My First G-Body

[ChevyIIMan]

I just aquired an 84 Buick Regal Limited, 2 Owners always garaged, 90,000 miles, 3.8. The body is flawless with no rust at all and I mean no rust. It is black/grey has the plush bench seats, and just a few small tears on the interior. Has just an AM/FM radio. It has a small oil leak but the underside is clean as can be so there is no grime buildup underneath at all. It has a few small problems first off it has to fast idle for a long time before you drive it or it wants to die when you put it in gear. I assume its a choke or idle issue and it has a slight miss I think but its hardly noticable.

Just a bit of my background I have owned nothing but Novas and my most recent one can be seen in my sig picture. I have big plans for this car and will be on here alot in the following months getting advice. Id also eventually like to build another 3.8 for it, gotta love 6's.

 

[betsy84]

first of all welcome, and it sounds like you made a good purchase! i have a 84 cutlass, so they are very much the same. if it makes you feel any better mine idles a bit quick when it starts up and remains to do so until i put it into gear and drive. i've never actually fully checked it out, but my guess is its just choke warming it up. never thought it was a big deal.

your nova is gorgeous i love the colour! a buddy of mine restored his fathers 76 ss nova for him, right back to factory, nova's are definatly up there in my favourite muscle cars. what other ones have you owned?

you got lucky on the body of your car thats awsome, how do you like the black paint on your g-body, any future plans? 307 swap, 455 swap, tuurrbo?

 

[ChevyIIMan]

This is my 4th Nova. Ive owend a 64 2dr HT, 71 6cyl low mileage car, 69 Street/Strip, and now this one. Its an orginal 6cyl car with a 355ci/2004r combo that runs low 12's.

As for this buick for now it will keep the 6 and if anything get a rebuilt 6 put back in. Maybe turboed if nothing else. I love the black plan on tintig the windows, and doing some interior work but nothing special at the moment.

 

[mayorjesse]

3.8

hey -

I got the 3.8 in my 83 cutlass calais (basically same minus turbo, i think). My idle also goes fast during warmup, and if i don't let it warm enough it will die (or try to) as well. my temp gauge is out, and i dunno if maybe that's giving the choke some bad ideas, like running in fast idle cause it doesnt lknow the temp. if anybody gets anywhere with their idle issue, let me know cause its kinda annoying and when its idling high it drops into gear hard.
-mayor

 

[Renthorin]

You say you have a small oil leak? And it is a Buick motor? That is ok. It is when they don't leak that you have to worry.

With Buick engines....if they don't leak oil...there isn't any in there!

 

[ChevyIIMan]

You say you have a small oil leak? And it is a Buick motor? That is ok. It is when they don't leak that you have to worry.

With Buick engines....if they don't leak oil...there isn't any in there!

LOL I have heard that more then once. Actually it was a VC and we fixed it but there are others just not near as bad. The one thing im worried about is the transmission. Its a th-200 and it takes a few seconds to engage reverse when you shift into it, and then upon initial takeoff its shudders a bit. Think a fluid and filter change will help?

 

[Renthorin]

hmmm.....not sure what the deal is with that transmission. Sounds like more than can be fixed with a fluid change and filter.

I am not a transmission expert by any means :-(

Slowness to engage might by low fluid but that shudder sounds serious. There are a bunch of transmission guys on my other site but don't know about this one yet.

turbobuick.com if you want to do a search.

 

[ChevyIIMan]

Odly enough we did a fluid and filter change and added a bottle of Lucal Transmission fix and the shudder it virtually gone, the 1/2 and 2/3 shifts are much softer. The reverse engage did get better.

Then again the 200C is a POS so im not suprised.

 

[Renthorin]

well that's good news 🙂

 

[Arok]

lol, in my 71 duster when the transmission fluid got low it was like it had a shift kit, would let it rev a little higher and chirp the tires on shifts. It had a slant 6 so it shouldn't have been able to break loose at speed.