My 'New' 87 Regal Thread

[joesregalproject]

I've been extremely bored since my car is now 'done' (in one piece, bodywork completed, painted), and it's driving me nuts seeing it sit under its cover collecting dust. While I don't have an engine for it yet, I know I don't want the V6 and I do know what I'd like in its place. As previously mentioned, an LS swap is possible. I'm going to remove the V6 and prep the engine bay for this swap. So even though I don't have an engine for it yet, I'm going to start removing the V6. So many people have told me to enjoy driving it with the V6 for a little while before I tear it apart again, but I've driven it enough to know it won't do a burnout and I don't want a V6 powering it. And to be honest, I like working on the car more than I like driving it 🙂. That's just the mechanic in me I guess. So anyway, LS swap underway!

If anyone knows of a good, complete 2wd 4l60e, let me know.

 

[MrSony]

Craigslist is your friend. If there's none, post an ad. That's how I found mine 😛 Nice to see another Regal with a 350. My goal is to have each of the main G Bodies, Buick, Olds, Pontiac, and Chevy (and maybe an 80s LTD even tho it aint a G body) and toss in a 350 of each brand in them and see which is the best over all performer. VERY long term project, but I think it'll be fun when all said and done in a decade or two lol. Buick 350s are pretty stout lil motors. 3.8 bore like the V6, but a 3.85 stroke. Bore the Buick 0.030 over, and it's almost square. Have fun with the swap! Be sure to try and record a sound clip. I am a ways off from hearing mine, and I want to get a taste of what's to come. (That sounds kinda dirty now that I see it written out...). I'd also seriously consider a built 200r4 and a posi rear with 3.42-3.73 gears. Really good combo IMO.

 

[85442/86buick]

for your search , join V-8 Buick.com a ton of good information there.
I am sure you will find what your looking to buy there to.

 

[joesregalproject]

Here's where I ended last night. Everything is disconnected. The only places where the engine and trans are still attached is the motor mounts and the crossmember. Unfortunately I had to cut a square hole in the plastic inner fender to gain access to where the harness in is attached to the firewall for the ECM. I plan on just epoxying it back together.

I think I'm going to take the transmission out separate because I don't think I can get my hoist high enough to clear the header panel if I take them out together. I hope to get the transmission out tonight. I still have to take the hood off but I'm waiting for another body to help me lift it off and set it on the roof. anyway here's a few low quality pictures for you to inspect.

 

[1evilregal]

glad to see that you're wanting to stay with Buick for the motor. I'm not a purist in any way, but it's nice to be different than the rest of the crowd. If you do happen to go the chev route, keep the vortec 350 engines in mind, someone had done the swap from the stock chevy 305 in the GP and put an Eddy copy with a quadrajet on it, and it'll light the pegleg 2.56 up without any hesitation.... if I have to change out the motor in the Regal (may have an issue with the crank in the 327), I'm thinking about throwing in a vortec with all the injection intact, possibly with the 4l60 for good measure.

 

[joesregalproject]

glad to see that you're wanting to stay with Buick for the motor. I'm not a purist in any way, but it's nice to be different than the rest of the crowd. If you do happen to go the chev route, keep the vortec 350 engines in mind, someone had done the swap from the stock chevy 305 in the GP and put an Eddy copy with a quadrajet on it, and it'll light the pegleg 2.56 up without any hesitation.... if I have to change out the motor in the Regal (may have an issue with the crank in the 327), I'm thinking about throwing in a vortec with all the injection intact, possibly with the 4l60 for good measure.

I'm not really a purist, I'm just a cheapskate. Using a Buick motor instead of a Chevy has its advantages, but I'm pretty set on my new decision to go LS.

 

[joesregalproject]

Last night I got the transmission out pretty easily, took the crossmember and driveshaft out and then it was just the 6 bolts around the bell housing. I already had the speedo cable and shift linkage disconnected. I figured I might as well take the trans out separately just to ease the engine removal. This morning I pulled the motor out which went down without a hitch. 2 bolts and it came straight up and out.

Now to clean the engine bay, and start looking for a motor!

 

[liquidh8]

looking good! Paint looks great.

 

[joesregalproject]

looking good! Paint looks great.

Thanks. Honestly I'm in love with my paint job. I couldn't be happier with it. I've been nervous as hell working around it this whole time lol.

 

[JBreu]

That color is sexy......I love the stance if that reagal...Well done🙂