G body engine swap.

[themonk]

Hello people I just have a question regarding an engine swap. I currently own an '87 Regal Turbo, the engine, tranny and interior are all fine, the body sucks. It needs paint, body work, rubbers and more, I could get it done but it would be a small fortune and with my other projects it just doesn't seem cost effective. The previous owner made it into a GN clone and at the time I'm sure it looked great but now paint is peeling off of the trim and it looks a mess so my question is this:

Which of the era cars ('85-'87) can I do a direct engine and possible tranny swap to without too much trouble, can it be done to a Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlas? I want a clean body and premo interior for pretty inexpensive.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

The car in question.

 

[John Larkin]

You can put it in any G-Body though an El Camino will require a longer driveshaft. And all will require your 200-4R trans crossmember I believe.

 

[themonk]

You can put it in any G-Body though an El Camino will require a longer driveshaft. And all will require your 200-4R trans crossmember I believe.

Yeah I was kinda figuring that, I just didn't want to get into something without the proper knowledge. Thanks.

 

[charlief1]

You could even put it in an earlier car since the Buick V6 came back out in 75. Might see if you can find a mid 70's Regal and do a tribute Pike Peak car.

 

[85typet]

You could even put it in an earlier car since the Buick V6 came back out in 75. Might see if you can find a mid 70's Regal and do a tribute Pike Peak car.

WHATS A PIKE PEAK CAR?>

 

[oldsracer]

WHATS A PIKE PEAK CAR?>

Pikes peak is a rally course that climbs, take a wild guess, Pikes peak. one of the few courses where rwd cars do pretty well because it has many wide sweeping corners. the best way to learn about it is youtube...Check this out<<type this into youtube= escudo pikes peak edition >>

 

[charlief1]

And the first time the Buick V6 was turbo charged was for testing and competition in the race. It's in the GM museum getting restored. It's what brough these cars to production and it was a carbed draw through system as well.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Before you under take a transplant beware that loosing that magic #7 off of the vin# will cost you $$$ as a Hybrid will not be worth (to most) what an OE turbo V6 equipped car would be worth.
Good luck with your project

 

[themonk]

Before you under take a transplant beware that loosing that magic #7 off of the vin# will cost you $$$ as a Hybrid will not be worth (to most) what an OE turbo V6 equipped car would be worth.
Good luck with your project

Thanks, but all it is is an '87 turbo Buick, there's nothing really special about that.

 

[oldsracer]

Thanks, but all it is is an '87 turbo Buick, there's nothing really special about that.

is it a t-type or a GN...either way saying theirs nothing special about a car a fourm is built around isnt the best way to get help haha

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Thanks, but all it is is an '87 turbo Buick, there's nothing really special about that.

it worth more than a equal or better condition
1-Monte SS
2-Grand Prix
3-Olds
4-Regal N/A
5-Malibu
6-Elco
Just because of that eight digit on the vin plate.
If you like to dump money into your car KEEP that # 7 in the eight digit spot on the Vin. it will hold much more value short and long term.

 

[themonk]

is it a t-type or a GN...either way saying theirs nothing special about a car a fourm is built around isnt the best way to get help haha

it's neither, it started life out as a Regal Turbo and the previous owner tried to clone it into a GN. I'm on a couple of Corvette forums, Camaro forums and Mercedes forums so trust me when I say I don't knock the cars I own but I will call a spade a spade, my Buick just doesn't turn heads like I would like it to. When my '03 Corvette was out of commission because of a rear carrier assembly replacement, I drove my Buick for a week and liked every minute of it but I'm the type of guy who likes to drive nice looking vehicles and unfortunately my Buick isn't nice looking and I don't know if it's worth putting the effort and money into something as generic as a Turbo Buick, if it was a T-Type or GN then yeah, for sure, all day long so I might as well dump the body and put the drivetrain into something that looks nice and will have the muscle to back it up for half the cost.

 

[themonk]

it worth more than a equal or better condition
1-Monte SS
2-Grand Prix
3-Olds
4-Regal N/A
5-Malibu
6-Elco
Just because of that eight digit on the vin plate.
If you like to dump money into your car KEEP that # 7 in the eight digit spot on the Vin. it will hold much more value short and long term.

Except for the ultra rare Monte SS/Grand Prix fast back and the Hurst Olds.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

it's neither, it started life out as a Regal Turbo and the previous owner tried to clone it into a GN. I'm on a couple of Corvette forums, Camaro forums and Mercedes forums so trust me when I say I don't knock the cars I own but I will call a spade a spade, my Buick just doesn't turn heads like I would like it to. When my '03 Corvette was out of commission because of a rear carrier assembly replacement, I drove my Buick for a week and liked every minute of it but I'm the type of guy who likes to drive nice looking vehicles and unfortunately my Buick isn't nice looking and I don't know if it's worth putting the effort and money into something as generic as a Turbo Buick, if it was a T-Type or GN then yeah, for sure, all day long so I might as well dump the body and put the drivetrain into something that looks nice and will have the muscle to back it up for half the cost.

Does it have a #7 on the eight digit location on the Vin plate?

 

[themonk]

Does it have a #7 on the eight digit location on the Vin plate?

Yeah.

 

[charlief1]

If it's a Buick Regal with a turbo V6 in it then it's a T type, plain and simple. The only ones that weren't called T types were the sport coup in the late 70's. Even my 83 T has more value in it than a regular Regal just because of the engine being stock. Have you looked up the value of it in the NADA classic cars section? I don't think you realize what it would be worth fully restored compaired to a hybred.

 

[themonk]

If it's a Buick Regal with a turbo V6 in it then it's a T type, plain and simple. The only ones that weren't called T types were the sport coup in the late 70's. Even my 83 T has more value in it than a regular Regal just because of the engine being stock. Have you looked up the value of it in the NADA classic cars section? I don't think you realize what it would be worth fully restored compaired to a hybred.

Admittedly I don't know much about the T-Buicks, I just recently purchased this one thinking that it was a GN for cheap after getting the correct info from of all places Corvette Forum I realized that it wasn't although it was a good clone. I know the value of a GN but not of a T-Regal but the body is in such rough shape as you can tell from the pics I just don't know if it's worth fixing up, that's the dilemma that I'm in. I restored an '81 Z28 which is pretty rare, 350-4 spd (only in Canada for '81) and I don't know if I want to go to all that trouble again. At some point it's not the value of the car I'm driving, if I wanted to make money on it I wouldn't want to mile it out, I just want something fun, fast and different.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Yeah.

i might be wrong here.
when you are done with the trans plant let me know so that i can do you the favor of taking that POS regal off of your hands just have the title ready for me in case i get pulled over or something. Heck if your in NYC area i'll help you do the transplant i am available nights and week ends and I've done two other transplants

 

[charlief1]

FYI, These are the values per NADA site. From low to high.

$13,714 $6,325 $9,800, $19,700

 

[themonk]

i might be wrong here.
when you are done with the trans plant let me know so that i can do you the favor of taking that POS regal off of your hands just have the title ready for me in case i get pulled over or something. Heck if your in NYC area i'll help you do the transplant i am available nights and week ends.

Buddy i'm in Calgary, Alberta otherwise you'd be welcome to it.