I just wanted to reply to this thread, because it is GREAT !! I'm on both sides of the fence, but am FINALLY going to build my DREAM CAR. I have a couple Buick Regals-- My primary race car is an 87 Regal Limited, absolutely mint, with all the bells and whistles, EVERYTHING power optioned, and is pretty heavy, @ 3650# with me in it. When I bought the car(really cheap,$400.00), it had the 307 Olds in it, which I think was a std V8 in them. The car had 78,000 orig miles, and i wanted a street, and strip ride. I looked forever for a 455 Olds, or a 455 Buick motor, and absolutely couldn't find one around me. I wanted to make the race season, so I had my original 1970 Corvette 350 LT-1. It sat on a pallet for the best part of 30 yrs. I took it apart, bored, decked, and rebuilt it, did a full competition port job on the heads, put in a Comp Nostalgia series 30/30 hydraulic cam, and a Victor jr on it, Holley 750 Pro series carb. The rear is a 4:10 GN, 350 trans w/4500 Trans Specialties conv. I did it all fairly cheap, doing everything myself, except the trans. The car runs consistent 12.00 - 12.20, 1/4 mi @ 110.
Last spring, I picked up a really clean 83 Regal from a friend, which his son hit a deer at 55 mph, and smashed the front clip and rt door pretty bad. I got it for $75.00, and had a complete front clip. and door repainted. I haven't installed the front end on it yet, in anticipation of finding a Buick motor. Luckily, another friend found a 74 Buick Electra 225 4 door hardtop at a yard sale. It was sitting for 12 years since last driven. He asked the old man there what he was going to do with the Buick Electra, and the old man told him he was going to finally call the scrap guy to come and haul it out of there. My friend asked him what he wanted for it, and the old man replied, " What would the junk man give me for it" ?? My friend replied, "probably around $200.00". He asked the old man if he could buy it, and haul it out of there. The old man said ok, and my friend went home, got his trailer, and went back and got it. When they pushed the car out of the garage, it had 12 yrs worth of dirt, leaves, and crud on it. On the way home, they took it to the local carwash, scrubbed it, gunked down the motor, and engine compartment, and did a basic vacuum on the inside. When they got home, they changed oil, installed new plugs, wires, rotor & cap, rebuilt carb, flushed fuel lines, new thermostat, and antifreeze. They then buffed it out, and shampooed the brocaded velour seats, and interior, polished all the chrome, and fired it up. The car started, had a small puff of smoke, and settled down, and idled perfectly. They took it out for a drive, and it ran like a swiss watch.
A couple days later, I heard someone pulling into my driveway-- I went outside, and to my astonishmment was a MINT, and absolutely gorgeous 74 Electra 225, dark gold, with a beautiful saddle beige interior. This thing is 34 ft long, "What a Tank ". I asked him what he was going to do-- put it up for sale, or put it on e-bay. He said, NOPE-- this is my new demolition derby car!! I told him he was insane, and tried to talk him out of it, but NO WAY was he going to give it up. He said, check out the underhood, and motor. When he opened the hood, I flipped out-- A 455-4V big block. He started it up. and I was amazed how sweet it ran. I asked him what he was going to do with the motor, and he said I could have it for $100.00 if I helped him rebuild his S/B derby motor. Needless to say I agreed, and 2 days later, he brought over the 455, with everything intact on it--motor,400 trans,a/c,alt,air cleaner, exh system.
Now I finally will have my dream car-- 83 Regal w/ 455 Buick power, GN rear w/3:42 gears.ALL BUICK !!! I did my research, and am going to rebuild it, and found that Crower has the largest selection of cams for a BB Buick. I figured I'd port the heads, and go with a Performer intake, 750 Holley DP, good ign. This car only had 38,800 miles on the odometer. I don't think it will need any major machine work on it. I don't know if anyone makes headers, so I might stay with the iron manifolds, and a 2 1/2" exh system. I want to keep it a pump gas street/strip car, and figure it should run in the low-mid 13's, and I'll be able to drive it to. and from the racetrack. Probably won't buzz it past 5500 RPM.
Like u guys said, it is COOL to have a cruiser like this-- all BUICK !!! I KNOW I got really lucky with this find, and have just kept this little Regal covered, until I could do it this way. I'm going to do a build thread in the spring, and will do a photo shoot, w/ all the build pics. Sorry for the long thread, but it goes to show that a little patience can pay off, as well as a LOT OF LUCK !!! Dean
.... that's the problem I have do have with you purists....
