1987 Callaway vs the GNX ringer... Road Test Review

[*89x2*]

As so many know, I am a fan of the 1987 G-Body. The GNX is the quickest of the bunch, but in the case of this article, ASC/GM sent a ringer...

https://over-drive-magazine.com/documen ... -magazine/

Download ^^^

I forget where I saw this mentioned, but it was acknowledged it was a ringer, and the Callaway performed as expected. Low 13s.

[89CTTC]

Given the weights and the trap speeds, the 87 Callaway clearly has an advantage if both are driven by pros on the track. In an 88 Callaway, the GNX would have no chance at all.

I owned an 86 GN and my original Callaway (conversion) at the same time. They were both quick, and to your point, I remember an article that showed the 86 showing 1/4 mile times that were a little exaggerated to say the least. It turned out that they were testing it in very low temperatures. The Callaway always felt quicker, enhanced no doubt by how low you are to the ground. I remember asking Reeves why he doesn't up the boost to the same as my GN, which I think was between 15 and 16. He was astonished to hear me ask that and told me something similar to that he didn't want my crank coming out of the block. So, I opted to have them change the rear to a 3.54 (or 3.45, I don't recall) after their head engineer recommended it based on how I drove the car. That made my Callaway a force to be reckoned with, and a handful when the boost came in.

Off topic, build quality wasn't even close. My 86 GN started to literally fall apart at about 50K miles. I remember bolts being on the driveway was I left for work. I won't even talk about the paint, which is another story entirely. The Callaway never disappointed after Callaway themselves addressed the resistor pellet in my key by bypassing it. Before then, it stranded me on a hit or miss basis, at lest for the minutes that it took the car to reset.

[Joseugaz]

Well I've owned a 1989 turbo trans am since 94 and I just got an 87 callaway about 2 years ago.i now own 2 87 callaways,excellent workmanship on the Corvettes.i put a 3 inch exhaust on her and WOW.the torque is amazing. Honestly I'm still working on 1 of the Callaways, alot of wrenching. The grand national has an endless amount of information on modifications and upgrades. The 3.8 buick turbo motor is a great motor. Put 234,000 miles on it before i wiped a cam lobe.Compared to the callaway,tons of room in the engine bay and super easy to modify. Both beautiful cars but the callaway definitely has my full attention right now.Grand nationals are automatic transmission ,boost is always on but the manual callaways are sooooo much more fun to drive. And yes ,don't skimp on the tires,get em sticky.

[SurfnSun]

Good article! Thanks!