how does one go about getting perfomance?

[G-Body_Vet]

$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.

X2 on that! A solid body and frame far outweigh everything else. I'd much rather buy a nice car that doesn't run than the other way around. I'm a big fan of swapping a Buick 350 in place of a 3.8. It doesn't get more cost effective than that.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

$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.

X2 on that! A solid body and frame far outweigh everything else. I'd much rather buy a nice car that doesn't run than the other way around. I'm a big fan of swapping a Buick 350 in place of a 3.8. It doesn't get more cost effective than that.

I agree that a solid body and frame is the most important thing. Problem with the Buick 350 swap is that it's illegal so not everyone can do it.

Also the 305 is not a dog, and unlike the 3.8, it's not stuck at it's stock HP level. It's easy to bump a 305 up over 230 HP, 3.8s are stuck at 110 HP, swap cams still 110, swap carbs still 110, etc. I did the 4.1 4bbl sawp on my old 3.8 V6 and it didn't help at all with power. Also MCSSs came with a much stronger 4 speed, overdrive trans and 3.73 ratio gears over a weakly built 3 speed, non OD trans with 2.41 gears.


The one bad thing about N/A Regals are that their complete powertrains (motor, trans, and rear axle ratio) suck. If you do plan on building an motor, build a trans along with it too and swap them in together since the THM200s are very weak transmissions. THM350s are good, THM 200-4Rs are better. You will also need to either swap gears in your rear axle or swap out the whole axle for one with a much better gear ratio. N/A V6 Regals came with a 2.41 ratio that will make even a big block perform like a turd.

 

[TexasT]

What makes swapping in a Buick 350 illegal?
What makes you think that a 3.8L is "stuck" at 110hp?
I would be more willing to state that your 305 is limited with the small bore and poor flowing cylinder heads.

I will agree that the 200-4r is a better unit than a thm-200 but what makes you think that it is better than a thm-350?
While it does have an over drive in its stock configuration the thm-350 will take more abuse. Either of those three can be upgraded into a very hd unit but you better step up with your bigboy check book, as parts and a good builder ain't cheap.

There are some pretty stout Buick v-6 Busch series engines floating around that post some pretty hefty numbers.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

What makes swapping in a Buick 350 illegal?
What makes you think that a 3.8L is "stuck" at 110hp?
I would be more willing to state that your 305 is limited with the small bore and poor flowing cylinder heads.

I will agree that the 200-4r is a better unit than a thm-200 but what makes you think that it is better than a thm-350?
While it does have an over drive in its stock configuration the thm-350 will take more abuse. Either of those three can be upgraded into a very hd unit but you better step up with your bigboy check book, as parts and a good builder ain't cheap.

There are some pretty stout Buick v-6 Busch series engines floating around that post some pretty hefty numbers.

Because Buick 350s are older than 80s Regals, it is always illegal to swap an older engine into your car. They also lack a computer system which makes them illegal in a computer era car. A computer controlled car must always be computer controlled to stay street legal. Of course if you are building a track only car then you are exempt from the law.

Since THM 200-4R has overdrive they save gas and reduce wear and tear on the engine while being able to use better rear axle gearing. You can have your cake and eat it too with an OD trans.

L69 heads are better flowing than any 80s factory Buick V6 head, even the GNs, (but they had a turbo to more than make up for it). The small bore only become a limit well above the street driving RPM range. For a full on race motor it would be a problem, but not for a street engine mated to an OD trans. There are quite a few beefed up 305s out there putting out hefty numbers too, they are very underrated engines.

N/A 3.8s have poorer flowing heads than 305s, crappy 8.5 CR, are a 90 deg V6 (really should be a 60 deg), peanut cam, lack of aftermarket support, etc. I tried the 4 bbl swap using a factory 4.1 intake and a Buick E4ME Qjet, only gained 5 HP. The N/As biggest drawback is the low CR which causes it not to respond well to mods. L69 305 have 9.5 CRs which makes them respond much better. The only way to hop up a N/A 3.8 is to either to completely rebuild it to better specs than stock or convert it to a turbo setup.

At any rate, turning any N/A V6 Regal into a performer is a 3 step processes, you need a better engine, trans, and rear axle ratio.

 

[trocutlass63]

What makes swapping in a Buick 350 illegal?
What makes you think that a 3.8L is "stuck" at 110hp?
I would be more willing to state that your 305 is limited with the small bore and poor flowing cylinder heads.

I will agree that the 200-4r is a better unit than a thm-200 but what makes you think that it is better than a thm-350?
While it does have an over drive in its stock configuration the thm-350 will take more abuse. Either of those three can be upgraded into a very hd unit but you better step up with your bigboy check book, as parts and a good builder ain't cheap.

There are some pretty stout Buick v-6 Busch series engines floating around that post some pretty hefty numbers.

Because Buick 350s are older than 80s Regals, it is always illegal to swap an older engine into your car. They also lack a computer system which makes them illegal in a computer era car. A computer controlled car must always be computer controlled to stay street legal. Of course if you are building a track only car then you are exempt from the law.

Since THM 200-4R has overdrive they save gas and reduce wear and tear on the engine while being able to use better rear axle gearing. You can have your cake and eat it too with an OD trans.

L69 heads are better flowing than any 80s factory Buick V6 head, even the GNs, (but they had a turbo to more than make up for it). The small bore only become a limit well above the street driving RPM range. For a full on race motor it would be a problem, but not for a street engine mated to an OD trans. There are quite a few beefed up 305s out there putting out hefty numbers too, they are very underrated engines.

N/A 3.8s have poorer flowing heads than 305s, crappy 8.5 CR, are a 90 deg V6 (really should be a 60 deg), peanut cam, lack of aftermarket support, etc. I tried the 4 bbl swap using a factory 4.1 intake and a Buick E4ME Qjet, only gained 5 HP. The N/As biggest drawback is the low CR which causes it not to respond well to mods. L69 305 have 9.5 CRs which makes them respond much better. The only way to hop up a N/A 3.8 is to either to completely rebuild it to better specs than stock or convert it to a turbo setup.

At any rate, turning any N/A V6 Regal into a performer is a 3 step processes, you need a better engine, trans, and rear axle ratio.

As far as the legality it depends on the state you live in and whether or not you have inspections. Being from Michigan there are no inspections or emissions laws so anything is fair game for hot rodding, states like California not so much. And as far as the power goes you're fighting an uphill battle either way. If you do an engine swap you'll probably need to address the weak trans and none of it will be worth anything with the stock highway gears. Probably the most instant gratification you can get is with better gears and a posi, it won't actually be any more powerful but the improved acceleration will certainly make it feel like it is.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

The not swapping an older engine law is fed, not state, its the law for all 50 States. CA is the only state that sets its own emission laws. The EPA sets the laws for the other 49 States, they usually just copy CA's smog laws. However it is up to each state to enforce the EPA's emission laws and some like MI just choose not too at the risk of being denied. DOT funding from the feds for doing so.

All your other points I agree with, the first step to improving an n/a Regal is to change the rear gear ratio to something better.

 

[454muscle]

Solidhank since you're young and it sounds like this is your first car, keep in mind before anything that you will have to spend some $$$ to get the car road worthy, ie. inspection, registration, insurance, plates, sticker, etc. Young guys generally forget about all that.

Now if someone else is paying for it... then it doesn't matter.

The Buick Regal is a classic hotrod (in my book). Not quite a GN, but looks good and comes with potential (like everyone else is saying, with an engine swap). If I found one in good shape for $1300 I'd buy it myself.

Good luck bro.

 

[TexasT]

Because Buick 350s are older than 80s Regals, it is always illegal to swap an older engine into your car. They also lack a computer system which makes them illegal in a computer era car. A computer controlled car must always be computer controlled to stay street legal. Of course if you are building a track only car then you are exempt from the law.

It is a good thing that you know the laws and how they are applied everywhere.

L69 heads are better flowing than any 80s factory Buick V6 head, even the GNs, (but they had a turbo to more than make up for it). The small bore only become a limit well above the street driving RPM range. For a full on race motor it would be a problem, but not for a street engine mated to an OD trans. There are quite a few beefed up 305s out there putting out hefty numbers too, they are very underrated engines.

N/A 3.8s have poorer flowing heads than 305s, crappy 8.5 CR, are a 90 deg V6 (really should be a 60 deg), peanut cam, lack of aftermarket support, etc. I tried the 4 bbl swap using a factory 4.1 intake and a Buick E4ME Qjet, only gained 5 HP. The N/As biggest drawback is the low CR which causes it not to respond well to mods. L69 305 have 9.5 CRs which makes them respond much better. The only way to hop up a N/A 3.8 is to either to completely rebuild it to better specs than stock or convert it to a turbo setup.

While exciting to argue over the merits and downfalls of the 3.8L and the L69 305 it is akin to arguing over who is the tallest midget. He already has the 3.8 in the car. Not everyone has the means or the know how to swap an engine.