Sprucing-up the GN

[Fast One]

Well....it's time to spruce-up the GN (again). At ~196,000 miles, it's getting a bit dreary. The Powermaster brake unit is acting-up again, odd electrical issues are cropping-up, it needs a new power antenna, new bumper fillers, new lower window seals, the adjustable fuel regulator is stuck @ 70 PSI, the wipers are really slow, and a few other things. Got Jason Bertram from the MNGTA club coming over on Sunday to check it out.

Here's the rundown on what I've done to it since back in the day.

Major work performed since I've owned the car:

• ~78k: GNX body bushings, frame & trunk braces, Eibach springs, HD shocks, Kirban Performance 145 MPH Speedometer

• ~90k: LT1 valve springs, new turbo & 'turbo-saver' oiling kit, Walbro 340 fuel pump w/adjustable regulator, 3" intake & exhaust
• ~110k: Full suspension & steering rebuild, including a full PST polygraphite suspension & steering kit, plus new wheel bearings
• ~110k: Full brake rebuild - including new rotors, HD ceramic pads, and HD rear shoes
• ~130k: HD double-roller timing chain, new water pump, new GM 200-amp alternator, re-stuffed driver's seat
• ~140k: HD transmission rebuild, new HD torque converter
• ~150k: New LT1 mass airflow sensor*, Translator Plus MAF translator, 4-wire heated O₂ sensor
• ~150k: New high-efficiency 4-core radiator
• ~150k: Forged rear-end rebuild
• ~175k: Remanufactured Powermaster brake unit

Engine: Original. Has not been rebuilt. Still holds good oil pressure. Does not burn oil. I've used only Amsoil & Mobil 1 since I bought the car.

• LT1 valve springs
• Double-roller timing chain

Oiling System:

• HD oil pump
• Precision Turbo Engineering Turbo-saver oiling system kit w/high-capacity, high-flow remote filter

Cooling System:

• High-efficiency/high-flow stock-appearing 4-core radiator
• High-flow 160^o thermostat

Induction:

• Stock intercooler w/Duttweiler neck mod
• 3" mandrel-bent intake & up-pipe
• KN filter
• Precision Turbo Engineering stock-appearing TA-49 turbo w/adjustable wastegate
• 3” LT1 MAF
• Translator Plus MAF translator

Fuel system:

• Walbro 340 pump
• Stock-appearing adjustable regulator
• 42 lb disk-style injectors
• SMC alcohol injection kit

Electrical System:

• Single-point ground upgrade kit
• Fuel pump wiring upgrade kit
• Scanmaster II Computer display
• New 200 amp GM alternator
• 4-wire heated O₂ sensor

Exhaust:

• 3" mandrel-bent downpipe
• 3" fake cat
• Aluminized, mandrel-bent dual 2 ½” cat-back w/stock-appearing low-restriction cross-flow muffler

Transmission: Original, rebuilt with premium HD components by Art Carr at ~140k. Running synthetic transmission fluid.

• HD pump
• Billet servos
• Cryo-hardened input shaft
• Redline clutch packs
• Furnace-brazed 3000 RPM stall converter w/anti-balloon plate & HD lockup clutch

Rear end: Original housing, rebuilt with premium HD components at ~150k. Running synthetic posi lube.

• HD Eaton posi unit w/Redline clutch pack
• HD Moser 30-spline forged axles
• HD Richmond 3.42:1 ring & pinion

Suspension:

• GNX body bushings, frame, & trunk braces installed
• HD shocks & springs, rear air-bags
• Full PST front & rear poly-graphite bushing kit – plus PST upper & lower ball-joints, tie-rod ends, idler-arm, and Pittman-arm
• All wheel bearings replaced

Brakes:

• HD rotors
• HD ceramic pads
• HD rear shoes
• Remanufactured Powermaster electro-hydraulic master cylinder unit w/pump & accumulator

Tires: BFG Radial T/A

• Front - 235/60/15
• Rear - 275/50/15

Interior updates:

• Stock-appearing dual gauge A-pillar& coin tray gauge pod
• Autometer electronic fuel pressure gauge
• VDO boost, water temp & oil pressure gauges
• Kirban Performance stock-appearing 145 MPH calibrated speedometer
• Kenwood Excelon audiophile-grade CD/MP3 player/AM/FM receiver with 24-bit Burr-Brown DACs
• Custom-built curly-bird's eye maple console cover w/built-in cup holders supported by solid rosewood dowels
• Driver's seat freshened-up with new padding & suspension
• Advanced CompuStar remote-entry/alarm system w/long-range 2.4GHz two-way remote

[Z28SSMAN]

Very detailed. I like it!

[Fast One]

Thanks! Well....Jason Bertram came over yesterday. Fortunately, all that's wrong with the "slugmaster" PowerMaster brakes is that the accumulator ball went to hell from sitting too long. Got a new one on order for $300. Had him check out the rest of the car, to see what it needs to get back into "drive across the US" condition. Looks like around $2500 for parts & labor, all-told. Really looking forward to getting it back into cruising shape!

[Fast One]

When it's done, it should be back in "drive across the US & eat Hellkitties for lunch on the way" shape - like it used to be.

[MR.hp]

I can eat hellcats with my Camaro for breakfast, but they sure shit out kind of runny at the end of the race, lol.

[Fast One]

I gave the GN a little snack on the way back down here from getting it back from my best bud up north. Filled her up with 130 octane Avgas before I left Warroad. Was driving through Grand Rapids on Hwy 2, when a Hellkitty wanted to stoplight race. I smoked his ass! That was ~2.5 yrs ago & I haven't seriously raced anyone since. Just too nervous about dumping 22-25 lb of boost into it until after I have things gone-over. But that Hellkitty driver sure had a surprised look on his face at the next light! Maybe he thought he was gonna race a Monte Carlo SS.