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Project X, Scot
Walkowiak’s 86’ Grand National |
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Ever since these cars
came out I’ve always wanted one. Well the story begins back in 2004 after a very
bad motorcycle wreck that left me with very bad injuries. I’ve decided that I
should be back in a car!! But this is no sob story! I’m on the right road to
recovery now. After the accident I decided I wanted to build the ultimate
10second street car on pump gas! I had “FUNCTION IS EVERYTHING!” in mind. The
car had to perform well on the drag strip as well as on the autocross and the
street! To start with I found this 1986 Buick Grand National – 1of 5,000 built.
(Versus a little over 20,000 built in 1987) It has digital dash, Electronic
touch climate control, T-tops, cruise control, power windows, power seats. Know
one to this day really knows just how many there were with both the digital dash
and the elec.Touch climate control. Or left for that matter! This car was in
Florida, the add said it was perfect and everything worked! I worked out a deal
to trade even for my 98’ ford expedition. Well me and my 8yr old son Brenden
drove 4hrs to Macon, Georgia to meet with the guy to do the trade. The deal was
done and we got ten miles down the road and the car totally died!! So after a
broken positive wire to the alt we were back on the road. Once back at home in
the garage I realized it was far from perfect and a lot did not work! I then
looked around for someone who knew these cars here in Tennessee. I found Mark
Thomas that’s when he found that It didn’t have an 86’ block in the car and it
had an 85’ hot air block, a blown head gasket and a wiped out cam. We went to
pulling the engine and went back with a correct 86’ block and Mark Thomas done a
nice set-up. I installed a set of matching Auto meter pro-comp gauges to keep an
eye on things. The first time down the 1/8th mi. drag strip after these changes
it went 7.50@92. The Trans was slipping so I got a totally built Trans from
Brian Hofer that included a Trans brake and all billet internals. I then needed
a nice set of street wheels & tires so I decided on a set of 17” TTII’s for the
street that could be used on the autocross as well. Then I attended RTH2 (Run
Trough the Hills) event. The event was held by Bill Howell & Larry Callahan… I
WAS HOOKED! So I spent some time on some engine upgrades and redone the interior
and bought a rear anti-roll bar from H & R parts N stuff. That made a
“Tremendous” difference. I installed poly bushings up front. My plan is to do
small upgrades at a time so I can see just how much of a difference each one
makes. Future upgrades include: Rear disc brakes, Hollow front sway bar, body
bushings, some braces, some larger skins out back and a custom interior. I love
the fact that I have a 20yr old 3,700lb brick that handles well on the drag
strip and very well on the autocross without changing a thing! It’s finally
getting there. (“Without” changing a thing Key Word!!)
Fastest 1/8th mi. time to date on slicks: 6.76 @ 104 on 93 pump gas and
methanol. And it still gets 22mpg on the hwy. It still has Ice cold air and
Cruise control …..
“FUNCTION IS EVERYTHING”
1986 Buick Grand National
Engine: 3.8L (235 cu in) balanced & Blueprinted
Block: “109”- Steel Main caps on 2&3
Crank: .010/. 010 – ARP Main Studs
Pistons: J&E’s dry-film coated w/Ceramic tops
Bearings: Polydyne Coated Clevite race bearings- Rod/Main and Cam
Heads: M&A Aluminum- Race Ported (wire locked)/ (Powder coated valve covers)
(Came off Bob Petersons- “Six Shooter” car!
Cam: Hyd. Flat tappet (CC1), 221/218 @ .050, 525 LIFT/112 Lobe separation
Timing chain: DBL Roller
Rockers: 1.60 Crower Roller Rockers
Intake: Stock Race ported/EGR filled/1/2” Plenum spacer/ (Powder coated)
Plenum: Percision plenum/(Polished) RJC power plate
Throttle body: Acufab 70mm/ (Polished)
Induction: 4”x 14” K&N
Turbo: PTE 70 GTQ w/.85 exhaust housing. (4” inlet / 3” outlet)
Down pipe: 3” Terry Houston (polished)
Waste gate: Internal w/ Adjustable HD actuator
Intercooler: PTE – Stock Location (The Big Boy) -(outside powder coated )
Cooling: Stock radiator/ Cas High flow water pump / single fan
Engine mngmt: Translator-Pro w/ LC-1 wide band O2 / Extender pro chip
Injectors: 85lb Delphi injectors/ flow matched
Fuel System: Dual ATR fuel pumps in-tank
Aux. Injection: Razors Alky PAC kit- Dual nozzle Methanol injection
Regulator: Acufab Adjustable (polished)
Ignition: Stock w/ Taylor “409” wires
Headers: ATR Headers & crossover- (ceramic coated) / V-band clamps
Motor mounts: H&R Poly motor mounts / new version/ both sides
Exhaust: 2 ½” Hooker duals w/ 3” Dyno max Race bullet mufflers/ 3” dump pipe
Transmission: .550 & .400 Boost valves / 10 vane pump / Pump rev kit w/hardened
2004r Rings. Alto wide red band / Alto clutches in the directs / Extra clutches
Throughout (for more holding power). Up graded “Case Stretcher” /
Servo / and Trans Brake / Shift Kit w/special shift calibrations. Hardened
Drum & Input Shaft. Trans brake. By Brian Hofer
Converter: Art-Carr 9” 3800 “N” Stall Non Lock-up
Rear End: Stock 3:42 w/ T/A rear end girdle /28 spline Moser Axles
Rear suspension: H&R adjustable Anti-roll bar / Southside Uppers & Lowers
New gas shocks
Front suspension: 36mm Hollow sway bar w/poly bushings & Gas shocks
Braces: “X” Braces in trunk behind seat / front frame brace / New body bushings
Brakes: Line lock / stock brakes w/ new pads & rotors
Wheels: 17”x 8”front & 17”x8.5” rear Torque Thrust 2’s w/ Z – rated tires
(street)
M/T slicks on rear for the strip..
Gauges: All Autometer Pro comp Ultra-lite’s w/ LED lights
Pulleys: RJC polished billet pulleys / polished under drive crank pulley
Exterior: Air brushed graphics w/purple pearl clear over them / new T-top seals
Interior: Stock new interior/ Pioneer DEH- P9400MP stereo / JL audio speakers /
Custom trunk kit done w/ embroidery.
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