The GNX was still the Buick 3.8, just with a bigger turbo and computer reprogramming. They took the turbo idea and applied it to the chevy 4.3 V6 (small block minus 2 cylinders) and came out with the "weather truck" twins. Car & Driver should be ashamed to make that mistake.
I've been reading all of these comments and I'm totally suprised at how many people really ( no disrespect) have no idea what they're talking about. The Buick Regal T-Type, Grand National, GNX AND the 1989 Pontiac Trans Am 20th Anniversary were ALL powered by the Buick built 3.8 Liter 232cid Turbocharged Innercooled V6. The GMC Syclone and Typhoon were powered by the Chevrolet built 4.3 Liter 262cid (may be a 263cid?) Turbocharged Innercooled V6. The Chevy built 3.8 Liter 229cid V6 never saw a Turbocharging; even the older Regal Sport Coupes AND Monte Carlo Sport Coupes (not Super Sport) had Buick built 3.8 Liter 231cid V6's with the Turbocharger sitting on top of the intake manifold with the Rochester M4ME Quadrajet 4 bbl carburetor. The Buick Grand National in '84 & '85 were not Innercooled; this is why the famous "power dome" were on the '84 & '85, to make room for the Turbo. In '86 and on, the Turbo was moved to the right front of the engine bay to plumb in the Innercooler. Tecnically, the bubble in the hood was not required on the '86 or '87 GN or GNX but it looked cool so GM left it. I'm in no way trying to talk shit to ANYONE here but I am trying to set facts straight. My Step Dad had a GNX, two GN's and three T-types; he was a collector and raced two T-Types and one GN; the GNX was his collector as well as one T-Type while the other GN was his daily driver. The GNX had the guage package, a ladder bar connected to the rear end causing the rear of the car to raise under power (better traction), the 3.8 231cid Turbo V6 was tuned by McClaren with the addition of a bigger Turbocharger with a ceramic coated impeller (compressor side) for quicker spool up times and of course, the fully functional fender vents for additional cooling. As a interesting factoid, some GNX's did have issues with weld flashings (particles) breaking loose and damaging the ceramic coating on the impeller blades of the Turbo; as I recall, it didn't happen that much but it was on occasion, an issue. I hope this sheds some light on these incredible automobiles that I absolutely love.
I saw one new at a dealer. The car was about $18k. There was a line item for limited production upcharge. It was $15k on it's own. In '87, it stickered for $34k. It was crazy.
exactly! but i think they meant the V6 turbo charging made it to the syclone/typhoon..but it def. was NOT the buick 3.8. that ended in the 89 turbo t/a...which btw is the fastest t/a since the 73/74 super duty t/a's...:)
The '89 20th Anniversary did indeed have the 3.8 Buick turbo with 3800 series I heads to better fit between the strut towers. The Syclone and Typhoon were Chevy powered 4.3 Turbo V6's.
The 4.3 is derived from the 350 and the 3.8 shares from the 305. They are not the same design Both the Buick V6 and the 229 cid Chevrolet V6 are 90-degree V6 engines, and both are often referred to as the 3.8L V6. These engines should not be confused as being the same, and are completely unique engine designs. The 4.3 came from Chevys 229 cube not the Buick V6. Yes they are both 90-degree V6's engine but totally different block designs.
The 229cid Chevy does have the same bore and stroke as a 305cid Chevy V8 but it's not related the the 231cid Buick 3.8 V6 which has the firing order 165432 while the 229 Chevy I believe was 153624; one reason why the Turbo Buicks had a unique sound.
rocker4u123 I have only seen 1 GNX that cheap and it was due to it having 65k miles on it. Low mileage GNXs go for at least $100k. GNX 547 went for $150k. GNX 1 is owned by Buick(GM) and GNX 500 is in a museum in Flint, MI. When the museum gets rid of it, it goes directly to the junkyard and will be compacted.
No. Look it up. ONE GNX ever made had a sunroof. It was in the bottom 100s I believe. it was Heinz Prechter's GNX. He was the president/founder of ASC. His is the ONLY one to ever have a factory sunroof.
Your opening statement was "The GNX came with every option except t-tops or a sunroof." WRONG. Only one GNX ever made had a sunroof. You never should've said "WRONG" and then proceed to state something totally irrelevant to the accurate statement made in the vid. You say you never said it was an option but the premise of your original statement implies that you said it was.
The GNX was still a 3.8 Buick built V6 tuned by McClaren with a slightly bigger turbo and a rather unique ceramic coated impeller for quicker spool up.
The GNX was still the Buick 3.8, just with a bigger turbo and computer reprogramming. They took the turbo idea and applied it to the chevy 4.3 V6 (small block minus 2 cylinders) and came out with the "weather truck" twins. Car & Driver should be ashamed to make that mistake.
I've been reading all of these comments and I'm totally suprised at how many people really ( no disrespect) have no idea what they're talking about. The Buick Regal T-Type, Grand National, GNX AND the 1989 Pontiac Trans Am 20th Anniversary were ALL powered by the Buick built 3.8 Liter 232cid Turbocharged Innercooled V6. The GMC Syclone and Typhoon were powered by the Chevrolet built 4.3 Liter 262cid (may be a 263cid?) Turbocharged Innercooled V6. The Chevy built 3.8 Liter 229cid V6 never saw a Turbocharging; even the older Regal Sport Coupes AND Monte Carlo Sport Coupes (not Super Sport) had Buick built 3.8 Liter 231cid V6's with the Turbocharger sitting on top of the intake manifold with the Rochester M4ME Quadrajet 4 bbl carburetor. The Buick Grand National in '84 & '85 were not Innercooled; this is why the famous "power dome" were on the '84 & '85, to make room for the Turbo. In '86 and on, the Turbo was moved to the right front of the engine bay to plumb in the Innercooler. Tecnically, the bubble in the hood was not required on the '86 or '87 GN or GNX but it looked cool so GM left it. I'm in no way trying to talk shit to ANYONE here but I am trying to set facts straight. My Step Dad had a GNX, two GN's and three T-types; he was a collector and raced two T-Types and one GN; the GNX was his collector as well as one T-Type while the other GN was his daily driver. The GNX had the guage package, a ladder bar connected to the rear end causing the rear of the car to raise under power (better traction), the 3.8 231cid Turbo V6 was tuned by McClaren with the addition of a bigger Turbocharger with a ceramic coated impeller (compressor side) for quicker spool up times and of course, the fully functional fender vents for additional cooling. As a interesting factoid, some GNX's did have issues with weld flashings (particles) breaking loose and damaging the ceramic coating on the impeller blades of the Turbo; as I recall, it didn't happen that much but it was on occasion, an issue. I hope this sheds some light on these incredible automobiles that I absolutely love.
232 was a typo in the beginning, sorry.
Weld flashings (particles) in the exhause headers. My apologies for the typos, I wrote this at 2:15am and was kind of tired.
Joe Phaneuf That's right, represent buick and the notorious 3800 series.
This was my show! I remember my dad watching it
I saw one new at a dealer. The car was about $18k. There was a line item for limited production upcharge. It was $15k on it's own. In '87, it stickered for $34k. It was crazy.
dream car for life.
Dream car! I want one of these! 😍
This is my favorite car, 1987 Buick GNX
exactly! but i think they meant the V6 turbo charging made it to the syclone/typhoon..but it def. was NOT the buick 3.8. that ended in the 89 turbo t/a...which btw is the fastest t/a since the 73/74 super duty t/a's...:)
The '89 20th Anniversary did indeed have the 3.8 Buick turbo with 3800 series I heads to better fit between the strut towers. The Syclone and Typhoon were Chevy powered 4.3 Turbo V6's.
Nice ride 👍
I like it!
I can't imagine what type of performance figures you could get if you updated a GNX versus updating a stock Buick Grand National....
Wrong, ALL the turbo Buicks were 3.8 and the Sy/Tys were 4.3.
he was talking about the tire size not the wheel size when he was talking about the fender flares
I absolutely had no idea the GN was powered by a V6. I thought it was a V8.....dohhhhh!!!
Funny how 16" wheels were considered *BIG* at the time.
lets not improve the corvette, lets just terminate the GN. great job =/
The 4.3 is derived from the 350 and the 3.8 shares from the 305. They are not the same design Both the Buick V6 and the 229 cid Chevrolet V6 are 90-degree V6 engines, and both are often referred to as the 3.8L V6. These engines should not be confused as being the same, and are completely unique engine designs. The 4.3 came from Chevys 229 cube not the Buick V6. Yes they are both 90-degree V6's engine but totally different block designs.
Correct. The 3.8/229cid Chevy V6 was a totally different engine from the 3.8/231cid Buick V6.
The 229cid Chevy does have the same bore and stroke as a 305cid Chevy V8 but it's not related the the 231cid Buick 3.8 V6 which has the firing order 165432 while the 229 Chevy I believe was 153624; one reason why the Turbo Buicks had a unique sound.
oh yeah baby a turbo v6 that will kill some v8s
Yes sir. I had one of these. I kick my ass EVERYDAY for selling mine!!
Wrong the engine in syclone &typhoon is not the 3.8 buick and didnt even compare intercooler ignition &header design was not as good as 3.8
drool.... but honestly i like the syclone more. funny how the sticker price was nearly 30k but one today will fetch 50k easy
rocker4u123 I have only seen 1 GNX that cheap and it was due to it having 65k miles on it. Low mileage GNXs go for at least $100k. GNX 547 went for $150k. GNX 1 is owned by Buick(GM) and GNX 500 is in a museum in Flint, MI. When the museum gets rid of it, it goes directly to the junkyard and will be compacted.
4.6 seconds? That is a lot more than 300 hp.
No, it's the 400 ft lbs of torque that launched that beast.
This car makes me clixmaxxxxxx!!!!! Ohooooo!!!! Awww!! Shock and awwwww
New Flandes??xd
thats why gm went bankrupt..kill off the best selling cars and produce a car with about a 5000 production run..duhhhhhh
I thought that it will be V8 powered
Funnier how he says, "to cover those big 'meats'," not wheels...
"The GNX came with every option except t tops or a sunroof." WRONG. Only one GNX ever made had a sunroof.
It wasn't an option. His point is valid.
No. Look it up. ONE GNX ever made had a sunroof. It was in the bottom 100s I believe. it was Heinz Prechter's GNX. He was the president/founder of ASC. His is the ONLY one to ever have a factory sunroof.
But it wasn't an option. What you're describing is a special order, not an option.
Duh. I never said it was an option. Only ever said that 1 GNX was ordered with one from the factory, (That being ASC-McLaren)
Your opening statement was "The GNX came with every option except t-tops or a sunroof." WRONG. Only one GNX ever made had a sunroof. You never should've said "WRONG" and then proceed to state something totally irrelevant to the accurate statement made in the vid. You say you never said it was an option but the premise of your original statement implies that you said it was.
True but its still very similar engines. And could still be made from the 3.8 platform.
you sir, are seriously mistaken.
I'm a Lady and I just Luv muscle cars!!!! Power Break GNX!!
and it came in any color you wanted as long as it was black hahahahahahah
wpas pas - Thanks Henry Ford.. 😂
the grand national was the 3.8 and the gnx, syclone, and typhoon all had the 4.3
The GNX was still a 3.8 Buick built V6 tuned by McClaren with a slightly bigger turbo and a rather unique ceramic coated impeller for quicker spool up.
Not a great handler? Please. MY 85 bone stock, original everything Regal rolls better, stops better, handles better than my mom's 08 taurus.
Nothing compared to todays horsepower.
So! Technology has changed a lot since then.
Mega black
The GNX was a 4.3...
The GNX WAS NOT a 4.3! The 4.3 was a Chevy engine while the Regal T-Type, GN, GNX and the 20th Ann T/A had the Buick built 3.8/231cid Turbo V6.
As far as I know, 4.3 is the same engine block as 3.8, but bored.
Nope, the 3.8 is a 231cid Buick V6 and the 4.3 is a 262cid Chevy V6; totally different engines.
Same block, just bored out.