Newbie Needs To Be Schholed On Turbo Buicks

[adrian87camaro]

Ok, I've been looking to to buy a junker car and make it fly on a junkyard budget ( I'm a full-time college student:frown: ).Imports were my first thought, but I don't want to deal with FWD and I am a domestic kinda guy. Pre-1975 cars would be ideal since I would escape the cutthroat emission laws out here in California, but it is kind hard to find a buildable starter car for a junkyard price, i.e. under $700. Then comes in the almighty Turbo V6 Buick. It seems 80's Regals can be had for dirt cheap around my are, but I know absolutely nothing about these cars past what I have read these last few days online. I have decided to focus my research efforts on a 80's Buick Regal, although I have not yet made up my mind. This will be my first car that I will completely tear down so I have lots of questions. My questions are will be regarding the V6 turbo motor. I will probably drop in a Buick V6 turbo motor into a non-turbo Regal.

1. What are the interchangeability factors between the turbo V6 motor and different year Regals?

2. What emission problems are common with these cars?

3. I will want fuel injection. What are the options with the stock FI setup and are their optional setups

4. Somebody please give me or point me in the direction of a general overlay of what can be done to these turbo motors.

5. What is up with the talk about chips, is it like my 87' Camaro where you have to burn new ones or can you plug in an instrument and tune?

6. Let me know anything else that you think I should know.

Thanks for all your responses!!:smile:

 

[jcawley3]

you should go here and read everything Turbo Regal Web Site then use the search on this site with your questions most of that has been discussed in detail....... good luck, do a lot of research its gonna be tough to build this on a junkyard budget.

 

[notacarlo]

Ok, I've been looking to to buy a junker car and make it fly on a junkyard budget ( I'm a full-time college student:frown: ).Imports were my first thought, but I don't want to deal with FWD and I am a domestic kinda guy. Pre-1975 cars would be ideal since I would escape the cutthroat emission laws out here in California, but it is kind hard to find a buildable starter car for a junkyard price, i.e. under $700. Then comes in the almighty Turbo V6 Buick. It seems 80's Regals can be had for dirt cheap around my are, but I know absolutely nothing about these cars past what I have read these last few days online. I have decided to focus my research efforts on a 80's Buick Regal, although I have not yet made up my mind. This will be my first car that I will completely tear down so I have lots of questions. My questions are will be regarding the V6 turbo motor. I will probably drop in a Buick V6 turbo motor into a non-turbo Regal. Focus on school

1. What are the interchangeability factors between the turbo V6 motor and different year Regals? Start with a turbo regal at all costs

2. What emission problems are common with these cars? problems? clean air filter, working EGR, good 02 sensor, clear cat - you're good to go....oh and an emissions chip from Jay Carter or TurboTweak.

3. I will want fuel injection. What are the options with the stock FI setup and are their optional setups. replace fuel pump add hotwire kit. SFI is the new black.

4. Somebody please give me or point me in the direction of a general overlay of what can be done to these turbo motors. Um.....read this site thoroughly. Every combination known to man with ET's posted in signatures.

5. What is up with the talk about chips, is it like my 87' Camaro where you have to burn new ones or can you plug in an instrument and tune?Chips are burned for application, no "tuners"here. The TT chips are user programmable with a laptop and software such as DirectScan or Powerlogger. (fuel and Timing curves)

6. Let me know anything else that you think I should know.
Powerlogger, fuel pump, hotwire kit, adj. fuel pressure, Jay Carter or TT chip, Alcohol kit from Julio or SMC - this is the first upgrade list...period

Thanks for all your responses!!:smile:

you are welcome.

 

[notacarlo]

you should go here and read everything Turbo Regal Web Site then use the search on this site with your questions most of that has been discussed in detail....... good luck, do a lot of research its gonna be tough to build this on a junkyard budget.

Absolutely!!

 

[notacarlo]

If you are wondering about the validity of the response of number 6. Almost every single car on this forum has that list built into the car.

 

[adrian87camaro]

Thanks dudes, I will research whats been said. I came across that site and have been meaning to explore it more, it has tons of info after just browsing it just now. Thanks.

 

[The_Six]

I'm new to the Turbo Buick my self so I'm going to give you what I have found to be the best advice a newbie can get. Don't go right in to building up the car don't start changing turbos and adding any thing until you know how the car works.
The first thing you need to do is get the tools needed to tune the car. things like a scan master and Power logger so that you can have the information you need to be able to get help that so many on this site will be glad to give as long as you have what they need to help you.
Next get a boost and fuel pressure gauges. After you have these tools then go to this link and lurn how the car works. Tune what you have and lurn every thing you can about how to use these tools.
Vortex Turbo Buick Performance
Now if you have cash left after you get these tools then move to getting the parts considered basics for these cars that Natacarlo said to get above things like fuel pump, hot wire kit, adj. fuel pressure reg.
If you do this it will save you a lot of trouble and money one thing I have read on here and the other boards is that newbies that get a head of them selves end up blowing head gaskets allot .
Don't forget the biggest thing you have to watch for with these cars there like crack you get addicted to them quick.

 

[im4darush]

Im not quite sure what kind of turbo buick you can find for under $1000, but my thinking is it will need a ton of work. Turbo buicks and the word 'cheap' usually dont go hand in hand. The items mentioned above are pretty much set in stone. IF you dont have them, you are asking for trouble. Turbo buicks are not your run of the mill SBC. Please read as much as you can before you take the plunge.

 

[charlief1]

Im not quite sure what kind of turbo buick you can find for under $1000, but my thinking is it will need a ton of work. Turbo buicks and the word 'cheap' usually dont go hand in hand. The items mentioned above are pretty much set in stone. IF you dont have them, you are asking for trouble. Turbo buicks are not your run of the mill SBC. Please read as much as you can before you take the plunge.

X2 on that. Just to give you an idea my cars initial cost was $500 plus getting it here for another 300 and it's trashed. I haven't driven it other than on and off the trailer so far. I've been gathering parts for 2 years and counting. Read as much as you can and when you're done read some more. Then ask some questions and see where it goes from there.
Since you're in school I'd say find a cheap car to get around in and wait 2 years until you're out then see what you come up with at that point. You'll be much better prepaired for the challenge of a Buick turbo by then and maybe have some money. Just for an example I haven't built the engine yet and it's already cost me close to $1500 just to find the parts, and I'm a scrounger.

 

[adrian87camaro]

I already have a nice daily driver if you look at my sig. That is the car that I am waiting to build the right way; it is my first car and I will never let it go. As far as the car i am going to check out the police auctions as I know cars can be crazy cheap there. The uniqueness of the Buick Turbo V6 is really whats attracting me towards this project, if that means $ so be it, but I am going to be as frugal as humanly possible, ha ha. I still have plenty of research to do, but you guys have pointed me in the right direction even if I do not end up with a Buick, thanks.

 

[1quick6]

As others have said, read read read. You can not know enough about these cars. I have owned a few cars in my time and I have to say that the LC2 is a challenging engine to figure out. There are so many quirks, but you get used to it, learn, and move on. You figure things out and fixing them becomes second nature. Make no mistake ... the LC2 requires a lot of care and is not very tolerant of making mistakes.