New member, First time gbody owner.

[Opie Knievel]

Welcome to the forum. That's a solid looking Regal you found. It may be rare but like you already know, it's not fast and it would take a lot of resources to make it a real performer. An LS engine will definitely wake this old car up. If you plan on driving it a lot though I would recommend going with an overdrive transmission. Take it from a guy who drives a Monte Carlo with a TH350. Overdrive makes longer drives much better. If you want the strength of the TH400, a 4L80E is basically the overdrive equivalent. Any idea which LS engine you're gonna use? Definitely keep us updated with your progress. Consider starting a build thread when you get started. Good luck on your project.

 

[jiho]

It would explode in value if done right.

It might explode in no value if knock retard isn't done right. 😛

 

[jiho]

Wow never seen one like that with a blown through carb.

???

You mean draw-through.

 

[jiho]

I am staying with the six cylinder only because the engine only has a few thousand miles on it and I want to be different.

That's what I like about this site. So many different people doing so many different things with these cars. Over on TurboBuick.com, seems like everyone is trying to do the same thing. And it's poignant, too, because it isn't the hottest thing anymore.

If you pull the engine pull the nock retard box out from under the dash and put it with the engine.

'79 Regal had the knock retard box on the fan shroud (visible in his underhood pic). Only your Monte had it under the dash.

 

[street sweeper]

Welcome to the forum. That's a solid looking Regal you found. It may be rare but like you already know, it's not fast and it would take a lot of resources to make it a real performer. An LS engine will definitely wake this old car up. If you plan on driving it a lot though I would recommend going with an overdrive transmission. Take it from a guy who drives a Monte Carlo with a TH350. Overdrive makes longer drives much better. If you want the strength of the TH400, a 4L80E is basically the overdrive equivalent. Any idea which LS engine you're gonna use? Definitely keep us updated with your progress. Consider starting a build thread when you get started. Good luck on your project.

Right now the plan is to get the engine pulled and an ls installed. I have been struggling with if I want to find the "right" engine and trans. Or just get whatever I can get the most complete for the cheapest and get the car set up and then in the coming year build an engine for boost and get a beefed up th400 or even 4l80. Since once I have every thing figured out on the install, it should be easy to stab another one in.

 

[street sweeper]

Little more detailed pics. Around the rear fenders is rusted. Also one spot under the front passenger floor board is gone yet the rest of the underside has factory undercoating. My passenger door latch is not working currently. Plus from how it sat all the interior plastic has pretty much disintegrated. So my door cards are shot, the dash is cracked bad, along with none of my gauges work. The rear seat is trashed and driver side of the front bench is split and just about every seem. So I have my work cut out for me

Just wanted to see if the paint on the sides had any life left in them.

 

[street sweeper]

Little update, started draining fluids and disassembling the easy stuff off the front and top of the engine. Was finally able to get the car up on jack stands. Which enabled me to inspect the passenger side floor better. Or should say the lack thereof. Oh well, another thing to address.

Found a decent deal on an ls7 cam, so I picked that up. Still don't even have an engine to swap in. Ooops LOL. I am starting to seriously look though.

 

[Opie Knievel]

Just keep at it. You'll be making progress before you know it.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

Just keep at it. You'll be making progress before you know it.

Welcome from Pgh. I know I'm gonna piss some people off, for me there isn't a Buick built in the last 50 years ( 70 GSX,GNs,and GNXs being exceptions) worthy of a restoration to original. As for the TH400 , last I read Chevy today , puts them in the new Copo Camaros. With they're parts availabilities, seems they feel it's they're strongest transmission for the job . STOCK is so boring . If you watch any of the big auctions, restomods bring a lot more money than stock .

 

[street sweeper]

Got the engine pulled today. Any idea what this engine trans is worth? Turbo is blown. But have all the pieces that came with the car. Can't say that's complete but looks to be mostly there