Can't decide what to buy

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NitrousMan

New member
I'm trying to decide between a 87 Grand National and a 93 Typhoon. Both cars are in very good shape with around 100,000 miles on each and they're both asking the same price. The Typhoon is all stock with original paint in good shape and the GN has a few mods but nothing major and it's been repainted in the last 5 years. I thought I'd ask this here and see if you guys can tell me how durable the AWD in the Typhoon is and what things I should look at on the truck to help me with my decision. Whichever one I buy it's going to be my daily driver and I want it to be reliable. Thanks for any input.
 
90stangGT

90stangGT

Cobra member
Re: Can't decide what to buy

NitrousMan said:
I'm trying to decide between a 87 Grand National and a 93 Typhoon. Both cars are in very good shape with around 100,000 miles on each and they're both asking the same price. The Typhoon is all stock with original paint in good shape and the GN has a few mods but nothing major and it's been repainted in the last 5 years. I thought I'd ask this here and see if you guys can tell me how durable the AWD in the Typhoon is and what things I should look at on the truck to help me with my decision. Whichever one I buy it's going to be my daily driver and I want it to be reliable. Thanks for any input.
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Daily driver in Michigan winter??? I would not recommend a GN or most other rwd cars as a suitable car for this. Maybe sytys aren't known for stellar reliability but at least you know you'll be alright in bad weather. Unless you have a winter beater, go with the ty. my .02.
 
A

AZTY

New member
If your going to work on the vehicle yourself, just open the hood of each car and decide yourself. I have a typhoon and my buddy has a GN and I hate when he comes over to work on his car... There is soo much room in there!
 
TYRODD

TYRODD

My ass. Look at it.
Zo6 :lol:

Well, I like both a lot, will you be driving race car style? Street=phoon Strip=GN

I've got a GMC 4x4 that I drive if the roads get bad. What kind of reliability issues do the Ty's have?
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Everything.
 
AlaskaTy

AlaskaTy

New member
Ty...b/c they look better, but my opinion could be a little biased :wink: You better be ready to be pissed off at that thing just about 90% of the time, at least that's my experience.
 
G

gmcturbo

Active member
i havent heard many problems from the transfercase but if you search for transmission you'll see where the weak point in the driveline is. i got a semi low mileage truck and within the first 4 months the tranny went south. engines also dont last long if you're detonating. also just like any other 4wd blazer/s10 most likely it'll need lower ball joints and pitman/idler arm. the rer air shocks are pretty expensive to replace if they're still on there. if you're not very mechanically inclined, you will be in the next year..

oh and i'd go with the GN if you got a beater for winter/storms.

hth
mike
 
dgoodhue

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Do a search on reliabilty. In short the ignition componets (cap rotors plugs needs to be change regularly). As for the AWD drive, the propshaft is weak and torque of the motor and traction of the awd kill the stock tranny. They can be upgraded, but the tranny can be a horror story unless taken care of by a 'real' expert which 99.9% of tranny shops are not.

I am no expert on GN but I am guessing most 16-17 years car are going to be reliable daily driver unless someone really goes through it and replaces all the wear item and sensors.
 
N

NitrousMan

New member
The GN I found looks like it's been pretty well maintained plus it has a really nice paint job on it. I do all the work on my own cars but I really don't want to have to be fixing a Ty all the time and I like run it hard so it sounds like I may be leaning more towards the GN.
 
S

SYTECH

New member
GN

GN

Nitrousman,

As an owner of both an 87 GN and a 92 Typhoon, I would stick with the Typhoon only because of the all weather capability

If the GN has been modded, expect the ass end to try to catch up with the front end almost anytime you desire at the 1-2 shift

If it is wet or slick out, leave the GN at home and get out the bus pass

The GN is easier to work on

Parts are available for both

Forums are well established for both

They are both great vehicles that put shame to lots of unsuspecting folks

The GN engine seems to handle boost better (20 to 30 psi) but tend to be harder on head gaskets

Tranny's are weak on both if you push them hard all the time

GN tends to respond to mods better

In 87 alone over 20,000 GN's were produced, compared to less than 3000 92 Typhoons

I never could decide on one over the other so now I have one of each

Good luck
 
Syclone#1992

Syclone#1992

SyTy.net Moderator
If your gonna run it hard, get the GN. I asked about the reliability on a GN and it sounds like a lot of sensor issues. I tend to think the GN motors are a little more bullit proof too. I am not sure on the GN's tranny though. Any car that you beat on and run hard is break one time or another, if not your pretty damn lucky. Ty's and Sy's with 100K have usually seen better days, with a few exceptions. Higher miles tends to = more issues and problems,

Check out the Michigan meet in the "Midwest" section to come and see some beautiful Typhoons and Syclones.
 
N

NitrousMan

New member
I haven't heard about to many issues with the GN's, it sounds like the 3.8 is pretty tough as long as you don't get to crazy with the mods. I've been told the GN's can make 500+ horse on the stock short block with a turbo change and some tuning and still drive it every day and get 25+ mpg on the highway. Does the Sy use the S10 4x4 trans and 4x4 setup?
 
dgoodhue

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
NitrousMan said:
Does the Sy use the S10 4x4 trans and 4x4 setup?
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It uses the 4x4 setup except for AWD transfer case, which is share with the Astro Van and Bravada. Those aren't the weak points, though.
 
N

NitrousMan

New member
So if you put something like an Art Carr built tranny in one would that cure your trans problem? From my searchs on here it looks like the trans is the weakest link. Does anyone make a beefy front shaft to replace the one that twists? I'm a big believer in replacing weak parts before they destroy themselves and probably take out a few more parts along the way.
 
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