Hi I'm a young kid looking for something a little more fun as my daily driver. Recently I've come across a base 1986 buick regal with what i believe is a 3.8 liter engine. Since the engine has around just 110 horsepower it's seeming to be almost a waste of time to even look into putting work into and it might be more worth finding a nice ss monte carlo for a fair price. But since the Regal is only $1300 I've come to you guys for help, if it is worth getiing this car and working it let me know if not please do so before i waste my time. keep in mind im only a young kid so i can't really work any miracles. thank you for your time guys!
how does one go about getting perfomance?
- Thread starter Solidhank
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x2. That said if you willing to drive this one while you locate buy or have a motor built for it, it can be a great swap candidate.
$1,300 isn't much of a budget, but for an equivalent price, you're generally going to find a much nicer 3.8 Regal than a Monte Carlo SS. In my opinion, it's better to start with a nice base and work from there. Otherwise, you're spending lots of money on mechanical and aesthetic things that you might not need to otherwise. It wouldn't take all that much work or money to swap the 3.8 out of the Regal, and you'll have probably a nicer, more reliable car to boot. And don't underestimate your abilities just because you're young.
Horsepower is a very general term. As it is a function of torque and rpm it can be misleading. You aren't going to be spinning an engine too awfully fast on the street. 1500-4500 rpm is where you want to make your torque. Getting the engine into that range might involve a rear end gear swap to a more favorable ratio.
An engine is an air pump. The more you can get in and get out the more fuel you can put through it to make power. A four barrel intake that you clean up from a 4.1 and a well tuned q-jet is a good cheap up grade for the three point eight. Getting it out might involve an exhaust system with larger tubing and free flowing mufflers. Ported manifolds or some headers might go on at the same time. Get it tuned up and I bet you will notice a sizable gain and still retain favorable mileage.
If you are up for a swap in the future it's engine bay will hold just about anything. I am a Buick kind of guy so I will recommend a 350 or a 455. Might also be on the lookout for a 400 or a 430. But any engine can be swapped in with minimum hassle.
As a young guy you might find that the insurance is cheaper on the Regal than a MCSS. Also wont be a cop magnet.
An engine is an air pump. The more you can get in and get out the more fuel you can put through it to make power. A four barrel intake that you clean up from a 4.1 and a well tuned q-jet is a good cheap up grade for the three point eight. Getting it out might involve an exhaust system with larger tubing and free flowing mufflers. Ported manifolds or some headers might go on at the same time. Get it tuned up and I bet you will notice a sizable gain and still retain favorable mileage.
If you are up for a swap in the future it's engine bay will hold just about anything. I am a Buick kind of guy so I will recommend a 350 or a 455. Might also be on the lookout for a 400 or a 430. But any engine can be swapped in with minimum hassle.
As a young guy you might find that the insurance is cheaper on the Regal than a MCSS. Also wont be a cop magnet.
As a project guy.
Buy something with nice interior and paint if you are considering any sort of engine swap. If both of those are nice, then the car is done with a new heart. A decent car with really nice interior is the best to start with, because interior & trim seems to be expensive and time consuming. If the Regal is clean, I say drive it and add a V8 later. Then you can, like aforementioned, gather the stuff you want and have a driver.
Buy something with nice interior and paint if you are considering any sort of engine swap. If both of those are nice, then the car is done with a new heart. A decent car with really nice interior is the best to start with, because interior & trim seems to be expensive and time consuming. If the Regal is clean, I say drive it and add a V8 later. Then you can, like aforementioned, gather the stuff you want and have a driver.
GET THE CAR U HAVE ALL THE HELP U NEED RIGHT HERE.i did my first full motor swap my self when i was 13 in my dads 76 ford grand torino went for a 351sb to a 406 bb i did eveything my self with him watching and shoing me what to do he only helped so he had peace of mined knoing thing where thight the first time i turned that key and it started right off the headers i was more then hooked on cars.if i was u i would grab it up run the 3.8 till u have eveything to do a swap a small block chevy is so ez to swap in place of a 3.8 i did it last summer the many things goin form the 3.8 to say a sbc is motor mounts and running the fule lines for the drives side to pass side and needine a dif transin had it done in 3 days form running 3.8 to running sbc350.u may be younger but ur lucky enf to have found this forum where u will get evey bit of help u need and more.and if u get the car welcome to our gbody family.
The only way to get performance out of an n/a V6 Regal is to swap a better complete powertrain in. 3.8 V6s are weak engines in N/A form and there is really nothing you can do. The THM200 trans is also weak and won't last long behind a more powerful motor. Then there's the 2.41 ratio, peg leg rear axle that would hold back any motor's performance. Also all Regals, even the GNs have missing body bushings because GM wanted Buicks to have a smoother ride.V6 Regals also have small front anti sway bars and lack rear bars.
As you can see in my sig, I swapped in a complete powertrain out of a MCSS (HO 305, THM 200-4R OD, and 3.73 POSI rear axle) and the 5.0 is pumping out more than twice the power that the 3.8 ever could. Sadly you have a 3 front attack, engine, trans, and rear axle.
As you can see in my sig, I swapped in a complete powertrain out of a MCSS (HO 305, THM 200-4R OD, and 3.73 POSI rear axle) and the 5.0 is pumping out more than twice the power that the 3.8 ever could. Sadly you have a 3 front attack, engine, trans, and rear axle.
find a nice running 400 sbc, or look into putting in a budget 5.3 vortec chevy truck motor (all stock), while you have it out, change the cam in it... you can get the motor for around $500, however it may cost you a little over $2000 to get it into the car, depending on how much you can do by yourself (and do the right way)
an ssmonte will cost more and the 305 is a dog also you would need to work on it too. if the regals nice inside and out go for it and build a motor later.
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