1983 Regal - any use for someone with an '87 car?

[turbojimmy]

My uncle (salvage biz) just got a 1983 Regal with a 307 V8. It has 25k miles on it, perfect condition before a hard head-on collision. Front end no good, drivetrain is fine. He describes it as maroon with a maroon interior (bench). My brother has an dark red metallic '87 T with a burgundy interior that needs random interior parts (headliner, some trim, dash pad, glovebox door, etc.) as well as a decklid and maybe doors. What is interchangable between an '83 and '87 interior and exterior-wise? Is the burgundy interior in an '83 the same as burgundy in '87? How about the exterior color - would '83 have been DRM?

He paid $650 to get it out of storage, so that's what he's looking to get from us. Seems like a lot for these random parts, but if someone here could use the rest of it we might pick it up. Is the drivetrain worth anything to anyone? Rear? Anything else?

TIA,
Jim

 

[turbofish38]

The only body parts that are different are the front header panel/grille/headlamp bezels and the taillamps. Interior parts will fit, the only thing different there is the speedo cluster and wiring harness behind the dash.

BTW double check your information. You couldn't get a 307 Olds in that year of Regal. You may have an engine swap(V-6 to 307) or someone may have converted a diesel over to gas. Check the VIN. The eighth character is engine type. 8=carb turbo N=350 diesel A=NA V-6. The 10th character is year. C=82 D=83 E=84 F=85 etc.

Hey if by chance that was a 83 diesel car contact me. I would be interested in buying the fuel gauge from you. I can trade you a good one from a gas car if you would like. I collect weird stuff like this.

 

[turbojimmy]

Thanks for the info. He said it was a V8 so I assumed it was a 307. I'll have him double check it.

Jim

 

[darkred87T]

Did'nt they make a small V8 those years? I have a friend who had a Cutlass with a 280 in it or something. Maybe not for the Buicks.

 

[tjthorson]

Did'nt they make a small V8 those years? I have a friend who had a Cutlass with a 280 in it or something. Maybe not for the Buicks.

Olds made a 260 v8 that came in the cutlass. Real pig of an engine. Same block however as even the 455 olds.....

The rear is a 7.5", the trans is either the turbo 350 or the turbo 200, neither of which anyone cares about. The dash is completely different (although I like it better then the windshield washer speedo on the 84-up cars)

Not much there to deal with....

 

[darkred87T]

It is a 25K original mile car. The interior and some of the body panels are probably like new. I Just can't justify spending that much $$ for a few odds and end parts.

 

[darkred87T]

Actually, we just found out it's an 86 Regal Limited with a 307 4BBL and it's hit pretty hard in the front. Anyhow, does anyone know the similarity in the transmission to a turbo car? I was wondering if I could swap the valve body out of mine into the one from this Limited?

 

[tjthorson]

If it has the 307, it doesnt have the BRF trans. It would be the more similiar to the trans in the Cutlass and GP. Although you could technically use it, it is calibrated to the torque curve and shift points of the v8, and not the turbo 6.

 

[turbojimmy]

If it has the 307, it doesnt have the BRF trans. It would be the more similiar to the trans in the Cutlass and GP. Although you could technically use it, it is calibrated to the torque curve and shift points of the v8, and not the turbo 6.

What would have to be changed? His trans is already slipping, so if we swapped out the valve body and other pertinent turbo-specific stuff from the T's trans, could we make use of this 25k-mile trans?

The other thing is that this thing has a clean title. The total was never reported. I wonder if it's worth restoring? As a 25k-mile dark red metallic Limited with a burgundy interior it's worth a lot more in parts, but it's kind of a shame to part it out.

Jim