So I’m about to finally buy my dream project car. She’s a little rough, but a mostly running 3.8 V6 turbo. Here’s my problem; the seller claims it’s a Regal Gran Sport. But looking at the tail section (with the unique red side marker lights), it’s completely different than every other Buick G body, and a Google search of 1986 Regal Gran Sport turns up the usual suspects. Can anyone tell me if this is in fact, a regal gran sport?
What model G body is this?
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That's a 1978 regal sport coupe. Dash plaque was a 1 year only half size piece.
Depending what was ordered could be a 2bbl or 4bbl carb in the turbo setup. Car has nothing performancewise in common with the grand nationals or fuel injected turbo cars.
If what makes it your dream is the 78-80 body, good.
If what makes it your dream is what you hear or read about 3.8 engine turbobuicks, bad.
This is not a performance car, and, even if you dump $5k into the engine, it'll still be slower than dropping a relatively stock small block chevy in.
Depending what was ordered could be a 2bbl or 4bbl carb in the turbo setup. Car has nothing performancewise in common with the grand nationals or fuel injected turbo cars.
If what makes it your dream is the 78-80 body, good.
If what makes it your dream is what you hear or read about 3.8 engine turbobuicks, bad.
This is not a performance car, and, even if you dump $5k into the engine, it'll still be slower than dropping a relatively stock small block chevy in.
BUICK TURBO REGALS 78-87
1978-1982 were called sport coupes (exception) A few, less than 39-50, 1982 TURBO Buick Regal Grand Nationals were produced)
1983 First year for Buick T- Type (NO GRAND NATIONALS THIS YEAR)
1984-86 Buick T-Type AND Grand Nationals ALL WERE SFI (Sequential Fuel Injection) (The 1986 HAD INTERCOOLED TURBO)
1987 Buick regal "T" and Grand Nationals had Sequential Fuel Injection with intercooled turbo
1978-1981 were classified as "A" body
1982-1987 REGALS were "G" body
BUTTTTTTT we all here consider the 78-88 all G body vehicles (some Cutlasses and Monties ran over into 1988)
Thats a KKOOL car you're looking at and at the time the Turbo V6 was introduced, they put out a respectable 165-175 HP, not bad considering the smogged to death SBS350 only put out 175-180HP!!! Pretty pathetic considering you had all that extra weight of a v8. I own several Turbo Buicks, a few with the engine you're looking at. They are fun to drive BUT, the fan shroud Turbo Control center (1978-1979 ONLY) is probably toast by now on the one you're looking at, and will NOT be able to retard spark detonation under boost conditions, and that's even if it's still hooked up, SO if you plan on buying and driving, expect to be running high test fuel in it to avoid detonation and spark knock. KKOOL cars, let us know how you make out!!
--Will
1978-1982 were called sport coupes (exception) A few, less than 39-50, 1982 TURBO Buick Regal Grand Nationals were produced)
1983 First year for Buick T- Type (NO GRAND NATIONALS THIS YEAR)
1984-86 Buick T-Type AND Grand Nationals ALL WERE SFI (Sequential Fuel Injection) (The 1986 HAD INTERCOOLED TURBO)
1987 Buick regal "T" and Grand Nationals had Sequential Fuel Injection with intercooled turbo
1978-1981 were classified as "A" body
1982-1987 REGALS were "G" body
BUTTTTTTT we all here consider the 78-88 all G body vehicles (some Cutlasses and Monties ran over into 1988)
Thats a KKOOL car you're looking at and at the time the Turbo V6 was introduced, they put out a respectable 165-175 HP, not bad considering the smogged to death SBS350 only put out 175-180HP!!! Pretty pathetic considering you had all that extra weight of a v8. I own several Turbo Buicks, a few with the engine you're looking at. They are fun to drive BUT, the fan shroud Turbo Control center (1978-1979 ONLY) is probably toast by now on the one you're looking at, and will NOT be able to retard spark detonation under boost conditions, and that's even if it's still hooked up, SO if you plan on buying and driving, expect to be running high test fuel in it to avoid detonation and spark knock. KKOOL cars, let us know how you make out!!
--Will
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