Yep, I agree - rare isn't always valuable, but it IS desirable. Lots of people that THINK they're G-body experts have never even seen one of these cars. I've even had people argue with me that it's not a factory-built car. lol
1987 Buick Regal "T" (307 car, Y56/W02)
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Yea rare isn't necessarily valuable but it is perfect swap fatter. Kind of cool for conversation. I bought my GN in 86 been a GSCA member for years never seen a T package with a regular 3.8.
On the th400 great transmission for the day and to this day for a drag car or compromise-able budget build. For a hot street car that will see some highway fok that. I want quartermile gears and an overdrive for the highway for both heat/rpm/wear and mileage as well as the high stall lock up converter. Engines are too expensive to rebuild before their time as are transmissions and gas got too high as well. Plus it just makes it a so much nicer driver. Reasonably priced well built overdrive transmissions have spoiled me. Some of the 70s I would rather leave there.
On the th400 great transmission for the day and to this day for a drag car or compromise-able budget build. For a hot street car that will see some highway fok that. I want quartermile gears and an overdrive for the highway for both heat/rpm/wear and mileage as well as the high stall lock up converter. Engines are too expensive to rebuild before their time as are transmissions and gas got too high as well. Plus it just makes it a so much nicer driver. Reasonably priced well built overdrive transmissions have spoiled me. Some of the 70s I would rather leave there.
dogshit said:Yea rare isn't necessarily valuable but it is perfect swap fatter. Kind of cool for conversation. I bought my GN in 86 been a GSCA member for years never seen a T package with a regular 3.8.
On the th400 great transmission for the day and to this day for a drag car or compromise-able budget build. For a hot street car that will see some highway fok that. I want quartermile gears and an overdrive for the highway for both heat/rpm/wear and mileage as well as the high stall lock up converter. Engines are too expensive to rebuild before their time as are transmissions and gas got too high as well. Plus it just makes it a so much nicer driver. Reasonably priced well built overdrive transmissions have spoiled me. Some of the 70s I would rather leave there.
On your comments about the transmission - you have to keep in mind that I am running a 455 here...with enough torque to twist the t*ts off of Godzilla. You don't need such deep gears for this type of powerplant. I am planning to have 3 diff setups for this car, one will be a 2.75, one will be 3.25 and the other will be a 3.50. Neither of which will require OD for decent highway cruising. Plus I really don't plan on taking any road trips in this car.
This car should run deep into the 11's with a 3.50 gear without any problem. Any lower than that and I'll run out of motor for sure. (considering the spec I intend to build the motor to)
Yea I understood you are going to run a 455. Ideal quartermile gearing for a particular motor setup is still whatever it is generally regardless of motor size and regardless of 3 speed or 4 speed overdrive as you only use the first three gears in the quarter in an OD trans with at minimum the same 1-1 ratio in third.
In my signature you will see I ran a built 200-4R behind a 509 that makes more torque than the 455. Although I wasn't thinking Ford 9 where you can swap rear gears which is still somewhat of a hassle but still much more do-able than with a GM rear. Behind my motor and cam a 3.73 with a 29" tire calculated out and ran quicker than when I had the 3.42 & a 28" tire behind the same motor in the same car. Either way the OD was just for travel/cruising. ie save the motor and fuel. It made the quartermile gearing still practical and the car enjoyable/ practical to drive.
11 second cars that are daily driveable capable are way cool! 8)
In my signature you will see I ran a built 200-4R behind a 509 that makes more torque than the 455. Although I wasn't thinking Ford 9 where you can swap rear gears which is still somewhat of a hassle but still much more do-able than with a GM rear. Behind my motor and cam a 3.73 with a 29" tire calculated out and ran quicker than when I had the 3.42 & a 28" tire behind the same motor in the same car. Either way the OD was just for travel/cruising. ie save the motor and fuel. It made the quartermile gearing still practical and the car enjoyable/ practical to drive.
11 second cars that are daily driveable capable are way cool! 8)
It would be different if I were younger and I was planning to drive this car more often, but that is not the case. I'm an older guy with a good job and plenty of *ss pocket money. I really don't give a sh*t about 3 more miles to the gallon. I can throw $150 worth of rebuild kit and shift kit in this TH400 and buy $99 converter and forget about it. I'd have to spend a fair amount more cash on the 200R4 that I have in order to expect it to hold up behind that 455. I'm just not interested in messing with it. I'm-a roll that sh*t off in the weeds and not waste my time trying to re-invent the wheel here. I like simple sh*t.
No re-inventing the wheel its a bolt up but you are right if you don't plan to put any miles on her the old 3 speed is cheaper and much stronger stock. You might sell the trans instead of rolling it into the weeds as a lot of people here desire to upgrade especially with the sought after BRF core. lol Help somebody out who wants to roll there old three speed in the weeds next to their hand crank starter.
I'm also an older guy with a good paying job and was able to afford the upgrade. I think I picked up 5 mpg going from 12 to 17 but that was just a side benefit to me anyway. My situation is different though as I put lots of miles on the car and live near the intersection of two major interstates so I traveled them all the time but refused to sacrifice acceleration. Cheers and keep us posted on the progress of that righteous Buick 455!
I'm also an older guy with a good paying job and was able to afford the upgrade. I think I picked up 5 mpg going from 12 to 17 but that was just a side benefit to me anyway. My situation is different though as I put lots of miles on the car and live near the intersection of two major interstates so I traveled them all the time but refused to sacrifice acceleration. Cheers and keep us posted on the progress of that righteous Buick 455!
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