Sellers Remorse Leads to Re-Claiming a Buick Grand National and Prepping for 7-Second Runs on Sick Week 2024
The Buick Grand National is a car that enjoys a strong following, even in modified form, and Michael Lyons was onboard since the beginning.
“I am a long time Grand National fan, all the way back to 1986 when arguing with a classmate about the fastest production car you could buy,” said Michael. “At the time he whipped out the 1986 Car and Driver magazine with the article on the GN. I was 16 and had to have one.”
It didn’t take long for Michel to get his hands on one, picking up his first Grand National in 1989. But the one you see here was a more serious build, started in 2004.
“I bought this car, and raced it in a heads-up class for several years,” said Michael. “I sold it in 2010 to build a 25.3-spec car that could go in the 7-second range. I had plenty of motor but not enough car in 2009 running mid 170 mph blasts at a 3450-pound race weight.”
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After the sale was complete, Michael tried to get the wheels in motion on the new build. “I hired a shop to build the new car, and they had it for seven years before he went out of business,” he said. “It was a nightmare, and I sold everything in 2016 and got out of racing all together.”
Changing his focus to racing triathlons for several years, Michael completing a full Ironman, as well as 8 half Ironmans, before disaster struck. “I crashed my bike at Daytona Speedway doing a half Ironman in December of 2020,” he said. “I decided to not put as much time into it, and went back to hot rods.”
Doing a little digging got Michael the news the Buick he sold in 2010 was still with the original buyer. “I bought the car back in April of 2021, after it literally sat for 11 years untouched in a garage since I sold it,” said Michael. “I decided to finish what we started back in 2010 when I sold the car.”
Everything on the car was old and outdated, so Michael decided to update and replace all the lines and safety equipment, plus bring the technology up to current standards.
But the car would get a direction change this time as well; entering the drag-and-drive arena. “I was registered for Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive this year with the delusional idea I would get this car done in time, but did not make it,” Michael said.
“I was going to try and make it to Sick Summer presented by TBM Brakes, but got delayed for that too. I am almost there, and have it running now, which will give me plenty of time to get it finished and ready for 2024.”
To get the Buick ready for an assault on the drag-and-drive circuit, the car was torn apart in spring 2022 with a lengthy ‘to-do’ list. “My best friend Ray and I started watching YouTube videos on how to turn on the Chinese tig welders I bought,” Michael laughed. “Ray somehow was able to figure out how to TIG weld, and got really good at it fast. I think his experience as an ironworker had a lot to do with it, as he was very experienced welder to begin with.”
With Michael doing all the tube bending, fitting and notching, the two worked together to get the roll cage updated to 25.3 certification specs, and got the NHRA spec sticker in March 2023.
In addition to the cage upgrade, the car got updates in the form of a Holley Dominator, Racepak Smartwire Davis Profiler VPS with new cage, a Fab 9-inch rear end with Merillat torque boxes, and a bunch more.
“The motor and transmission combo are pretty much same as it was in 2009, with a new updated Bullseye mid frame NLX 88-millimeter turbocharger,” said Michael. “We were making 1400 horsepower in 2009, and don’t see why we can’t achieve that and more with this new build, and in a chassis that can handle the power.”
A unique detail about the car is that Michael ran a production style Stage 1 cylinder head, based off the original wedge head that came on the factory Grand National.
“Most of the guys making over 1000 horsepower with a Buick V6 run a symmetrical port Stage 2 race cylinder head,” said Michael. “Buick Motorsports developed and used them to dominate NASCAR and Indy CART in the 1980s and 1990s. This head was never used on a production car, and it is a significantly better cylinder head in every way. In 2009, we were the fastest ever on a Stage 1 head, and even today, it is still in the top 3 or 4 fastest. I plan to be at the top of that chart again soon.”
“My goals with the car are to complete Sick Week 2024 and win the Street Freak class,” said Michael. “I like cool hot rods and street cars, and in my opinion, this is the epitome of that. I think getting this car to run 7s is going to be easier that making it from Bradenton to Georgia in a day, but we’re down for the challenge.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Michael Lyons.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com