New user! 1986 Buick Regal Limited

[Joser1986]

Hey guys wasssup! My names Jose! I I used to have an account 5-6 months ago but I forgot my password and never got a hold of my account from that point on so to get started I have a 1986 Buick Regal Limited So I bought the car last year in August & decided to fix it up and keep it as my project car until it broke down on me the first week I bought it,it needed a new carb so I put a new carb and thought I had nothing else to fix until couple months later it would overheat on me & would leak from the water pump I didn’t bother to fix it cause I thought it was nothing major so like a dummy I didn’t care and of course the car broke down on me. so the car stood in my parking lot for 2-3 months until I could buy all the parts I needed. aluminum radiator ,fan clutch,water pump etc.. I had my neighbor help me cause he offered so when we took off the water pump it was so rusted the smell would give you a damn headache. the backing plate was super rusted and we tried fixing it and the bolt from the water outlet was so melted due to driving the car a lot that it broke in half while trying to take it off. So I was like I give up I put the car up for sell and no one wanted to buy it. So after no luck I was just like f**k it im going to keep the car and just put a new engine and fix it up nice. I looked online for some engines and found some nice ones but don’t really know what’s a good engine & transmission to start out with & put in my car. So just wanted to get your guys opinions! Thank you for taking your time to read my post, appreciate it! Oh yeah below are some pics of my ride,hope y’all like it!

 

[Angel88olds]

Welcome! I actually seen this one for sale. I’m a California native as well. Beautiful regal

 

[86MCSS86]

Welcome aboard. I had the exact bolt break on my brother's car when changing the thermostat. I ended up changing the intake manifold after buying one here on the forum.

 

[Joser1986]

Welcome! I actually seen this one for sale. I’m a California native as well. Beautiful regal

Thanks beautiful cutty by the way

Welcome aboard. I had the exact bolt break on my brother's car when changing the thermostat. I ended up changing the intake manifold after buying one here on the forum.

Thanks appreciate it!

 

[Froggys86]

Nice car depends if u want to go fast or ride it slow just a cruiser...but welcome and keep it up don't quit.

 

[Daca214]

Nice regal man. Welcome back
Good luck on the engine hunt!

 

[Angel88olds]

Thanks beautiful cutty by the way

Thank you I appreciate it! And I agree if you just want to cruise it around this just being me I would leave the stock motor. It’s getting harder and harder to find the Buick with the v8 out here in California especially for the 86-87 year

 

[RegalBegal]

Hey Jose! Welacome aboard. So if your looking for the cheaper way out swap in the same type of engine you have or a Chevy small block. If you want to stand out go for a Buick 455.

 

[CaliWagon83]

Since he's in CA, his (smog-legal) options are somewhat limited. Will need to be MY '86 or newer. Still has some options. SBC, LS1, turbo V-6, etc.

 

[MrSony]

Shame you're in cali. You should move to America, like Iowa. No one gives a sh*t here.
Anyway, cool car man. As mentioned above, as much as it hate to say it, your options pretty much are just SBC or an LS engine. A Turbo V6 would be nice, basically just as much wiring as an LS. I don't know how strict or in depth the inspections are, could one get away with a 350 olds swap?