1985 Buick Regal 3.8/TH200c to '76 Buick 350 and TH350.

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MrSony

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Nov 15, 2014
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Des Moines, Iowa
This is not going to be a build thread per se, but just a recap of what I have done to this car so far with pictures added soon within the next few days. Long story short, I procured the car April 1st, 2014. At the time I was still 15, but I drove every chance I got be it to the corner Walgreen's to a few hundred mile drive. With a parent of course. Summer came and went and soon I was 16. I got my license that same day and not two weeks later I got pulled over doing 20 over. Granted it was on a desolate road at midnight with no traffic, still stupid. The cops didn't pay attention until they saw me scrape over the infamous railroad tracks in that area. It was made even worse by my then, and still, clapped out suspension. Didn't get a ticket because my dad showed up on his way back to work from his lunch break and the cops let me off with a warning.
Sadly. the car met it's maker two days after Halloween of '14. Overheated (in winter no less) and spun a few bearings. Knocked like an SOB. Fast forward to February of '15, I got myself my first job. Cashier at Kmart. Few days after I picked a craigslist special Buick 350 and Th350. Th350 turned out to be junk, and Buick needed a total rebuild. $4,000 and a year and a half later, I have the almighty torquey teal beast you see before your very screens. It's an awesome little motor. I do however have concerns about those $12 Autozone motor mounts. May do that old hotrodder trick and chain the motor to the frame on the driver's side to limit movement. Unless I can find a solid motor mount for the driver's side. Anyway, here's just a few pictures of the car the first time my dad detailed it, the engine when I got it, and after final assembly (minus the damn oil galley... or gallery?) plugs.
 

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Bonnewagon

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Looking good! Hey, you are not the first guy to button up a motor, paint and all, and discover he left something important out. My personal bane is the Pontiac oil pump driveshaft that must be inserted from the bottom before the pump is mounted. (hint-grind off the two little t*ts and she can go in from the top). Just be aware that on Buicks the oil goes to the cam and lifters first, then the mains. That is why I never start a fresh motor without a mechanical oil gauge screwed right in to that pump housing so I can monitor the pressure as the motor is being broken in. I hope you shut it down right away and didn't damage the bearings. Also, don't use a solid motor mount unless you like the vibrations rattling your windows. A poly mount would be perfect but I don't think anyone makes it for a Buick.
 
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MrSony

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Nov 15, 2014
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Des Moines, Iowa
Looking good! Hey, you are not the first guy to button up a motor, paint and all, and discover he left something important out. My personal bane is the Pontiac oil pump driveshaft that must be inserted from the bottom before the pump is mounted. (hint-grind off the two little t*ts and she can go in from the top). Just be aware that on Buicks the oil goes to the cam and lifters first, then the mains. That is why I never start a fresh motor without a mechanical oil gauge screwed right in to that pump housing so I can monitor the pressure as the motor is being broken in. I hope you shut it down right away and didn't damage the bearings. Also, don't use a solid motor mount unless you like the vibrations rattling your windows. A poly mount would be perfect but I don't think anyone makes it for a Buick.
I doubt it messed anything up, I didn't hear or feel any bad things happen aside from the light valvetrain tapping that sounded like a maladjusted rocker on a chevy, I had about 5psi at most. But yea that's a definite no no. Will be fixing tomorrow.
 

MrSony

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Nov 15, 2014
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Des Moines, Iowa
The thing still had tons of that moly assembly lube on the top end and the rockers, and the cam didn't look scored or knicked or rounded off so I'll count myself as lucky until further notice. :p
 

MrSony

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Nov 15, 2014
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Des Moines, Iowa
Two 9/16 cup plugs and a bucket of tears later, the Regal is back up and running with 50psi at cold idle and about 20ish at hot idle. Have a couple hundred miles on her so far. Thing pulls great to what I suspect is around 5000-5300. Soon, probably next year the motor will be back out for aluminum heads, shallow dish pistons, aluminum intake, headers, and maybe a better cam. Oh, also a 200r4 and new rear gears :p
 

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