Before I introduce the Mistress (that's what my wife calls her)...I have to give credit where credit is due: This project would not be possible without the support and understanding of my wife Sherilyn. She may not understand my passion for cars, but she knows how happy it makes me to have a project. As always, my family comes before anything else. Thank you.

Oh, apparently there has been some confusion. I have this page set up from beginning to end. So the most recent pics of progress are on the second page. Enjoy and please post comments of encouragement and advice.

This is my 1987 Buick Grand National Project (AKA The Mistress). It was located being stored in a garage in Rosenberg, Texas for several years. The guy I got it from traded a Mustang for it and parked it the garage only knowing it was a Grand National. I purchased the car sometime in March 2006. Needless to say, it is rough. The body has several dings, scratches and a the time of purchased I could only see the right rear quarter had a small dent. It wasn't until later I discovered this car had a rought life and was involved in a pretty severe accident (carfax showed nothing!). It wasn't tracking straight and after a check, it was determined the frame was bent. So $800 later, the frame is straight. But the idiots who did the original repair to the body, welded a quarter panel in while the frame was bent, so when the frame was straightened- the quarter panel bent. Another unpleasant item I discovered was the original rearend had been replaced with a 7.5" rearend, probably a junk yard one to replace the original damaged in the wreck. After about a month of hunting, I located a replacement 8.5" rearend in San Antonio. Recently I was able to obtain a flawless right rear quarter panel and now I am just saving my money to get the body work taken care of. In addition to replacing the damaged quarter panel and header panel, I plan on shaving the door handles, locks, antenna and filling the holes down the sides where the moulding was. When I found the car, the bumper fillers were gone. I replaced the front and rear bumper fillers.

I replaced the stock 15" chrome wheels with 16" GTA aluminum wheels to mimic the GNX look. I am debating on going with the GNX fender flares and vents- giving the car a GNX clone look. I will be replacing the stock mounted intercooler with a front mounted one as I will need the ground clearance. I will be replacing the stock coil springs with airbags. This way I can slam the car when parked and still be able to get in my drive way. I think the GTA wheels are going to be temporary and I am leaning more toward either 18" all the way around or 18" front and 20" rear. As far as performance, here I what I have been able to determine what has been done: cold air intake, 3" downpipe, dump, 2.5" hooker exhaust system, 36 lb injectors, Hypertech chip, stall torque converter with an Art Carr transmission. The stall torque converter will be replaced for the stock unit. I don't have any plans to race the car, just cruise it. The exhaust tips are going to be replaced with rectangular units that will hold closer to the body. Since I will be going to a front mounted intercooler, I will be replacing the lower valance with a one piece unit. I just bought a set of headlight black outs and am looking for a set of turn signal black outs and tail light blackouts. I would like to thank the guys on www.turbobuicks.com for all their help and feedback with my project. I have always wanted a Grand National and now I have one. It is rough now, but when completed in about a year or so, it will be my dream car. I will post updates from time to time.

I just installed the 8.5 rearend this week. After I finish parting out the 86 T-type sitting in my garage, I will begin the work more on the Grand National. Hopefully in the next few weeks I can install the aluminum bumper cores and header panel.

--------------------------Feb 2008---------------------------

Been a while since I posted, here is what has been done:

1. replaced ALL the body bushings with poly units. Added the GNX bushings
2. installed the Monte Carlo front frame braces
3. pulled the interior out
4. sold the GTA wheels
5. Decided for the time being to forget about 18 & 20 combo and went with 17x8 KMC Hotwheels Sixty-eights with 235/45r17 tires. I haven't put them on the car yet-don't want to get overspray on them.
6. replaced the steel bumper supports with aluminum ones
7. The GN is currently at Tejas Autobody in Needville, Texas- will have the quarter panel replaced, all dents and dings removed, will shave the rubber guards on bumpers, bumperettes and probably the antennae. With any luck, the body work and paint will be done by mid march.

----------------------April 13, 2008---------------------------

Falling a little behind schedule-working 50 hours a week and going to school full time is kicking my butt. Made some progress today. I removed all the trim around the windows and took out the quarter windows. Removed tail lights, rear spoiler and mirrors. Still have to remove the front bumper, fillers, fender trim and door handles. Hopefully will replace the quarter panel soon. The more I dig into it, the more "surprises" I am finding- not good ones. Whoever worked on this car before was a total idiot. The welds are hideous, the quarter was welded in crooked. Well at least there is no rust.....Good thing I have Daniel (the owner of Tejas Body- who once worked for a Buick body shop in the 80's- he knows these cars inside and out), to keep me on track and focused. Don't think it will make the May deadline I made for myself, but I would rather have it right than rushed. It is starting to look like a plucked chicken..

---------------------June 30, 2008-----------------------------

Pulled the front bumper off and removed the remaining trim pieces. The body work has officially begun. We began by cutting out the old quarter panel. I got out the brush wheel, just to see how much Bondo was on the quarter- Turned out to be 1/2" thick! Needless to say, when the air chisel came out big chunks of bondo came flying off. Looks like the passenger quarter was the only part of the car with Bondo. We straightened up the rear passenger side floor board and removed the rear window. Turns out the rear window has been leaking because whoever put the last one in didn't know what they were doing. After a long wait, finally some forward progress. The outter wheelhouse looks pretty bad, may look for another one rather than repair the mangled on that is in the car. The hunt for parts begins-again. Sorry for the crappy pictures, I forgot my digital camera at home and had to make due with the camera on my cell phone.

11/15/2009

 Not a whole lot has taken place since the last photos- other than my car is now covered in dust and becoming a piece of furniture in the shop.  I can't believe it has been over a year already!  I am doing the adult thing and paying off all my bills before spending any more money on my project.  Sometimes it sucks being a grown up.  The good news is that I should have the bills paid off soon (thanks to 60+ hours a week working).  With any luck progress should begin on the car in the spring.  I will post pics of progress as soon as possible. 

On a lighter note, a friend of mine gave my son and I another project- a 1967 Ford F100 stepside.  I will make a page for it as soon.  My son is only 8 and we have plenty of time to have it completely redone before he can drive it.  Thanks for all your comments and words of encouragement.  I cannot wait to get back on the ball and have this baby back on the road.