What's a good (easy to complete) donor car for a turbo regal drivetrain?

[Cool87GN]

I've recently purchased a rolled 87 Turbo T with a complete drivetrain (engine runs fine). I would like to know what would be an easy swap? I'm interested in 67-69 Firebirds/Camaros. I looked into a 240Z, but it looks too difficult for me. Any advice or suggestions would be great! Thanks,

 

[b4black]

Another 1978/88 G-body would be drop-in.

Monte Carlo
Grand Prix
Cutlass
El Camino
Grand Am (RWD)
Century (RWD)

 

[SilverSleeper]

Good donor for a turbo regal drivetrain.. um howz about a turbo regal?

I think you are looking for a "recipient" car. You have the donor.

You might also look into an s10 or blazer 93 and older, dont forget the g body wagons also.

 

[Cool87GN]

Good Call!

Yeah, that's what I need (a recipient car). I would like to get a 84-87 Turbo Regal shell with NO rust! It's hard to find a car like that!!

 

[Gokou]

I've seen a couple of Grand Caminos/El Nationals... pretty cool hybrids IMO. Nicest one I saw was a 1987 Elky which was white, monochromed, with a billet grille and nice wheels. Looked VERY clean.

Bet he had SEVERE traction problems with no weight on the back

I have this very odd urge at the moment to build an early Chevelle, Elky, or Camaro with an LC2 under the hood... that would definately get some weird looks at carshows

 

[kenny]

I've owned two El Camino's and loved both of them. I plan on doing the swap one of these days.

One of the best I've seen:
http://thelittlebaby.dhs.org/kenny/sweet.jpg

 

[wagon]

If you are looking for easiest, then go for another Turbo Regal. If you want easiest conversion, then your best bet would be a Fuel injected Monte or El Camino. Then you would have the baffled gas tank and the fuel lines would be there, although I think the feed line may have to be moved. Wrong side of car. If you want kind of easy, then go for a G/A body. Pretty much everything bolts in. Depending on your definition of easy, I think anything else wouldn't be easy. Maybe do-able, but not easy. And who is the wiseguy that suggested a wagon? That's just too wierd!

Brian

 

[wagon]

If you are looking for easiest, then go for another Turbo Regal. If you want easiest conversion, then your best bet would be a Fuel injected Monte or El Camino. Then you would have the baffled gas tank and the fuel lines would be there, although I think the feed line may have to be moved. Wrong side of car. If you want kind of easy, then go for a G/A body. Pretty much everything bolts in. Depending on your definition of easy, I think anything else wouldn't be easy. Maybe do-able, but not easy. And who is the wiseguy that suggested a wagon? That's just too wierd!

Brian

 

[mycarsucks]

You might also want to consider a third-gen firebird for aerodynamics. its been done a few times and there would be plenty of help for you.

 

[getchasum]

Don't know how easy it would be but, Project 2600# 64 Chevy II would be cool,

 

[WH1 85]

Go Stealth

Find a clean 84-87 regal limited. With chrome trim, cushy bench seats, column shift and half rag top. Get some 15" steel wheels and hubcaps off a caprice or similar. Leave the flat hood on it. Add no badges, mount gauges under the dash,(where the ashtray goes). Then get the quietest mufflers you can find.

Maybe for an added touch you could place some AARP and AAA decals in the rear window.

It would basically be a bolt in. Except for the fuel tank and lines. Wiring would also be needed. As well as a radiator. But is well within shadetree abilities.

No one will ever see you coming. And the guy with the new vette or stang or t/a or whatever will never be able to figure out what happened.

When he gets smoked between the lights that is.

 

[bar87]

gm high tech performance did a feature on a white 69 camaro with a gn engine...very cool car its the sept 99 issue fyi

 

[Cool87GN]

Stealth

That's cool! If I can find a nice body on one I'll do that. I have the complete donor car. I was going to do that with my 85 T-Type (but it got sold by Family). Touchy subject! I was going to turn it into a serious sleeper. I have to keep my eyes open for an older Regal (84-87) with a clean body. So if anyone knows of one let me know!! Thanks,

PS: Some of the other ideas were cool too!

 

[fly89gta]

Originally posted by mycarsucks
You might also want to consider a third-gen firebird for aerodynamics. its been done a few times and there would be plenty of help for you.

hi

its not that hard of a swap, there are a few of us that have done the swap

 

[kenny]

Originally posted by fly89gta


hi

its not that hard of a swap, there are a few of us that have done the swap

What did you use for a rear end? My friend wants to do that swap.

 

[99Formula]

This my sound crazy, but one of the quickest cars I was ever beat by was a second gen Mazda RX-7 Turbo II with a turbo 6 transplant. Car weighed around 3000 lbs, and launched like something bit it in the ass.

Peter

 

[fly89gta]

Originally posted by kenny


What did you use for a rear end? My friend wants to do that swap.

my GTA came stock with the 9 bolt 3.27 rear, same as the TTA

 

[kenny]

Originally posted by fly89gta


my GTA came stock with the 9 bolt 3.27 rear, same as the TTA

Very cool.

Did all GTA's have the 9 bolt or should I have him look for a specific GTA?

 

[fly89gta]

Originally posted by kenny


Very cool.

Did all GTA's have the 9 bolt or should I have him look for a specific GTA?

most of em did, however i've heard and seen some orginal GTA's come with 7.5'' 10-bolts