TR Daily Driver

[Red Regal T]

Originally posted by CTX-SLPR

Honestly I keep getting tempted to, again forgive me, grab an 84-87 non-turbo Regal Limited and transplant in an LT1 out of either a Corvette or B-body (Roadmasters had'em) along with the 4L60E and a G-Force crossmember and a TR gas tank with hotwired pump. Leave the thing stock except for a K&N filter setup. Sounds like a nice simple setup that should make power and good gas mileage reliably.

Just my continueing thoughts,

UH-OH! You're beyond help now. Gonna have to pull the plug. Terminal chevy disease.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

I don't consider the LT1/4, LS1/6, and LS2/7's to be "Chevy engines" just as the 3800 is no longer a "Buick engine". Atleast its something cool rather than an everyone has one Gen I SBC, and Buicks came factory with them 94-96. But we are all intitled to our opinions on that matter.

I'm just kicking ideas around again,

 

[Slo86GN]

Ehhhh, I drive the T every day and haven't had any problems yet. My first TR was an 86 GN and I drove it every day for 2 years w/o any major issues. I was suprised it held up so well because I went to the track nearly every Friday night. I bought it with 42K miles and sold it with right at 100K on it. Only probs I had were minor.....w/g solenoid, coil pack/module died once and powercrapper died, so converted to vacuum. Otherwise it was an awesome daily hauler. My T has 168K miles showing and gets roughly 23 mpg with a mix of city/hwy driving......got 330+ miles from just over 3/4 tank of gas last week. I ain't complaining one bit....lol.

 

[Red Regal T]

Originally posted by CTX-SLPR
I don't consider the LT1/4, LS1/6, and LS2/7's to be "Chevy engines" just as the 3800 is no longer a "Buick engine". Atleast its something cool rather than an everyone has one Gen I SBC, and Buicks came factory with them 94-96. But we are all intitled to our opinions on that matter.

I'm just kicking ideas around again,

My bad.......... LT1s and LS1s are Oldsmobile engines. Cool!

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

olds,... chebby,.. how about a buick motor in it?
BW

 

[CTX-SLPR]

Ok, fine... I'll put in an L36 3800 Series II out of a Camaro in it with the 4L60E. That make you happy?

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Originally posted by CTX-SLPR
Ok, fine... I'll put in an L36 3800 Series II out of a Camaro in it with the 4L60E. That make you happy?

What do you expect at a www.turbobuick.com website? you want us to embrace you while putting a NA brand x motor into a regal?

thread died when you said chevy NA into a regal.

IMO, turbo chevy would be cool as hell in a limited, but you have to make at least 660 at the wheels
BW

 

[CTX-SLPR]

660hp in a daily driver would be nuts and expensive too. I don't know if the OBDI or OBDII LT1 computer could take the airflow needs of that sort of power. Besides then you're talking corvette 4-bolt main block and probably LT4 heads and intake. No I'm talking something thats practical daily driver.
Though honestly I think doing an L36 3800 Series II would be cool aswell, just a bit more involved since the engine mounts changed rather radically between the LC2 and the L36. Though I'm sure Bruce would willing to help me get that one sorted out.

I get promoted in May so I'll probably be more serious about replacing the Regal at that time, if I really plan on doing it at all.

 

[Data]

Originally posted by vicious6
Honda and Toyota my A@#!!!! Can you say POS!!! I agree 100% with what he said about not owning some imported tin can.

Well, that may be your opinion, but it doesn't reflect reality. Honda and Toyota build reliable cars that beat out US cars for quality and durability all the time. Hey, I'd like it to be the other way too, but that is the way it is. The Cavalier and the Corolla are both little tin can cars, but I'll take a Corolla over the Cavalier any day of the week.

That is exactly what is wrong with the auto market today. Yes, they may employ many US employees, but where does all the profit go....that's right, all over seas.

Well, a large part of those profits go to pay the salaries of the US employees that build and sell the cars as well as going towards maintaining the Honda USA infrastructure. That money gets plowed back into our economy. I'm not sure where this myth gets started that all the money spent on Hondas and Toyotas goes straight into the pockets of the Japanese. It's not like the Japanese economy is rocking and rolling anyway, they are doing worse than we are.

 

[denn454]

i've went from a tr to a gs for daily drivers. and all i can say is i hated the gs at first. at first i found it to be lacking in power, didnt' handle very well, just wasnt' as fun of a car to drive and i definatly lossed the "i have one of the fastest cars out there" feelings.

after driving the gs for about 2 months i took the tr out for a spin, and i have to say i really think i do enjoy parts of the gs more.
instant power, no waiting for the turbo to spool up.
quiet (thats good and bad)
very comfortable and a decent arm rest.
never left wondering "whats that noise"
have yet to be told "nice monte carlo"

the tr is a unique car, it really is. to really appreciate it, i think they need to be driven every day possible. even when it has a bad day (mine had good days and bad days that were VERY noticeable) i could still make it run very well. when i took it out after letting it sit its like it just didnt' do what i wanted it to. it took me nearly 20 minutes of driving before i remembered the small little tricks to make it run the way i wanted it to. i used to think it handled pretty good but now i'm left questioning it, sure its solid but i don't know about it being much more than that. the one thing i love about the tr and hate about the gs is rear wheel drive. you wouldnt' expect it to make much difference in the way it drives but it does.

i'd say if you can find a good tr for the right money then its a good bet for a driver. other wise i think there might be better choices. i'm looking for an ls1 f-body right now. i can't take much more front wheel drive.

just something about driving a tr in the snow, i've done it plenty of times and i'd honestly say its one of the better mannerd cars out there. if you take the arm off the wastegate its VERY easy to drive in the snow and ice. even if you don't do that its still not bad at all. i was very happy with mine when i had to drive it in the snow for the first time. getting home and hosing out the finders in the freezing blowing snow however was not so much fun.

 

[vicious6]

Think what thou will.....

 

[vicious6]

Originally posted by Data
Well, that may be your opinion, but it doesn't reflect reality. Honda and Toyota build reliable cars that beat out US cars for quality and durability all the time. Hey, I'd like it to be the other way too, but that is the way it is. The Cavalier and the Corolla are both little tin can cars, but I'll take a Corolla over the Cavalier any day of the week.



Well, a large part of those profits go to pay the salaries of the US employees that build and sell the cars as well as going towards maintaining the Honda USA infrastructure. That money gets plowed back into our economy. I'm not sure where this myth gets started that all the money spent on Hondas and Toyotas goes straight into the pockets of the Japanese. It's not like the Japanese economy is rocking and rolling anyway, they are doing worse than we are.

Think what thou will....

 

[salvageV6]

Yep.

I'd take a Century over a Camry any day of the week.

Honda and Toyota have the perception that they build reliable cars, until you actually have to get one repaired.

Bend over.....

 

[vicious6]

Originally posted by salvageV6
Yep.

I'd take a Century over a Camry any day of the week.

Honda and Toyota have the perception that they build reliable cars, until you actually have to get one repaired.

Bend over.....

Yep those Japs are paying us back one nut and bolt at a time.

 

[Data]

Originally posted by vicious6
Yep those Japs are paying us back one nut and bolt at a time.

I'll leave the whole thing alone. It's not worth my time.

 

[Drew L]

Why does everything cool have to be old

HEY! I'm not old!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you can find one in the 7 grand range but be patient and do your homework. Of the three Turbo Buicks I've owned not one has stranded me and yes, be prepared to do some work yourself. With a little help from your friends!

 

[kenny]

If you daily drive a TR, make sure you've got it disabled at all times when you can't see it.

I had one stolen by daily driving it.

 

[denn454]

Originally posted by kenny
If you daily drive a TR, make sure you've got it disabled at all times when you can't see it.

I had one stolen by daily driving it.

i have never had any issues of this sort. and i don't live in the best place either. being smart about where you park is a big part, a good anti-theft system is also a must, not a security system that makes noise, i'm talking about something that prevents the car from running.

a not so nice car is also not always a bad thing. mine is far from the prettiest one out there, and i think thats a large part of why no one ever tryed anything with my car. not only do you save some money but you deter would be theifs. a normal regal hood and no badges is also a great investment if your worried about that sort of thing. then again i really don't care too much what a car looks like on the outside as long as its comfortable and something i can live with driving.

if you find the right deal i still say go for it. as soon as my car is back i'll be driving it every nice day i get. i do work at a pretty secure place, and avoid stores like the plague.