How fast are Grand Nationals?
 

After some working and tuning on my car I took it out for a "test drive" with the wife...;)

Had lots of chances to race.

First there was an LS1 Camero and a Grand National. I watched the GN and the LS1 go a bid and the Camero spanked the GN pretty bad off a light.

Then the GN pulled next to me, which made me a little nervous, because I've heard stories of these guys killing lots of Mustangs.

We went from a roll (about 30 mph) and I pulled him right away. I could hear his turbo spool up and I thought "Now I'm toast", but he just couldn't keep up. How fast are these things?

My mechanic had one that ran low 12's in the 1/4. He got a new turbo and said it can run 11's. His friend has one with a license tag that says "500hp". I asked my mechanic if it's true and he said it is.

Tough question to answer as GN's can be easily modified and can run in just about any ET bracket (10's, 11's, 12's, etc.).

I've seen some very fast GN's at my local track. (10.90's on one particular GN that was very docile until the turbo started spooling!)

Nice job on the win.
E

302 LX Eric is right. You never know what your going to get with those Grand Nationals. 10 second GNs look just like 13 second GNs. He must of had boost problems or engine trouble because he should have stayed side by side with the LS1 Camaro.

That is what I thought too. When we both stepped on it, I heard his exhaust scream at the same time as mine, but the turbo spooled about 2 seconds later, enough for me to pull a good car length or 2 off the start.

What do they run stock? I know this guy wasn't in the 10's, 11's or 12's or heck even the 13's 'cause I would have got beat.:o

14's. Consider them pretty much dead on with an average SD fox body 5spd.

A stock one can run from the low 15's to mid 14's or so.

I raced a Regal T type on the street last fall and had him by a few cars. He said the engine was stock but was using alcohol injection, and running 20 pounds of boost. He had a drag suspension and a built tranny. We went off of his count, and let me say he had me off the line, and I had drag radials. He said it usually runs 13.3's at the track. Now he installed a huge intercooler off of a truck and some other parts and I heard he wants a rematch this summer. Since then I've added a 150hp shot that should get the job done.;)

I did see him fill the bottle up with alcohol before we raced. So I'm guessing he needed it. I would think with 20#'s it would have been faster too. It's still only a 6cyl:p The funny thing is, he is a Ford tech at a dealership in the next town.:confused:

My best friend's next door neighbor had a trailer queen GN that he raced. It ran low 10's but wasn't street legal. The guy sold it and used the cash to buy a Porsche Boxster S and a WRX! :eek:

Another thing to keep in mind is the tempature and humidity levels. With forced induction, these cars are affected more than us N/A guys.

A nice cool night with low humidity can make for some much quicker than normal ETs for these guys.

E

GN
 

I don't know how fast a stock GN is, but here's a pic of my buddies T-Type at Norwalk drag raceway. He runs 12:30's and the only thing he did was put on an after market intercooler. Got to give it to those pesky 6 CYL's

12.30's with only an aftermarket intercooler? Sounds fishy to me. Are you sure he hasn't increased the boost and fuel, maybe added a set of slicks, or some other mods? I just don't see a stock GN + aftermarket intercooler = 12.30's

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Yea Eric, I guess I did leave out that he does use 8" slicks at the track, bcause he can't hook up on street tires, and he does have a set of 3:73's. Other than that, his motor is basically stock. He has it all apart right now. The heads and intake are getting ported, and the bottom end is getting freshened up with new bearings and rings. I'll let ya know what he does this summer.

skz4u

With the extra work he's doing, that GN should really fly. :)

E

Yeah, you know how slicks, gears, and an intercooler are worth 2 1/2 sec on a T Type.

I raced a friend with my stock engined cobbled up 88GT practially the day after I got it. He had an intercooler, Kenne Belle chip, and a boost controller. I still beat him by several cars. He didn't get a good launch, but he wasn't pulling me later on either.

So I guess that says I remain incredibly skeptical about a stock engined T Type with an intercooler running low 12's.

whuhh? am i just uneducated about GN's or does the car get a bottle full of alcohol?

A lightly modded GN on slicks can easily go 12.30's.