Words: Tommy Parry
Though this Buick Grand National could already run an eleven-second quarter-mile before it became Kevin’s, he’s the type who is incapable of leaving a car alone. He wanted to tinker with his GN, add a little more power and give it more of a personal touch. He ditched the V6, which some might consider sacrilegious, but in its place went an LT1 with an LT4 supercharger.
Along with the blown motor, Kevin grabbed a Texas Speed cam kit, a Wegner front Accessory drive and a built TR6060 gearbox. To make the transmission fit, he added a 4th-gen F-body tail housing and trimmed a bit from the firewall. Simple, straightforward, capable of 700 horsepower and now manually shifted, the package held plenty of appeal for a fella who wanted a modernized sort of classic car.
Though the skin was not modern in the least, the undergarments were brand new. Kevin retrofitted the footwork with Baer brakes, CCW wheels measuring 18×9” front and 18×11.5” rear and a Quick Performance rear end – thereby ensuring strong launching and stopping abilities. To fit 315-section tires in the rear, a bit of notching and a set of GNX fender flares were needed.
Further improving traction, Kevin notched, boxed and reinforced the frame. To keep the platform stable and the front end incisive, he tacked on a set of QA1 coilovers and an AGR steering box. It had to handle as well as a modern car, or something approaching that at least.
With the footwork and chassis largely taken care of, he turned his attentions to the firewall and the interior. Some sanding, welding and painting resulted in a clean and professional backdrop for his new motor. After fabbing up a set of brackets for his Vintage Air system – one designed for a ‘66 Mustang – he neatly implanted the unit and tucked it away for the day when he’d be able to drive down the freeway in complete comfort.
With big plans for this car, strong metalworking skills and an odd collection of top-shelf parts, Kevin’s build is only going to get better. To keep tabs on the progress of this incredible Grand National, you can follow its thread here.
