot of denonation happen which would blow the head gasket and could hurt the bearing.. the cam and lifters could have happen if you still ran the car with the blow gasket so oil and water mixed. once you get it fixed by a TR shop she should be fine.. __________________ ET TIME 9.65 at 139.7mph 6/30/07 Fontana Raceway CA NEW MOTOR::: Anderson Built 109 block- GN1R Champon Heads, Hyd Roller Cam, Forged Stroker Crank (eagle), H Beam Rods, 40 Over Pistons, GTQ76 turbo, V1 front mount, FAST system, 83lb injectors, ATI 9in convertor, 400 trans with brake, 373 gears

05-09-2007, 03:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Cres171 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 14	Thanks for replies. The shop working on the car specializes in turbo buicks. In fact they did all the mods to the car. Everything, including the turbo was fine until the friggin' head gasket blew. I may have driven it 10 miles before the temp went way up and I knew something was wrong. The mechanic showed me the damage when the motor was apart. I saw the bad lifters, bad lobes on the cam and bad bearings. On some bearings I could see them worn to the brass. Mechanic told me the car was not tuned right which probably caused the gasket to blow in the 1st place. Do you think these parts were on their way out even without the blown gasket? The cam is about 4 years old. Anyway I sure hope this is it. And yes..I also bought a scan tool.

05-09-2007, 03:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nordy racer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sunny Cali Baby Posts: 932	thats one thing you don't know when buying someone else car.. when i purchased my car 13 years ago the person told me it that the motor had never been open or touched.. RIGHT 1 year later the motor went. when it was pulled a lot of bolts were missing and you could tell it was opened up due to the wrong gaskets.. anyway, the only way you will know that the parts will be right is to start off freash.. __________________ ET TIME 9.65 at 139.7mph 6/30/07 Fontana Raceway CA NEW MOTOR::: Anderson Built 109 block- GN1R Champon Heads, Hyd Roller Cam, Forged Stroker Crank (eagle), H Beam Rods, 40 Over Pistons, GTQ76 turbo, V1 front mount, FAST system, 83lb injectors, ATI 9in convertor, 400 trans with brake, 373 gears

05-09-2007, 04:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
PhillyTurboSix cRaCk wH0rE Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phila, PA Posts: 4,129	This is almost typical of these cars. I don't care what anyone says 90% of these cars get the living $hit beat out of them. Everyone says garage kept and little old lady only drove it on Sunday's but that is never true. I've seen GN's with under 10K on the clock and they were beat to death. Seems if you keep them stock they tend to last longer depending on how hard the owner is. If someone has their foot into it allot and has no type of scan tool hooked up to monitor knock chances are the tongue is hanging out of the engine just waiting for that right time to grenade! I know at least a dozen guys who had major engine problems within a month of ownership including my self! Most of the time small block and big block guys get in these cars and mash it to the floor thinking it can take the abuse. It's still a fragile V6 so it can't take the woopin. The only plus side is you'll know the car in and out and you'll feel good when it's all squared away. Read these boards and everything on GNtype.org as well. Get a Scanmaster ASAP if you don't already have one. All the moons must be in aliment for these cars to run well. A major must is to find a good shop who knows and works on these cars all the time. They are not for the every day repair shop. Someone I know took his car to a Goodyear shop for service. Well after they beat the living hell out of the car for him he was worse off in the end! The search button on these boards will be your best friend. These cars are great when they are running well and when they are not you want to burn it to the ground. Took me 4 years and I'm still learning and I've had it all apart from front to back! __________________ Jim C Pennsylvania State Representative for MAGNA 87 Grand National T-tops, late build, with low options. Rebuilt 109 block.. All the basic mods ,some goodies, and alot of shiney stuff. Featuring Razor's famous Alky kit and TurboTweak chip! 86 Grand National Astroroof - One sexy stocker! 89 Turbo Trans Am #396 Garage Princess. Stock 30K original Featured in Hemmings Muscle Machines. Feb. 06 http://turbobuicks.net/ NEW pictures here! http://turbobuicks.net/gallery2/v/Philly/

05-09-2007, 06:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
NOCOOLER Growing my Mullet! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: St. Louis MI Posts: 2,525	at least you aren't riding a harley any more __________________ - Jeremy 86 T-type - sold......probably was the quickest/fastest peg-leg car. Y2K Pontiac Firebird Formula M6 - Headers/ORY/Flowmaster Cat Back - FAST 78/78 K/N filter 13.0@109.25 w/2.0 60' on street tires 03 GMC Sierra RCSB 4x4 5.3 CAI - Spal Controlled LS1 EFANS - GMPP Exhaust. Exhaust Clip

05-09-2007, 10:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
tony moore old skool Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South carolina Posts: 3,718	hey i resemble that remark! __________________ 86 grand national 2nd owner t tops, digital dash and few other options. bone stock no mods(yet!!) brought back from the dead. new paint and interior 85 regal t type clone, blue in and out , carb. turbo stock engine , no ecm, msd btm,holley blue fuel pump, 650 holley double pump carb. 3.73 gear with mini spool,all the gauges, stock trans and conv. slow but fun!!

05-09-2007, 10:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
Steve Wood An American American Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: East of Eden, Texas Posts: 37,175	Who is doing the work on the car? __________________ ------------------ 'A government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is also big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson I think one should worry more when people are lining up to get out of a country rather than into it. If they're sneaking in, we must be doing something right. The Chronicles of Zap, from the early 21st century www.vortexbuicks-etc.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Help A New Gn Owner	JASON86	Buick V6 Turbo Tech	19	05-09-2005 11:30 PM
New (and proud) 87 GN owner	GNonice	The Waiting Room	3	04-03-2003 04:03 PM
New GN owner	shaunchrisc	The Waiting Room	6	09-12-2001 01:23 AM
Looking for owner of GN powered Black RX-7	Orlando_87GN	The Waiting Room	0	07-18-2001 08:39 PM
Looking for owner of GN powered White RX-7	Orlando_87GN	The Waiting Room	0	07-16-2001 12:47 PM