Lt1 debate
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Lt1 debate
What do you guys think im in a jam between an lt1 and a grand national i love the corvette c4's tho. Im familar with the lt1 previous z28 owner everything is preety much the same ? How are the c4 vette a4's 1/4 and 0-60 comparable with a grand national any help is greatly appreciated
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
huh? a little punctuation?
expect a LT1 to do the 1/4 in the mid 13s. 0-60 in the mid-5's.
power is found the the GN, but they don't handle worth ****. besides, the GN is faster but much more collectable. So why mess up a real potential collectable?
expect a LT1 to do the 1/4 in the mid 13s. 0-60 in the mid-5's.
power is found the the GN, but they don't handle worth ****. besides, the GN is faster but much more collectable. So why mess up a real potential collectable?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: edmonton ab
The Grand National is an old school clunker. I think that body debuted in 82-or 83 and would have died unremembered if not for the powertrain. A low miler that is in perfect shape and sits in your garage will probably hold it's value but unless things have changed in the last couple of years nobody is throwing big money at them. Bone stock, as noted above, they are not that quick. The GNX is both much faster and much more collectable, but much more expensive too.
I think dollar for dollar, assuming the GN is in solid mechanical shape, it is cheaper to make go fast than an LT1 car. Close to a 12.0 flat on the stock turbos is doable. Check dragtimes.com. If your dream is a street racer then the Buick is the one. But they have that shoe box styling and primitive interior so as a looker, a handler, and a car that can be nudged into the high 12s without much work, the Corvette makes more sense. The GNs are a relatively rare vehicle but only car guys recognize them anymore. The GNX is a special car, but not cheap and you probably won't be driving your modified 11 second car to work on the nice summer days like you will your LT1 targa.
I think dollar for dollar, assuming the GN is in solid mechanical shape, it is cheaper to make go fast than an LT1 car. Close to a 12.0 flat on the stock turbos is doable. Check dragtimes.com. If your dream is a street racer then the Buick is the one. But they have that shoe box styling and primitive interior so as a looker, a handler, and a car that can be nudged into the high 12s without much work, the Corvette makes more sense. The GNs are a relatively rare vehicle but only car guys recognize them anymore. The GNX is a special car, but not cheap and you probably won't be driving your modified 11 second car to work on the nice summer days like you will your LT1 targa.
Last edited by nuck; Jun 17, 2007 at 10:45 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 848
Likes: 4
From: Tulsa,Ok
I had a GN for 5 1/2 years.Stock for stock,the vette will out do it in any catagory.But start modding,and it dont take much to get the buick going.I had mine going 11.5x's with bolt ons,but it sure wasnt a vette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Handling, on the other hand....
typical G-body marshmallow suspension. Much as I loved that car, I wouldn't have another one, unless it was a garage queen (not likely)
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Stock vs. stock, an LT1 C4 will be quicker, stop better, handle better, ride better, have a higher top speed, and look cooler than a stock Buick Grand National.
It won't, however, hold it's value better.
Larry
code5coupe
__________
Not easily impressed....
It won't, however, hold it's value better.
Larry
code5coupe
__________
Not easily impressed....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,017
Likes: 634
St. Jude Donor '10
I always thought the GN was a mid 13 sec car out of the box. I guess I could be wrong but I don't think mid 14's is it either. They put that same motor in a TA and Im pretty sure it was a 13.8-9 car stock.
Last edited by SurfnSun; Jun 19, 2007 at 10:37 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,283
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Gene Deputy had a shop down the street from me called Texas Turbo. He was one of the fastest Mustangs back in the day. He always told me no two GN's are alike. Stock, some were extremely fast and some were slow. Maybe it was in the assembly, maybe it was in the tuning. Conleys on the other side of town, made some screamers out of Buicks though. The guy who designed the GN went over to the Vette devision and used to say the GN stock was faster initially but keep you foot in it and the Vette will win.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Gene Deputy had a shop down the street from me called Texas Turbo. He was one of the fastest Mustangs back in the day. He always told me no two GN's are alike. Stock, some were extremely fast and some were slow. Maybe it was in the assembly, maybe it was in the tuning. Conleys on the other side of town, made some screamers out of Buicks though. The guy who designed the GN went over to the Vette devision and used to say the GN stock was faster initially but keep you foot in it and the Vette will win.
The FBI at the time (1987) commissioned GM to supply them with 500 GNs without the speed governor (it was in the PROM anyway), and the result was the GN was capable of 150MPH top-end speed, which was about the same as a Corvette. Whether or not you wanted to actually DRIVE a G-body that fast was another matter!
My particular GN would pull like a freight train all the way up to 124MPH, and when it hit the speed limiter, it felt like an anchor was dropped out the back...it felt like it had a lot more left in it.
As far as tuners... Deputy has made some fast ones, but most people associate stupid fast turbo Buicks with Ken Duttweiler (some of the cars that came from his shop were positively sick!).
Last edited by RacerX70CC; Jun 19, 2007 at 09:06 AM.