New Guy with Old Memories.

[Jdigitty88]

HI Everyone,

My name is Jorge, my first car was an 85 Regal v6 in 06 that I had to give up. I said that one day I would get another as my dad had an 80's Cutlass as well when I was a kid.

So two weeks before I had to move to from NC to Dallas I find 81 Regal v6. I ended up getting and towing it (lots of fun!).

Well my plan for the car is to have a clean cruiser nothing crazy. I plan on doing it in steps 5.3 lsx with ac then body, after that trans and odds- ends in between. I still have a lot of research to do. I will probably start a build thread sooner then later.

PIC:

 

[MrSony]

she's a beauty. Now, don't get me wrong, LS engines are fantastic BUT have you considered a Buick 350 swap?

 

[Jdigitty88]

she's a beauty. Now, don't get me wrong, LS engines are fantastic BUT have you considered a Buick 350 swap?

Thanks, I can't say I have it just seems like the easiest and cheapest way to go for FI. I'm going to look into the Buick 350 and see what the prices are on them.

 

[MrSony]

Thanks, I can't say I have it just seems like the easiest and cheapest way to go for FI. I'm going to look into the Buick 350 and see what the prices are on them.

Running out of the car in stock condition are anywhere between 300 and 500 bucks from my experience. But they are not cheap to build compared to an LS. Mine took me about 4 grand. It's still 8.5:1 compression, but that's just my choice. Flat tops cost the same as my dished. No one makes oil pans for the 350. Everything else you can either get from Summit or TA Performance. an all cast iron 350 Buick weighs 75lbs less than a standard all cast iron LS engine. Yes, there are far more parts available for an LS motor, but it's just cool to pop the hood and say "Yep, that's a Buick motor."

 

[Qdub24]

TA Performance sells pretty much anything for old Buick engines. Aftermarket fuel injection prices have fallen, check out Fitechefi.com. Buick engine swap would be easier and cheaper than a "LS"-swap.

 

[Hoopty_Mike]

I use to be old school all the way, but get a complete 5.3 for 300-500 dollars and mod the harness yourself. I put one in an 86' c10 left it efi and have had zero regrets. Also has a very mild cam. 4l60e will hold up great in a cruiser. You'll be more then please with a bone stock 5.3 in that car. Also if you're keeping the car stock height you can probably get away with using the stock 5.3 oil pan. Have fun with it!

 

[Jdigitty88]

I use to be old school all the way, but get a complete 5.3 for 300-500 dollars and mod the harness yourself. I put one in an 86' c10 left it efi and have had zero regrets. Also has a very mild cam. 4l60e will hold up great in a cruiser. You'll be more then please with a bone stock 5.3 in that car. Also if you're keeping the car stock height you can probably get away with using the stock 5.3 oil pan. Have fun with it!

Yea, I think this is going to happen. I'm here in the Dallas area and the 5.3 is plentiful. The Buick 350 on the other hand not so much. At the end of the day I just want to cruise around. I'm over the going fast part plus I have a motorcycle I do track days on.

 

[565bbchevy]

I think the majority would agree a B.O.P. engine in their respective chassis is pretty cool and many times can be an easy swap for the existing engine but what I have experienced around here is I hardly ever see them for sale, occasionally an Olds engine but rarely a Buick or Pontiac and they're never in running condition so now you are making a risky purchase on what you hope is a rebuildable core.
You have to also figure that most of these engines have been out of production approaching 40 years now.
Then you need a competent machine shop that you can not only trust but knows how to properly machine and improve on any weakness the engine might inherently have.
There is also the additional cost of parts and lack of aftermarket support which puts it out of the hands of many budget oriented builds.
Southern states might be more plentiful for running B.O.P. engines still in cars but around here they were rusted out and scrapped probably decades ago.