[Tommy69Z]

I am about to start putting a turbo 6 drivetrain from an 87 GN into my 69. Anyone done this? I have pondered on cutting out the crossmember and fabbing up a tubular, and trying to fit in a rack steering setup. Saw the episode on muscle car, but can't remember all he done. Looking to do it on a cheap budget, if I do do it. ANyone tried to use a mustang rack?

[camcojb]

shouldn't be that tough to do, but realize you're going to KILL the value of the car. Virtually all rack conversions add a ton of bumpsteer, so I'd avoid that part of the plan personally.

Jody

[Tommy69Z]

Originally Posted by camcojb

you're going to KILL the value of the car.
Jody

So are you saying the motor swap or cutting the crossmember is going to "kill" the value?
I say it depends on who is looking at it determines the value it adds or deducts. Anyway, no plans to ever get rid of car, as it was passed down from my parents, and to me it just adds value, the motor swap that is!

[Havin' Fun]

Do you have an 87 GN to take the combo out of? If so, what's wrong with the GN?

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by Tommy69Z

So are you saying the motor swap or cutting the crossmember is going to "kill" the value?
I say it depends on who is looking at it determines the value it adds or deducts. Anyway, no plans to ever get rid of car, as it was passed down from my parents, and to me it just adds value, the motor swap that is!

I love GN's, had one myself. Great cars. The swap will kill the value. I know you don't plan on selling, just saying "what if............. "

Do what you want, it's your car.

Jody

[Rodder]

A turbo'd LQ4 would be a lot more fun than that old Build V6...

[KevinW]

If you have a GN drivetrain laying around, I would sell them to finance a small block EFI or turbo kit setup. Those GN parts are worth $$$ to the GN crowd. Keeping a small block in a Camaro will keep the value up and make the install sooo much easier!

[Gary L]

Are you talking about a '69 Z/28, as implied by your name? If I was you I would sell the Z/28 and buy a GN. They are very cool cars.

[Tommy69Z]

It is a clone.

[PDW HOTRODS]

If you want a 6, the 4.3 would be a direct bolt in, and you could add
turbo or super charger to it, and no cutting, so it could go back any time.

[novaderrik]

stick the GN drivetrain in it and have a ball. screw the resale value- it's a car, might as well enjoy the damn thing.
it's not a direct "bolt in" deal, but motor mounts are easy to make using the GN mounts as a starting point. you can even use the stock 3.42 rear gears (and posi if equipped) out of the GN if you get a 72-74 Nova 8.5 rear axle housing.

but i'd skip the rack conversion- i still haven't been convinced that it's any better than a good stock setup except for a few pounds being saved. hell, if you have the GN steering box, put that in the car. except for the rag joint (use a newer Chevy truck part) and the PS lines (have the local NAPA make you some lines) it's a direct bolt in deal.
there is a swap section at www.turbobuick.com where you should be able to ask some questions and get some answers. of course, there are going to be the Buick purists over there that think that their glorified black Regal is something extra super duper special, and they will mock you for putting the turbo Buick motor in a Camaro..

[novaderrik]

Originally Posted by PDW HOTRODS

If you want a 6, the 4.3 would be a direct bolt in, and you could add
turbo or super charger to it, and no cutting, so it could go back any time.

and a 4.3 is NOT a direct bolt in. the bellhousing will bolt right up, and the front accessories will swap over, but everything else is different- even the fuel pump mount is upside down.
so, in the end, the Buick swap won't be much more work and will be way cooler. unless, of course, you can score a turbo 4.3 out of a Syclone or Typhoon..

[XLexusTech]

Hi I did a GN swap for me it was cake as I was going to another G Body.
IMHO If I were doing this I would swap the complete harness. You might have to run a hydroboost or manual brake setup. In addition as you know you will have a leaking rear main seal no matter what.
IMHO if you want to go turbo Right on but do it with a SBC...

[6768toys]

I say if you want to do the GN swap do it. Every other project out there seems to have to have an LS1, almost getting boring. And yes - screw the value - we need to build cars to have fun with not how much we can profit from them in 6 months or so. I've had my 67 for 30 years - It means more to me then $...

[Tommy69Z]

I got it pushed in the garage this past saturday. I have the complete wiring harness out of the car, and had planned to try and us it, cut out the stuff not needed, that way I would have and updated harness in the car. I had an LT1-t56 that I pulled out a couple of years ago, just wasn't happy with it! I'm thinking I might pull the front cap off the car to make it easier, if I can do it without ruining the paint. I pulled the pan on the buick motor to check the bearings, the look fine, so I will probably drop it in stock for now, and get it running. Future plans are to upgrade it run some 10's in the quarter, as money will allow.