87 Regal:Project "Carbon Vader"

[GCheif]

This is my 1st posting for my 1987 Regal. I've decided of swapping out the engine for it and as of now I have acquired a donor car and ready to finish this project I started over the summer. Before deciding on the engine swap my brother and I were simply going to make it into a low-rider cruiser but decided on not to after Vinyl Wrapping the car in Carbon fiber. As soon as the the body was wrapped I knew we had a cooler project in mind; "Carbon Vader"

The donation: 1996 Impala SS
The Transplant: 1987 Buick Regal

I don't have the slightest clue as to what it's going to take but I will be updating as it happens. The one thing that has me stumped so far is how to keep the original Digital Gauges on the Regal to work with the LS1 engine. Any Ideas? Thanks!

 

[307 Regal]

not to after Vinyl Wrapping the car in Carbon fiber.

Pictures please!

The donation: 1996 Impala SS
LS1 engine

Are you sure it isn't an LT1?

 

[GCheif]

Yes it's an LT1, I just read up on them and it seems that the Impala B-body's transmitions were not beefed up for the power of the LT1, The primary difference between the LT1 in the Impala and the LT1 that was in the Corvette and Camaro was that the Impala engine was fitted with cast-iron cylinder heads instead of aluminum ones, and a camshaft that was designed more for low-end torque than high-end horsepower. Another difference was that the Impala LT1 had 2-bolt main bearing caps while the Corvette LT1 had 4-bolt main bearing caps. The transmission used in the car was the 4L60E, which was an electronically controlled version of the previously hydraulically controlled 4L60. However, the transmission was not beefed up for the power of the LT1, and transmission failures after 100,000 miles (160,000 km) were commonplace.[citation needed] A manual transmission was never available in the 1994–96 Impala SS. However there is a growing trend of replacing the 4L60-E transmission, with the T-56 (6-speed manual) from the Camaro and Firebird using aftermarket kits. Alternatively, a popular enhancement was the addition of a shift-kit and/or a more aggressive torque converter. Several other cars in the B/D-body line also shared a similar powertrain: these were the Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and the [D-body] Cadillac Fleetwood which all shared the LT1 engine and 4L60E automatic transmission.

 

[GCheif]

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[GCheif]

I have not fixed any of the problematic issues that come with the Regals, fiberglass fillers and front end filler so those are not wrapped in carbon fiber yet. Next will be total part out for suspension upgrade, break upgrades, and engine/trany swap.

 

[307 Regal]

That's pretty interesting. Did you have to take the hood trim off before the vinyl was put on?

 

[GCheif]

I took off most of the moldings, decided against straitening the body flaws as to keep it a street cruiser and not a show car, most of the molding were taken off except the hood, doors, and trunk. I want to keep the original color and when Im ready to move to the level of show car then I can remove the vinyl easy and fix those small dime size dents.

 

[GCheif]

I should note that Im a Vendor for 3M and did the install with the help of my brother we did the wrap job.

 

[clean8485]

It looks like an interesting project, and I'd like to see the updates on the engine & trans installation, but to be perfectly honest, I prefer the look of the car in the 2 tone paint, prior to the carbon fiber wrap.

 

[GCheif]

It is a nice color scheme, and I still own all 5 original rims I just havent put new shoes on em. I didnt think "2Tone-Vader" had a good ring to it. 8) 8) 8)