Has anyone on here swapped a v8 into their regal/GN? I'm in the process of putting an olds 307 into my '85 regal and it looks like I'm going to have some clearance issues with the fan and possibly alternator too. I figure I'll just remove the fan and install an electric fan(s). I'm just trying to figure out some specifics so if anyone here has done a similar swap I could use some advice. thanks.
v8 swap
- Thread starter jbird311
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Why????
So I could make my car slower!!!!!!!!!The 1985 Olds Cutlass Supreme had a Y code 307 option. you should be able to get the motor mounts for the 85 Olds Cutlass Supreme and mount the engine. Then you would use the V-8 fan shroud to get the correct spacing for the cooling fan.
TwoLaneBlackTop
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V8 into a regal is a great idea!
AS LONG AS THAT REGAL IS NOT A TURBO CAR!
AS LONG AS THAT REGAL IS NOT A TURBO CAR!
TwoLaneBlackTop
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Wait, why would you go with a 307 swap into anything????
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Originally posted by TwoLaneBlackTop
Wait, why would you go with a 307 swap into anything????
jbird311: since you're inquiring on installing a 307 in your regal, the 350 and 403 olds are basically the same demension as the 307. So why not use a larger displacement pig slow heavy engine?
I used to have an 82 Turbo regal sport coupe, and i sold it to buy my 85. The guy pulled out the 3.8 turbo motor and threw in a 307 olds. He had to get the mounts from a cutlass supreme, and he had to 86 the A/C. All of the brackets that came with the olds junk motor all worked and fit fine. just gotta get a fan shroud off of a V8 and clutch too. again, I have no idea why he did that swap, cause the car is 10 times slower with this motor then it was with the Carbed turbo. I had the carbed turbo running mid 14's! Oh well 
??
It is not a turbo regal. If I have broken some rule of etiquette by asking a "non-turbo" question I apologize. It had a standard 3.8L in it and the engine finally died on me. I had access to a good solid 307 and tranny for small cash. I'm not looking for a race car, just a solid street car so the 307 made sense. I've had a few friends with early/mid 80's Cutlasses and they all seemed happy with their cars.
The motor is already dropped in so I'm not going back now, but the thing is the fan looks as if it will rub the hood. I'm wondering if anyone knows what size/brand electric fan(s) would be an adequate replacement were I to remove the engine fan. thanks.
Originally posted by TwoLaneBlackTop
V8 into a regal is a great idea!
AS LONG AS THAT REGAL IS NOT A TURBO CAR!
It is not a turbo regal. If I have broken some rule of etiquette by asking a "non-turbo" question I apologize. It had a standard 3.8L in it and the engine finally died on me. I had access to a good solid 307 and tranny for small cash. I'm not looking for a race car, just a solid street car so the 307 made sense. I've had a few friends with early/mid 80's Cutlasses and they all seemed happy with their cars.
The motor is already dropped in so I'm not going back now, but the thing is the fan looks as if it will rub the hood. I'm wondering if anyone knows what size/brand electric fan(s) would be an adequate replacement were I to remove the engine fan. thanks.
My ex-wife has an 87 Regal "T", with the 307. We got it brand new in 1987, when we were still married. The 307 is VERY weak, and not much can be done to make it better. The bigger versions of the same block would not weigh any more, can be found cheap, and would perform much better. I'm not sure that the 307 made more power than the 3.8, but I guess it had a little more torque. Prior to the Regal, she had a 78 Cutlass Calais, with the chevy 305. It was quicker than the Regal, and had a much better dash, with real instruments. It would have been a good car, with a 350 chevy in place of that 305. Sure would be nice if my Turbo Regal had that dash...
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Re: ??
First off, welcome to the board. We're just razzing you, since you did post this thread in the "Turbo Buick Tech" section. And most of us being very fanatical, are proud of how much faster our V-6 TR is than most V-8s.
Back to the subject. You'll probably have to look to see how a Y code 307 is mounted into a Cutlass. Because Cutlass has a flat hood and basically so does the Regal (the hood bulge on the Turbo Regal hood is not in a place to affect where the fan is), so it really shouldn't be affected by the fan. Also, you could email Brian Weaver (BWeavy on this board) to find out if you're overlooking something. Brian may have the additional parts to complete your swap.
First off, welcome to the board. We're just razzing you, since you did post this thread in the "Turbo Buick Tech" section. And most of us being very fanatical, are proud of how much faster our V-6 TR is than most V-8s.
Back to the subject. You'll probably have to look to see how a Y code 307 is mounted into a Cutlass. Because Cutlass has a flat hood and basically so does the Regal (the hood bulge on the Turbo Regal hood is not in a place to affect where the fan is), so it really shouldn't be affected by the fan. Also, you could email Brian Weaver (BWeavy on this board) to find out if you're overlooking something. Brian may have the additional parts to complete your swap.
ok I'm sorry I posted a non-turbo question on turbobuick. This is my first engine swap and to be honest I can't find a lot of resources on the web for non-turbo regals/olds. On the other hand the turbo community has a large presence on the web. I figured you guys would be able to help. I'd love to own a turbo regal but this house I'm about to build takes all the money these days. I just can't let this old regal die alone, it's been a great car and I'm loyal to it, abandonement is not an option, so a 307 is better than nothing. Thanks for the info, I'll look into the motor mounts.
turbofish38
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Are you using the correct fan shroud? The 307 set up was a one piece plastic shroud that bolted to a steel upper radiator mounting plate. SBC shrouds are a two piece affair with the upper radiator mount as part of the upper plastic shroud just like the 3.8NA. They shouldn't be interchanged. If Im not mistaken the fan and fan clutch from the original V-6 will work and bolt onto to your water pump with no problems. Most 307 Y-codes are rated at 150HP and the 3.8NA was rated at 110HP. I see nothing wrong with the 307 as I had a Riv with one and it could knock down 18MPG city and 22MPG highway if you kept your foot off the secondaries.
It may be that the 307 is so weak in part because of the very low profile intake needed to clear the low hood. Maybe with a turbo hood, there would be room for a more performance oriented intake setup. I know a better intake would help my Buick, as an alternative to Power Plate.
I have the radiators/shrouds from both the 307 car and the regal. I was planning on using the 307 radiator and shroud but I haven't even got to that part yet. I can just tell from the way the engine sits that it's going to interfere with the hood. I'm not sure but I think if I interchanged the 3.8 fan I'd still have this problem. The front of the engine seems to be sitting at too high of an angle. The motor mounts are most likely the culprit I guess. I suppose I'll have to find a set from a v-8 cutlass. BTW, it's good to hear something positive. I was starting to feel like a nimrod. Fact is, the regular 3.8 was pretty weak, so I can't imagine this being any worse.
I would check out OldsPower.com . Those guys might know more about this than us. Personally, I say buy a GN and rip out that garbage LC2 and put an L69 305 in there.
But that's just me
Any way you slice it, good luck with the swap. I'm sure it will fit.
And welcome to the board.
But that's just me
Any way you slice it, good luck with the swap. I'm sure it will fit.
And welcome to the board.
dyermullet
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The 307 olds came in the 86 and 87 regals. I have one it was my daily driver through highschool. No power, but as stated it would get good highway mileage if you kept out of the 2ndaries. Mine came from the factory with a 2.51 rear and a 200r4 trans so it really crused down the highway.
It is currently parked next to a barn waiting untill I get the money together to do a 455 BUICK bigblock swap into it.
Keep your buick all buick don't waste your time swaping a 307 into anything. The 200r4 has dual bolt pattern, so you can swap any motor into the car, B/O/P or even a chevy.
Also you can go to v8buick.com they have a whole section called regal's with extra cylinders, but don't go there asking about anything but a buick motor. They frown on other swaps especially a chevy.
Scott
JadeMonkeyStang
TRs on the Brain
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He's already got the motor, it's already in the car, please stop telling him not to do the swap.....
Welcome to the board and good luck with your swap. We've got a good bunch of guys around here so don't be afraid to ask questions. Even though it's technically a "turbo" site there is a good bit of knowledge around here about regals/buicks/etc so you should (and have already) be able to get some useful info. Getting in touch with BWeavy was a good suggestion as I'm sure he's got a set of those mounts. Best of luck.
-Jade
Welcome to the board and good luck with your swap. We've got a good bunch of guys around here so don't be afraid to ask questions. Even though it's technically a "turbo" site there is a good bit of knowledge around here about regals/buicks/etc so you should (and have already) be able to get some useful info. Getting in touch with BWeavy was a good suggestion as I'm sure he's got a set of those mounts. Best of luck.
-Jade
TurboBuckeye
Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
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The other part is 8 to 1 compression, tiny valves and a small bore/stroke
Dyermullet is correct, that engine came in many Regals (and Cutlass) so your swap parts should be as close as your nearest junkyard or parts store. Good luck with your project
Here is the BEST, and most complete write up on swapping out a V-6 3.8L to a SBO/BBO into a G-body.
http://www.robertpowersmotorsports.com/G-bodyV6-V8.html
Ryan
http://www.robertpowersmotorsports.com/G-bodyV6-V8.html
Ryan
And the comment about the intake manifold needs to be a low profile one is BS. I have a SBO w/ a Performer RPM (dual plane + 1 3/4" High Rise) in my Cutlass. And I STILL have room to spare.
The problem with the 307 Olds is the tiny cam, poor flowing heads, small valves, and small bore. Fix those SMALL problems, and you have a great engine...... LOL
Ryan
The problem with the 307 Olds is the tiny cam, poor flowing heads, small valves, and small bore. Fix those SMALL problems, and you have a great engine...... LOL
Ryan
dyermullet
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Here are a couple pictures
Here are a couple pictures.
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~strebs/illegalregal/index.html
There are two pictures of the motor, so you can see what the fan shroud looks like.
Scott+
Here are a couple pictures.
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~strebs/illegalregal/index.html
There are two pictures of the motor, so you can see what the fan shroud looks like.
Scott+
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