We love sleepers. You humble host once owned a 1993 Sentra SE-R, which certainly qualifies, and the SVT Contour that replaced it qualifies, though the body kit may have pushed limits for some. Today’s subject car is an extreme sleeper of the homemade variety: 1983 Olds Wagon with 1986 Buick Grand National power – actually, heavily upgraded modified GN power.
The only thing we’d like better here would be a manual trans, but these engines were never mated to ’em, even in the Trans Am.
We also like this quote: “The car’s exterior appears stock with no unsightly hood bulges, etc. But wait! What about the wheels? There’s something about those wheels! It’s o.k., you can admit it! The last time you saw those wheels pulling up next to you at a traffic light, you were “invincible” in your new third-gen F-Body, or 5.0. You had a mullet and Bon Jovi was blaring on your cassette stereo. In the 1980s a black Grand National struck fear into anyone who dared to line up next to it.”
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Palm City, FL
$15,000 BIN with offers considered
10/24/2013 update: Sold? Hard to tell with non-auctions…
Wagon is generally pretty stock looking, but GN wheels are a nice touch.
Clean and mean with wide rear tires.
Number of gauges is rather comical.
Haul stuff and haul ass.
There it is…mods are disguised fairly well and this doesn’t depart too much from a factory installation.
Ad text:
ULTIMATE “SLEEPER” ALERT!!!
Turbo? Check! Methanol injection? Check! Eyeballs squished to the back of your skull? Check!!!
Have you ever dreamed of embarrassing every Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ford Lightning, or “boy racer” in his Camaro or Mustang, on your way to the grocery store, in your classic wagon, with the windows up and A/C on? If so, then continue reading!!
You are looking at the ultimate “Sleeper” that started life as a very rare, all original rust free, 67,000 mile 6 cylinder Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Wagon. Please take the time to view all of the included pictures. The floors and frame are in remarkable condition! The interior is also in excellent original condition. This is a garage kept car and it shows. There are no cracks in the dash!
This machine is the one-off creation by a retired engineer and life-long hot rodder/ car builder who just happens to have a thing for “G Body” wagons! No, it is not his first, but it is the fastest one he has created and at the same time, it is the most docile in traffic.
The car’s exterior appears stock with no unsightly hood bulges, etc. But wait! What about the wheels? There’s something about those wheels! It’s o.k., you can admit it! The last time you saw those wheels pulling up next to you at a traffic light, you were “invincible” in your new third-gen F-Body, or 5.0. You had a mullet and Bon Jovi was blaring on your cassette stereo. In the 1980s a black Grand National struck fear into anyone who dared to line up next to it.
Pull up to a light in this wagon today and only a hand full of 40 somethings might guess what’s under the hood. This car is powered by a 1986 Buick Regal Grand National Turbo V6! The engine was professionally rebuilt, balanced, and blue printed by Weber Racing of Ohio with NO EXPENSE SPARED!
Highlights of the engine rebuild:
Billet main Caps (center 3)
Forged Pistons (.020 over)
Balanced Stock Crank and rods
Block was line bored and decked
Comp Roller Cam .212/.210
Power Logger for recording engine data
Heads resurfaced .005 and gasket matched on intake and exhaust ports
New fuel tank with Walbar 340 in-tank fuel pump.
-6 Aeroquip AN braided feed and return lines
60 lb flow-matched injectors
RAZOR methanol injection
New (250 miles) 6265 Billet Precision ball bearing Turbo Charger
Internal Waste Gate with 3 ½ inch down pipe into a 4 inch exhaust
Front mounted Kenny Bell Big Boy Intercooler
The “BUILT” Grand National Engine is mated to a highly modified TH400 Transmission specifically built for this application. It features an Edge Racing 2800 Stall Converter and dual Transmission coolers. One is fan-cooled. The other is mounted behind the bumper with a custom one-off inlet and grill fabricated just for this car. The transmission NEVER runs above 170 degrees. Most of the time it runs at 160 degrees or lower. The floor mounted B&M Ratchet Shifter will have you thinking its 1970 all over again!
Behind the wheel you are treated to a custom Auto Meter gauge package that includes:
A scanner
Fuel pressure
Boost pressure
Pyrometer
Tachometer
Oil pressure
Transmission temperature
Water Temperature
Volts
Fuel Level
… and More!
The car has been driven 2,500 miles since completion to dial everything in…. And get groceries! It goes LIKE HELL and handles surprisingly well. The wagon received a base coat/ clear coat re-spray during the build. It is so tame in traffic that it is truly a car you could live with every day.
How fast is it? Two runs down the ¼ mile at Palm Beach International Raceway (Moroso) with times of 11.4 and 11.3 seconds respectfully. Both runs were “easy starts” by pulling away from the line.
The car is running the stock Grand National computer that is at its limits, as far as tuning is concerned. If the new owner wants to break into the 10’s, a “FAST SYSTEM” computer upgrade will allow for 100 lb injectors to be used.