1987 Buick Grand National Barn Find!!! 1 owner Florida Car

1987 Buick Grand National

Pulled this gem out of a barn 2 years ago. The fuel pump had gone bad in 1997 and the original woman owner decided to get a new Blazer and parked it.I pulled it out of the building with 4 flat tires and bad case of paint. I brought it home and dropped the fuel tank. Replaced it and the fuel pump, einstalled it. Added a couple gallons of gas, battery and it started on the first try. Idled good and I immediately shut it off. I left it on the trailer and took it to my local mechanic and we did a complete fluid flush. Everything looked fine other than the tranny. There was a ton of water in the pan. We determined the tranny cooler inside the original radiator had developed a leak allowing coolant into the tranny fluid. We dropped the transmission and did a full level 1 build with red alto bands and a factory spec convertor. In addition I added a new radiator and an external tranny cooler so that problem would not happen ever again. Also did a fuel filter, lugs, ires, oil, ir filter and a couple vacuum lines.With it running correctly I took it to the tire shop and we threw a set of new touring tires on it. Nothing fancy but they are great riding tires. Brakes looked great so I didnt do anything with them.I was told the passenger door had been damaged many years ago and it was obvious. The paint had started to check all over. I had a local paint shop take the paint off the door and straighten it. We determined at that time it was easier to paint the whole car rather than do just a door and try to blend. Before final paint I also replaced the fillers with Danko repro pieces. They fit really well and since they are fiberglass no more drooping and cracking. The paint has never been wetsanded or buffed. It could use some on certain spots but it isnt bad. Prolly a 7 out of 10.Now it was mechanically sound and looked good. There are a couple of areas left to address. The factory wheels let it down a little. From sitting the dimple inside the lip is rusty. I felt it was better to leave this alone and let the new owner decide which way they wanted to go. Also the drivers front seat has started to come apart. I asked the paint shop not to sit in the car but that was the first thing they did and the seat came apart. The foam is fine and the seat covers can be found on ebay. The factory powermaster setup should also be changed. I have 0 faith in them. My last GN was totaled because of an accumulator going out in traffic.
The last issue I want to make aware is the spare tire well in the trunk. The original, emale, wner was annoyed with the spare tire rattling and decided to put a towel under the tire and between the tire and metal. Although it subsided the rattle, he towel absorbed moisture for all those years and rotted the bottom out of the wheel well. She was so proud of herself and wanted to show me this. She opened the trunk and pulled the spare tire and towel out. When the towel came out so did half of the metal. I do, owever, ave a complete trunk pan but did not want to change it. I wanted to sell as is and let the new owner do how they please.
I have tried to be accurate in my description and do not think I have left anything out.