New member - Will a marauder be a good match?

[robertmee]

Hello everyone. New member and new to marauders, but not to american muscle (69 chevelle, 63 chrysler 300 and 86 Buick GN among my rides)

Currently own a 1986 Buick Grand National w/ heavy mods. Pushing 10.8 in the 1/4 mile with meth injection. I posted on the turbobuick board about needing a four door car to replace my aging truck and asked for something that was a combination of good performance, good reliability and has the rarity factor similar to my GN. The two that got the most suggestions were the marauder and the impala SS.

I must admit, the thought of matching black book ends (my GN and a MM) is really appealing. One for go and one for show and comfort.

I've been reading on here for a few months (finally joined) and been watching the classifieds. I can't decide whether a stock MM is the way to go or to find one already modified with a trilogy or vortech SC. I spend/spent alot of time on the buick getting its performance to 10 sec and keeping it there. I want something that I'm not always tinkering with but is a solid 12 sec candidate. Don't plan on dragging this one, will keep that duty to the GN.

Lastly, having experienced the sphincter factor of a high torque beast like a GN that literally snaps your neck, will I be disappointed with a MM/SC? My only experience with SCs has been with a bonneville SSei but that was many many moons ago.

Thanks for any insight!

[TAKEDOWN]

^^^ Nice cars, I'm thinking you'll like the MARAUDER, but I'm sure you'll tinker with it too. ^^^

[dohc324ci]

Welcome to the site! and yes very nice cars!

To get into the 12s your going to need to find one SC or buy a stock one then add the SC to it. Procharger, Vortech, Trilogy and Eaton swap are among the popular choices some have even done the Whipple 2.3/3.4 conversion.

BTW, I love that area I almost moved Apex/Cary NC back in 06 a Drees subdivision Park at Westlake in Apex.

Also see the for sale section here:http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=87

Happy car shopping!!!

[Pat]

There are two clubs that are in your area, Southern Marauders and Carolina Marauders. Each have their own forum. Post up and see if you can arrange a ride in one that is stock more or less and one that is supercharged.

They are nice folk and surely can accomodate you.

[robertmee]

There are two clubs that are in your area, Southern Marauders and Carolina Marauders. Each have their own forum. Post up and see if you can arrange a ride in one that is stock more or less and one that is supercharged.

They are nice folk and surely can accomodate you.

Thanks everyone for the welcome and info....

Pat, I'll check into the forums. PS....I travel to Bossier/Shreveport 2 to 3 times a year. Love the area, my favorite being Bass Pro Shops w/ a quick walk across the way to Joe's crabshack! And lunch at the Blind Tiger is always good :)

[robertmee]

Welcome to the site! and yes very nice cars!


BTW, I love that area I almost moved Apex/Cary NC back in 06 a Drees subdivision Park at Westlake in Apex.



Yes, we love it here. I'm one of the rare ones that actually grew up in the area (born in the 60s). We have neighbors that are from Modesto and they love it too, so don't pass up a chance again to move to the east :D

[Egon Spengler]

Buy an Impala SS. These cars are garbage!

hehe kidding. I am ready to move on to something new. Unfortunately the bank holding the title doesn't feel the same way! haha

[TFB]

I am ready to move on to something new. Unfortunately the bank holding the title doesn't feel the same way! haha

You shoulda did like me and paid $CASH$... :D

[dohc324ci]

Yes, we love it here. I'm one of the rare ones that actually grew up in the area (born in the 60s). We have neighbors that are from Modesto and they love it too, so don't pass up a chance again to move to the east :D

Modesto huh...20 minutes away from me...lol big difference between the two cities. When I was down there shopping for homes our Realtor said Cary stood for "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees" ...lol lots of North Easterners migrated down to that area me thinks.

I still may but not for a while we shall see.

[ImpalaSlayer]

you will be disappointed with a stock one as they are slow as balls. FI is the the only way to roll with these cars, then they are tons of fun.

[SC Cheesehead]

you will be disappointed with a stock one as they are slow as balls. FI is the the only way to roll with these cars, then they are tons of fun.


^^^^^^ What Dave said. ^^^^^

Bone stock you're looking at a low 15 - high 14 second car.

A tune and a few other basic mods will get you down into the low 14s, high 13s. Headers and such, prolly mid-13s.

Slap on a blower and you'll get into the 12s if you can get traction...;)

BTW, Just had Dave do an Eaton swap on mine; DEFINITELY would recommend that as an option.

PM fastblackmerc, he's in Cary and would enjoy meeting up with you.

[Blackened300a]

When I was down there shopping for homes our Realtor said Cary stood for "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees" ...lol lots of North Easterners migrated down to that area me thinks.

I still may but not for a while we shall see.


This is true, most of my fathers friends headed for that area of NC.

[SC Cheesehead]

This is true, most of my fathers friends headed for that area of NC.

Nice area, for sure; but I liked Southern Pines - Pinehurst better (at least until dakslim moved in. You know the old saying: There goes the neighborhood.... ;)------> :D)

[Pat]

Thanks everyone for the welcome and info....

Pat, I'll check into the forums. PS....I travel to Bossier/Shreveport 2 to 3 times a year. Love the area, my favorite being Bass Pro Shops w/ a quick walk across the way to Joe's crabshack! And lunch at the Blind Tiger is always good :)


Robert;

These places are no more than 10 minutes from home. I'm retired so I'm usually available in the evenings.

shoot me a PM when you next come down and I'll cook you a fried catfish dinner.

Regards,

Pat

[FormulaMarauder]

You want neck snapping, then go the Trilogy roots blower route. You want an acceleration feel similar to that of your GN, go my route in the mods in my signature.
Either way is a win-win. Good luck, and welcome.

[fastblackmerc]

PM, we can meet up and you can drive my MM.

[CobraSVT657]

Welcome... I just picked my MM up a couple weeks ago and drove it 20 hours home.. haven't really dove it since then. But my impressions of the drive home with it was great. It was already modded with 4.10's. 3500 stall. JLT and tune.. still averaged 22-23mpg. Just waiting for the rest of the parts for the Eaton swap. BTW I had a 87 T type year ago and miss it. Was sooooo easy having a 11 sec car with those. Good luck on your search whatever you decide on. Oh and looking to move to Charleston SC in the spring.

[robertmee]

Robert;

These places are no more than 10 minutes from home. I'm retired so I'm usually available in the evenings.

shoot me a PM when you next come down and I'll cook you a fried catfish dinner.

Regards,

Pat

Yummmmm...I love me some catfish. I catch 'em all spring/summer on Lake Gaston :D

[robertmee]

Thanks everyone for the great info and suggestions....Sounds like a SC car is the way to go. Are trilogy bolt-ons still available? I checked their website and the online store appears to be dead.

[robertmee]

BTW I had a 87 T type year ago and miss it. Was sooooo easy having a 11 sec car with those.

Yeah, I looked at an 87 WE4 T Type before I found the 86 GN. My GN was a one owner car prior to me so I jumped on it. As for easy, maybe for you :) For me, it was probably 20 or so 'bolt-ons'....In that the block is all stock, I guess from that standpoint, you're right, but it took lots of body stiffening, larger everything and a meth kit to get to 10's.

[Marauderman]

PM, we can meet up and you can drive my MM.

..............and then mine when you pass thru Charlotte....heeheee

[SC Cheesehead]

..............and then mine when you pass thru Charlotte....heeheee

Then after you drive Tom's car, c'mon down to Greenville and take a test drive in my Eaton swap.

Better yet, sounds like it's about time for another CM get-together. (Maybe set something up right after Christmas?)

I'll volunteer Russ's place! :rolleyes:

[ctrlraven]

Thanks everyone for the great info and suggestions....Sounds like a SC car is the way to go. Are trilogy bolt-ons still available? I checked their website and the online store appears to be dead.
You'd probably have to call them but honestly, for half the price you can get the same amount of power with doing an Eaton Swap. SC Cheesehead's engine bay looks so good and so factory which is awesome.

Talk with ImpalaSlayer and SC Cheesehead about it. It's becoming quite popular as of late.

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks everyone for the great info and suggestions....Sounds like a SC car is the way to go. Are trilogy bolt-ons still available? I checked their website and the online store appears to be dead.

Call them, ask to speak to Jerry Barnes (owner).

[dohc324ci]

Whats your budget? Looks like there is about 43 listings on Autotrader.com across the country ranging from $20-7k.

[MOTOWN]

welcome to the site bud, i also have an 87 buick turbo "T" , with a stage two on center block, stage two heads, its a beast!, my marauder is currently n/a as much as i love it im planing on super charging (deciding on the type is half the fun), a marauder is a great choice for your four door fun/sleeper as most are not familiar with these cars potential!

[robertmee]

Whats your budget? Looks like there is about 43 listings on Autotrader.com across the country ranging from $20-7k.
15 to 16k is where id like to be..

[robertmee]

welcome to the site bud, i also have an 87 buick turbo "T" , with a stage two on center block, stage two heads, its a beast!, my marauder is currently n/a as much as i love it im planing on super charging (deciding on the type is half the fun), a marauder is a great choice for your four door fun/sleeper as most are not familiar with these cars potential!

Stage II is sweet. Im still on the stock long block with everything around it upgraded. Ill consider that route when this engine gives up the ghost.

[ImpalaSlayer]

15 to 16k is where id like to be..

if you pay that much for an NA car it should be in top shape and lower mileage. you can pick up decent what i would call mid mileage cars (70-100) for around 11-12.

[dohc324ci]

if you pay that much for an NA car it should be in top shape and lower mileage. you can pick up decent what i would call mid mileage cars (70-100) for around 11-12.

Yup add the Eaton SC another 3.5k your right on budget.

[ECMarauder]

Hello everyone. New member and new to marauders, but not to american muscle (69 chevelle, 63 chrysler 300 and 86 Buick GN among my rides)

Currently own a 1986 Buick Grand National w/ heavy mods. Pushing 10.8 in the 1/4 mile with meth injection. I posted on the turbobuick board about needing a four door car to replace my aging truck and asked for something that was a combination of good performance, good reliability and has the rarity factor similar to my GN. The two that got the most suggestions were the marauder and the impala SS.

I must admit, the thought of matching black book ends (my GN and a MM) is really appealing. One for go and one for show and comfort.

I've been reading on here for a few months (finally joined) and been watching the classifieds. I can't decide whether a stock MM is the way to go or to find one already modified with a trilogy or vortech SC. I spend/spent alot of time on the buick getting its performance to 10 sec and keeping it there. I want something that I'm not always tinkering with but is a solid 12 sec candidate. Don't plan on dragging this one, will keep that duty to the GN.

Lastly, having experienced the sphincter factor of a high torque beast like a GN that literally snaps your neck, will I be disappointed with a MM/SC? My only experience with SCs has been with a bonneville SSei but that was many many moons ago.

Thanks for any insight!
I have a beautiful '03 300B in Silver Birch, 69,000 mi. For sale right in your backyard if your interested

[robertmee]

Been awhile but wanted to post an update...Proud owner now of an 03 with Trilogy, 30K miles original owner....I was on a job site in Texas and hooked up with the owner, bought the car and shipped it back to NC. Sitting in storage now as the trucking company did some bumper damage to it, but can't wait to put her on the road.

[slickster]

Congrats and enjoy. Post some pics when you get a chance.

[dohc324ci]

Nice find!

[jstevens]

Sounds like Carfixer's car.

[ROCOB]

Welcome from Trilogy #92:burnout:

Come on down for test and tune at Atlanta Dragway here in Commerce on a Friday night or meet up with the Southern Marauders for breakfast on the third Saturday of the month @ Cracker Barrel 2150 Delk Road Southeast, Marietta, GA. Or you can do both, rice for dinner on Friday night and a good breakfast on Saturday morning.

"ROCOB"

[CBT]

Sounds like Carfixer's car.

It is not.

[MOTOWN]

congrats bud! sounds you got a gem, dont forget to post some pics for drooling

[robertmee]

Took me awhile to get them off my phone....apologize for the size for you dialup users ;)

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-05-06_14-22-56_33.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-05-06_14-23-22_504.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-05-06_14-23-11_369.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-05-06_14-22-46_321.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-05-06_14-22-32_486.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-05-06_14-22-18_27.jpg

[wickedmerc]

Looks sharp bro, congrats! No pics of the gem under-hood???

[robertmee]

No...I took those quickly. I'll try to snap some this weekend.

[TAKEDOWN]

What are the side fender badges?

[Papillon]

VERY nice!!!! Congrats!

Try and make it to Marauderville 9 in Hershey, PA in October so you and your ride can get acquainted with the rest of us! :D

[robertmee]

What are the side fender badges?

I believe Ford 281 Supercharger, although the car has a trilogy

[rayjay]

Very nice, but whats up with TX plates on the front and NC on the rear? Gonna get you stopped for sure.

[robertmee]

Very nice, but whats up with TX plates on the front and NC on the rear? Gonna get you stopped for sure.

If you read back a little, I bought the car in Texas, shipped to NC....I had just put the NC plates on and forgot to remove the front plate. In NC we only have back plates, not front and back like many other states. I thought it paid a nice homage to the cars roots ;)

[robertmee]

Engine pics before my fan blade broke and blew coolant everywhere :(

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-07-22_13-40-12_906.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z217/robertmee/2011-07-22_13-40-05_105.jpg

[wickedmerc]

That Trilogy looks awesome :2thumbs: Congrats again on the ride.