Lots of good tips here overall, seems like many guys are saying to get the car running first. I need to get this thing into my garage besides my Camaro. I don't trust it even in non-running condition on my driveway for too much longer. Recently sold my Monte Carlo SS and everyone that came to see the car had questions about the GN sitting on the driveway. I am in Long Island NY.
picked up a rough 87 Grand National - how to approach project?
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if you have the garage space i would do the floor it;s easier with out the drivetrain pull the fenders and leave them off easier to work on the engine . paint the fire wall and frame before putting in the engine and then . get it running . .. after that before installing the fenders put in new door hinges it;s easier to adjust the doors without the fenders
Good tips here everyone. Washed it today, plan to get it into the garage and start the floors first. Then going to mastercoat / KBS / POR-15 both sides of floors, then get the engine bay cleaned and painted, then get the car running.
i'm not sure about por15, its a big name but when i 1st got my ss in 03' i had my undercarriage done in that and within 2 yrs was peeling off. had it redone 2 yrs ago with corroseal i think and painted over, can't speak to it yet and my mechanic chose it not me. get other opinions unless you had good luck with it previously.
Yeah I may not go with POR-15, there are newer cheaper names out there now. The POR-15 on my Monte Carlo SS didn't appear to hold up very well either.
i did fail to mention 1 thing, the mechanic who did the por15 @ my request in 03' for like $300.00 in 2003 was same 1 recommened i redo it in 2023 and it cost $1000.00 to not only get that por15 off but to corroseal it & paint it black and do a small rear frame rail patch behind drvr side rear wheel with a mouse nest in there, cant speak to it much but seems to be holding up 2 yrs later so far. then again my ss aint facing the elements like ir did from 2003-2008 and im in the NE of US where we love rd salt.
now i didnt send it in to get that done, i sent it in to begin the process of a block to rear exhaust system. he was to remove the old system and install hooker sbc manifolds. he came back with pics of frame rot, a weeping gas tank & offered the whole shabang while it was all out, why not? total was like 3k, that also included a tow to exhaust shop & that shop's expenses. i bared most of the parts costs like new gas tank n' straps from mikes montes.
not everyone can see my sig but heres the final product and i did pay him bout $60 to do these 2 vids so can share with others..
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Yeah, it all about if you need it easily moveable. Kind of a stupid power train combination, 5.3 and 4L80E. Hopefully you are planning on a turbo, it is a GN after all. As far as a driveshaft, I found a $200 option for the 4L80E conversion in my 1970 Cutlass. It even had right front U joint, just needed the yoke swapped and had a rear 3R conversion joint. I personally hate vehicles that won't move under their power, saying that, the running joke was when all the kids were down on holiday's it was the annual pushing in the Oldsmobile to my garage for motor work.
