HurstGN

Forecast is for sunny skies and 86 degrees. Great weather for a cruise. The evening under the stars is perfect for movies. I love it when a plan comes together! Dan D...if the Limited isn't up for the trip, we may have to have you bring one of my cars.

The National Pike Chapter of Southwestern PA is hosting a Car Cruise and Movie Night at the Kane Road Drive-In. The event is open to ALL makes and models of collector vehicles. The cruise begins at 5:30 pm. The movies start at dusk. There will be food, 50/50 raffle, and oldies music for the cruise. The movies shown will be the Fantastic Four and Batman Begins. Come alone, or pack the car like the good old days. One admission price covers both the Cruise and both movies. Admission is $7 per person, or $15 per carload. Come enjoy the fun!! Opened in 1954, Kane Road is one of only 2 Drive-in's remaining in Western PA. There's a playground for the kids...so bring the entire family for a night of fun!!

If I don't like the price, I shouldn't buy gas. OK, lets run with that "thought". Screw the oil companies! I'll buy no more gas. By myself, they won't give a crap about the loss of my dollar. Now if everyone stopped buying gas (will never happen, son't even think about posting the spam here) maybe they would notice...but it ain't happening. So I've stopped buying gas. Might as well sell the car now. No gas, no need for a car. I'll need the $ because my severance pay only lasts soo long. See, I can't just walk to work now, the transportation is necessary. No gas, no car, no work. I'm now using the profits from my car to pay the bills. This doesn't last long...you see, I enjoy the good life and need the cash flow to keep it up. OK, no gas, no car, house goes up for sale....I'm now jobless and homeless. Now I've got plenty of time to walk to places where people CAN afford to drive their cars, and I'll beg for $ for my next meal. Hrmmm, maybe that's how that other bum got there. I'll stop on the way home today and ask him if he stopped purchasing gas. Get real, and realize you just can't stop buying gas. They have a legal monopoly over us....AND I THINK IT SUCKS!!!

I AGREE 100% with AlK <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is capitalism; it is supply and demand. Right now we have a huge supply of refined fuels available; the retail price has diminished a bit. And don't suggest the oil majors are other than "honest" with you. Those companies are owned by investor/shareholders; they report quarterly results as required. The obligation of the oil company is not to provide you with what you consider reasonably priced fuel or to provide you with what you feel is "honest" information. The obligation of the oil company is to make a profit in order to provide a return to the owner/investors. <snip></div></div> ENOUGH of the BS or I'm gonna puke! There is NO honesty in the oil business. NONE! We're lied to every day. Like AlK said, give me the vasoline before sneaking up behind me mr big oil company. A bear sneezes in the woods...economists predict a rise in oil prices in the future because a bear needs oil to burn to keep warm (environmentalists be damned) and the oil companies raise the price at the pumps $.05 due to the prediction. I'm screwed. The price of oil actually does rise 2 weeks later to X+$2, again oil companies raise the pump price another $.05 to cover the new higher price. The "honest" excuse is they now pay more for oil, so I should too. I'm screwed again. A week later, the price of oil drops back to X. The pump prices remain the same. The "honest" excuse is the oil in the pipeline cost more, and till that supply runs out, and the newer processed crude is being pumped, the oil company must charge for the oil as it paid for it. Odd, this instant raise in prices I experienced last week was because prices went up. I get it, when prices go up, gas goes up. When prices come down, gas remains the same for a long time. Hrmmm, again, I'm screwed. It's now weeks later, and the oil companies "honestly" said that prices would fall in several weeks. Today, oil is still at X dollars per barrel. Today, the price goes UP another $.07 a gallon. WHAT?!?! Why did the price go up?!? Oh, remember the bear in the woods with a head cold....well, we have to help stop greenhouse gasses so the tree he sh*#s under will still grow. Remember, a bear does sh*# in the woods, and it's June...time for the "honest" reformulated fuel for the summer!! And you know, "honestly", this fuel costs more to make, so we had to raise the price. I'm screwed again. To be totally "honest", we know by the end of summer, we'll have stuck it to you so many times, that you'll be happy to pay $2.00 a gallon. Don't expect to see us lower that average price anytime soon. Yea, as long as you own that car of yours, we'll keep you on the Hershey highway to happiness with "honest" reports of how we've made record profits for our investors. MUHAHAHAHAHA! Now don't you wish you were that bear in the woods? All he's got is a pesky hemmoriod from having to wipe with a piece of tree bark and no Prep H to help. So, the morale of our story....the oil companies really ARE "honest", because they file annual reports, and all our price woes are because of a bear that took a dump in the woods!! Oil companies just make me sick!!

Points taken. I just recall the "good old days" when companies like Raybestos and some others thought they made the best brake pads in the world, and lifetime warranteed them. I've replaced a few for free under that warranty. Then came the day when the warranty became "single replacement lifetime warranty" where they would replace the pads once under the warranty. Once the single replacement was used up, the pads were no longer covered for wear, and if they wear out, you pay for new ones. The latest I'd found on that front is now "single replacement lifetime warranty if installed by the dealer/representative" otherwise no warranty of any kind. This means I've got to let some stooge at Pep Boys drive and work on my car to get the warranty?!? I told the guy at their customer counter my car was worth way more then $70 and I'd be doing the work myself. Funny thing was he looked out at my GN sitting there in the lot and said you're right...I wouldn't let them touch my car if I drove one of those. I guess he knew his employees a little too well. I've noticed that cars and their parts seem to be designed NOT to last anymore compared to the old school thinking of designed to last a lifetime. I know they can make better quality products, but the business side of things and getting more return sales seems to have had great impact on quality. A sad thing to have had to happen. As far as posting on the V8 board, feel free to copy it over there Keith. I don't have a V8, nor an ID on the board...hence no posting over there for me.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> It seems to me that if the 400 point system is set up so every thing not original is a point off, the modified division should judge that every thing that it changed is a point for! That would mean that the Buick with the most modifications (that are well done) would be the winner. </div></div> Joe, I almost always agree with you, but I have to take exception to this one. If we're looking for the most modified car to win, it'll turn into another "open checkbook" class, and there will be no fun in participating. How about this idea? Each car owner must submit a list, at registration time, specifying all modifications made to the vehicle. When the vehicle is judged, all items on the list are judged by the judges opinion as to how well the modification was performed. Yes, being subjective, this can open a can of worms because we all have different opinions, but lets just say we'll trust the judges to know what it takes to make difficult mods and they can ask the owner to explain why something was done to clarify the point of the modification. The rest of the vehicle is judged as if it were stock. This way a car with 5 nice mods intended for touring purposes can still compete with an all out modified race car on a somewhat even basis. I'd rather see credit for workmanship and effort rewarded more than just a point for every mod. If you change a color of a firewall from satin black to gloss black because you think it looks more presentable under the hood, it's stated as such on the list. Every little detail of the mods is on the list. If a modification from stock is not on the list, then the judging is it's treated as stock, it's not correct, and points are lost. This way the mods are acknowledged, and the quality of the mods is the detrmining factor, not the number of the mods. Imagine of we count mods only and add a point for each mod...an "art car" would be a shoe in to win, and none of us want to see that happen, do we?

Nope. Never had the squeaking some people get with poly bushings.

2-bolt - didn't make them in that configuration 3-bolt, could be stock, could be aftermarket. 4-bolt - definitely aftermarket

Recently, I had the displeasure of having several parts on the front end of my car go bad. These were PST (Performance Suspension Technology) parts that were purchased for several reasons. 1) The reputation of the company and the parts were backed by a lifetime warranty. 2) I wanted the additional performance from my suspension. Well, the parts go bad, and I call PST to inquire as to how to get replacements under the warranty. I was told in no uncertain terms that the "Lifetime Warranty" only covers manufacturer defects, and due to the age of my parts (8 years old) the parts are just plain worn out. I'm more than welcome to call their 800 number and order more parts, but these won't be covered under a warranty. WHAT?!?!? Why in the hell would I buy more of these parts if I can get TRW parts that DO carry a real lifetime warranty? As you can imagine, I'm rather upset that I spent 3 times the cost of regular parts, just to find the warranty is a scam, and PST goes to great lengths to publicly advertise "lifetime warranty" and they go to the same great lengths to NOT advertise "against manufacturer defects only". Just a word of advice if anyone here is contemplating buying PST pieces...the warranty ISN'T what they advertise.

I'll offer my personal opinion in case ANYONE at Buick is reading...... Price - Was put in writing earlier, and I agree, it's too damn much. You need to keep the price hovering just under $20K if you want to seel any number of these. Styling - What styling?!?! There is NONE! Hey Buick, look at the new Mustang. It is OK to have an occasional sharp line on a vehicle now-a-days. Not wverything must be rounded off like a pair of kindergarden scissors to keep us from hurting ourselves! Maybe you need to perform an exercise like hire Chip Foose and hand him an 87 Grand National. Tell Chip to do his magic and see what results. I'l bet you end up with a 2 door coupe that is sleek, stylish and very sellable. Performance - OK, it looks like this is the only item that is right about this deal. Remember, time when the engine isn't under load (during a manual shift) the turbos are left to spool down. Whatever you do, don't offer the car without an automatic transmission optimized to kick butt like the BRF's of old. But now you can do this electronically. Unless the price and style change dramatically, I'll pass.

Robert, See Nick at http://www.arizonagn.com/ he knows these cars from top to bottom, works on them and races them. He'll tell you what's good, what's bad, and will get you running strong. Contact Information Nick Micale 3334 West Marconi Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85053 Tell Nick I said Hi.

I drive an 86 Grand National daily...all seasons. I know how to drive a RWD car and have never had a problem getting around with this car. I was drawn to the GN's originally in 1982 when I saw an 82 GN on the way to college. I went to the Buick dealership to inquire about the car I had justseen, and the dealer told me it must have been a custom job, because Buick didn't make cars with the word Buick in 4" tall letters covering the rear quarter panel. Well, he was wrong, and many years later I found out the truth on the 82 GN's. I liked the 86 and 87 GN's for their power and fun factor. I took an 87 out for a test drive in 87 and I was hooked...now how to afford one of these beasts? Well, many years later, I got lucky and got my first GN, an 87. I kept it nice, still do to this day. The 87 was followed by my first turbocharged 82 GN. What a piece of history this car is. Not long after I got the chance to get another 87 in pristine condition, with less than 5K miles...MINE! Then Kirbans gets in one of the heaviest optioned 86 GN's I've ever seen...MINE again! Lastly, a good friend that helped me learn most everything I know about the 82 GN's was losing his space to keep his 82. We talked and agreed that it would be a shame to let his car go somewhere that it would possibly be trashed and turned into who knows what by someone that doesn't think it's fast enough...better keep this one in the family too. So I've got a bunch of these things...I love them all. I had an 84 Riviera T-Type inbetween, and it was a fun daily driver too. If I had to buy a new car today, what would I buy? In no particular order (I like all these for their style) a Crossfire, a Mustang GT, a Solstice. No Buicks in the list you ask? Nope. Unless thay make a car like the Blackhawk, Buick can keep the crap they're turning out today. Buick (actually all of GM) needs a major attitude adjustment and quit being a follower 5 years after everyone else finds out what we want. I got enough cars for now...I can wait till somebody builds my dream car.

I just HAVE to throw in a few notes here....ALL intended at humor more than anything else.... <ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*]Dave, CONGRATS on the sex change operation!! Now we know the real reason you went to Ohio.[*]There IS a mystery carb that WILL get 200 miles to the gallon...so why don't our cars get 200 MPG? Well, cause the automakers are using fuel injection, and not the *Magic* carb.[*]Here's yur sign.....I just love that one. Yes, it does seem to apply to many comments here, depending on what side of the fence you're on. Continue on gents....

<span style="font-style: italic"> <span style="font-weight: bold">STELLLLLLAAAAAA!!!!!!</span></span>

I for one agree that this web site and its content need to be better tied to the board of directors. While the official means of communications is the Bugle and official correspondence from the national office, this web board could be used effectively to communicate information in a timelier manner. A case in point...we have a new Regional/Chapter coordinator. This is the combination of the old posts Regional coordinator and Chapter coordinator. I don't recall seeing any posts regarding the consolidation of these two functions. I prolly didn't read posts that week. I don't even know when it was mentioned in the Bugle...I must have missed that issue. When Judy and Ron stepped down from the old positions, I saw no post traffic regarding candidates being considered on the newly formed position. This also was prolly mentioned in the issue I missed. Prolly in the same set of posts on-line too. This reveals a problem in that I was a chapter director at the time this all happened. How to solve the problem? Yes, we'll get many opinions on this, I offer one here. What if there was a forum where official club business was posted? This would include board agendas prior to board meetings; officer announcements; position changes; policy changes; rules changes...basically encompassing any official correspondence from the top (board or national office) down to the local chapters and membership. All members on-line could read the posts in this forum with read-only access. Each local chapter would elect a new position in their chapter; let's call the new position "Web-News Representative? or "WNR" for short. The WNR for the chapters would be responsible for gathering the web posts in this forum and making sure the information got to the local chapter meetings for membership review and discussion. The WNR for each chapter would have posting rights to post official feedback sanctioned by the chapter they represent. This would allow chapter members to argue the points off-line and determine an official position, pro or con that the chapter would like to relay to the board. These official positions would be posted for all to see where the chapters stand on the issues. The board would also have a WNR appointed and that board member would have rights to post official news as deemed appropriate by the board. This would be the beginning of posts to this forum. The head of the national office, currently Mike Book, would also have posting rights, and at the discretion of the national office, posts would be made to convey information. Either the board WNR, or the national office WNR would collate chapter input to be discussed at the board meetings. The result is the board or national office can drive changes from the top down. Local chapters can file official responses for all the chapters to read and consider, and the reply is made to the board or national office from the bottom up. Keeping things on a chapter level helps solve two big problems; one, the input of hundreds or more members would be overwhelming, and non-productive. The input of chapters as a whole would mean discussions are held off-line and the consensus only is delivered...not the entire argument behind the final decision. If an individual member is not in a local chapter, that member could write a personal letter to the board or national office directly, as they can now. Or that member could join a local chapter and have their voice heard among other members. Any chapter unable to appoint a WNR due to lack of computer access, which would be unlikely, would simply continue as they do now, relying on the official notifications as they exist. Chapters that can take advantage of the new WNR?s would be able to act in a timelier manner, and this would be an incentive to have chapters represented on-line. This is just one opinion, consider it, support it if you think it's a WiNneR of an idea, shoot it down if you think it's a WeiNeR of an idea...but just make yourself heard on the matter.

OK, Essence? I can see the commercial now. Emeril runs out on stage, sprinkles some "Essence" on the car and yells "BAM!" and runs off. I only agree with reusing older names, if the car has design styling reminiscent of the original named car. None of the new cars meet that criteria. Why not name it like it looks? The first time I saw a LaCrosse commercial, I instantly thought "Oh, look at the new Taurus". Sorry, but it looks like that horrendous Ford product to me. No lines, no unique style. Another European jellybean. Buick needs to learn from Cadillac and some of their new cars. They at least look different! How about the new Chrysler Crossfire? That's different. And their new concept the Firepower. Wow! Now we're talking. As far as I'm concerned, the name isn't the issue, it's the cars themselves. These new styles are EXACTLY what the Buick stereotype is all about. The families that grew up on the Taurus can now afford something more...and Buick is going after these aging Taurus owners. These are only my opinion. No offense is meant towards anyone. But I for one won't consider these new Buicks anytime soon. Maybe a Mopar owner in the making, but at least these Mopars have some new styling. (Have at that comment Dan )

That Cadillac "pickup" as you describe it, may be a Professional Car. Was it somewhat like an El Camino? If so, I'd really like to know it's condition. Is it in good enough shape to restore?

OK, seen it, hated it...will give some info on it. GN's started in 1982. They were Charcoal Gray and Firemist Silver. All came standard with a 4.1 NA motor, except a handful (about 20) that came with a 3.8 turbo. The turbo was carbuerated and had no intercooler. No GN's in 1983. 1984 introduced the all black GN. The 3.8 turbo was now standard. It was fuel injected, but not intercooled. 1985 followed like 84, no major differences. 1986 introduced the 3.8 turbo with fuel injection and intercooler. This made a signifigant jump in horsepower. Due to the intercooler, all pre-86 cars became known as "hot-air" cars. 1987 saw a rating change of 5 hp to the GN motor, no other differences. Some factory options were no longer available on the GN's due to CAFE fuel requirements. 1987 also saw the introduction of the GNX, the holy grail of GN's. With it's ceramic turbo, ladder bar setup, fender flares, numbered cars...these are highly desireable with only 547 made. Now, onto the History Channel show. Well, they succeeded in making these 2 cars slower than factory. A chip is a good upgrade, if it comes from someone who knows how to program them. I don't recall, but I think they used a Hypertech chip on the show...mistake #1. The ignition was swapped for an MSD box...mistake #2. Tweaked (from LC in Texas) ran a stock ignition setup into the 8's on the drag strip. They really didn't address the suspension well at all. If it's dedicated to drag racing, then loose the front sway bar, get 90/10 shocks, and at a minimum, setup the rear with airbags, or better yet a HRParts sway bar. Alot was left on the starting line. The launch is key to a good time with these cars. A hotwire setup for the fuel pump is a must, along with a more heavy duty fuel pump, like a Walbro at a minimum. Don't forget the critical fuel sock. Stock socks close up and starve the motor for fuel. Dedicated drag race, then lets lose the cat and run race fuel. They added an intercooler, OK, but the piping run was too long. It's best to redo the 84/85 intake and get the turbo up front like an 86/87 so you can shorten the run of plumbing to the intercooler. On this show, I'd think they had no time for the intake work...so the long plumbing would have to do. Lastly, lets do a bolt on....my preference is propane injection. This would allow turning the boost up...ALOT. If not propane, then alcohol injection. Either one will let a street car run 25+ PSI on the street. These cars get their performance from the turbo...and if you want it to run, ya gotta turn up the boost! It doesn't take much to make the GN's run...this show showed how NOT to make them run. I haven't bothered watching again since I saw this show. Hope the history helps a bit.

Bill, You were supposed to try to convince her that those cast iron parts were from a new cast iron cookware set. A real fancy set, as it has more than a simple cast iron skillet in the set!!

I'm looking for anyone from the Portland Oregon area that can assist me. I spent quite a bit on some specialized shocks from a Portland Area business. The business has yet to deliver the shocks or refund me my money. I'm looking for somebody that's willing to drop by the business and speak to the owner for me since the owner refuses to answer the phone when I call. If anyone can help me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Dan McCann

They made many turbo Rivs in the 80's. I had an 84. The 84 and 85 shared the same setup, the turbo is on top of the motor back by the firewall. Kinda hard to mistake a turbo and NA motor in these cars. Dan

That's the right one. Had one for years...it never fell off.

I do agree to some extent that ripping apart a complete, solid, and easily restorable car...and turning it into a custom hot rod may not be the best thing for the hobby. Finding complete cars in original condition is becoming harder by the day. Yes, if it can be preserved, it would be nice to do so. In 50 years, lets see if you can find a Honda Civic that has 14" wheels on it. Not all cars survive their first year unaltered, let alone 25 or 50 years or more. Now, lets consider this scenario: A junkyard has a 57 Buick. The doors are pretty well shot. The bumpers a just about 100% rusted relics that give a hint as to the former shape of the chromed pieces. The glass is all gone, long broken out by vandals. The engine was pulled in favor of a previous restoration of another 57 Buick. This car appears to be a worthless pile of crap. Obviously, IF you could find the parts to reconstruct this vehicle, the investment would not be worth the effort, unless you have the unlimited funds of a millionaire. Along walks an up and coming Chip Foose or a Troy Trepanier, lets call him Biff Ranger, and he sees lines that he falls in love with. For $50 the hulk is purchased and the young lad begins to make the frame, sheetmetal, and rest of what isn't there from scratch. Yes, he takes a few liberties with the car since he has a vision of a custom car. 5+ years later, he completes the car. Of the complete car, less than 5% of the cars parts are original. Does he call the car a 2010 Ranger. Nope. He calls his minds creation a 57 Buick. This creation was Biff Ranger's way of preserving the old 57 Buick, while giving it a personal look for the year 2010. No matter how you look at it, this is barely a 57 Buick, but it was originally a 57, and he still calls it a 57 Buick. And this custom car keeps one more 57 Buick on the road, and out of the crusher. It seems Biff has done a huge part to preserving the Buick. Wouldn't you agree? So before trashing a custom car just for the sake that it's a custom, maybe ask what condition the car was in before the job was started. Maybe it was a labor of love to save a pile of junk. If it was not, then state your case politely and try to win one to your side.

I had an 84 Riv T-Type. 90% of the time I was in rush hour traffic. I only got 13-15 mpg tops in the city. Highway would yield 22-24 mpg.

Location, Location, Location?