Hey everyone, looking to see what would you recommend for my 86 Regal. Everything is stock right now with the 305. I'm looking at getting a set of headers for 'er and dual pipes running to just behind each tire. Would 3" be overkill for the SB? It looks great, but possibly not enough exhaust to support the 3"! How about coils and shocks? I plan on getting some from the local Ideal Supply/UAP, nothing fancy, just whatever fits and gets rid of some of the sag, especially in the front end. I can have it bounce 4 times after I push it. Just looking for some input. :TU:
Randy, The 3" is overkill and will just weigh the car down more (and lighten your wallet too). The "bounce" means you need new shocks. Try that first and then do springs if you don't like the ride (or the saggy height). Ramin
Hmmm...... looks like I'll revert to my main plan in the first place. 350! I'd love to go BB, but gas is too expensive these days, and I'm not racing it, officially. How much more does a 350 weigh, compared to the 305? Would I need heavier shocks in the front? It won't be this year, but next year for sure. I just don't want to be changing the shocks again next year if I set a 350 in her. Until then, thanks for the advice. I'll hold off on the exhaust, and just stick a new cat in.
Hey food for thought! A big block Buick with headers and a aluminum intake weight about the same as a cast iron sbc! Besides Chevys are for Chevys and a regal is a Buick!!! Smile!!
Haha, I'd love to go the BB route, but like I say, gas is too expensive these days. I'm just glad that my 305 is a 4 barrel, and not the 2 barrel.
Hey!! it sounds like you are getting ready to enjoy the summer. I agree with Ramin to get you going - I don't know that I would pop for a new cat unless you have to pass emissions, you could slide a nice dual exhaust system under it and make it sound good. If you want to go the headers route Dyno-Max makes a nice set of aluma coated headers for just over $200.00. You can also spruce up your engine compartment (if thats your thing) with some bling bling items that you can pick up at a local swap meet cheap - alu intake, rocker covers, air cleaner, ect. In the mean time start shopping now for the direction you want your regal to go. Buy parts as you have money and you will have your self a winter project. Enjoy you car!!
I think you had the right idead in the first place - fix the suspension THEN the engine. Seems to be the most common mistake in the Regals... The Regal has a sloppy front end to say the least. Pick up a set of frame ties from and Grand Prix and most Cutlass G-bodies. These tie the middle of the front crossmember to the ends of the frame. For $5 it's the best performance mod you can make! ...next deal with the rear end. The 7.5 will be sufficient for a SB but get rid of the 2.56 gears and go to a 3.42. This will really help out the acceleration but you will lose some milage - a hundred bucks and a few days of effort. Next, change it out to a posi (preferably when you change gears). Then do the rear control arms with adjustable uppers/lowers get the pinion angle sorted. ...those modes will put you competitive with most G-bodies.
Unless the car came from Canada the 1986 Regal probably has the small block Olds 307 in it. Does it have the 3 speed automatic or 4 speed overdrive automatic in it? The biggest obstacle to duals would be the single hump rear transmission mount cross member. There are after market cross members available from G-Force or Summit Racing. You can block off the cross pipe at the passenger side exhaust manifold and add the second set of pipes where the cross pipe bolts onto the drivers side manifold, as a first step. Get rid of the big single muffler in back and add dual mufflers in front of the axles. The duals mayl not help performance any, but at least will sound better. the 7A headed 307 just does not breath over 4200 RPM. Sage advise above. Get it driving decent first
Well just an update guys... (Click my Cardomain page in my signature for pictures). I put new shocks and coils all around. Rides like a dream! Next step is to find a 3.42 rear-end. I need to weld the chassis on the driver side where the crossmember mounts. It's really rusted out - scary. I will also install a new dual exhaust crossmember while doing that. I found a cheap set of hugger headers on eBay for 65 bucks, but not sure if I should go with them, or get the DynoMax like mentioned earlier. Loyd - it has the 4 Speed Auto Overdrive, definitely a 305. Any instructions on how to do this? I will be throwing in a better engine next year (Buick 350 or Chevy 327?). I'd hate to say it, but I really love the 327's. However, for now, I really want to get those headers on, dual exhaust (Flowmaster/Magnaflow - worth it?) and the 3.42 Rear End in.
Try this link: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=55900&highlight=crossmember Also, I think you can find ready made bars at SCandC http://www.scandc.com/chassisbraces.htm . Hope this helps.:3gears:
Nice looking car good paint and interior for age. I agree with the guys about the mods. If you want to stick with sbc and its going to stay a pump gas street car go 383 or 406. 327 was great as a high rpm racer but not as great when you kept the cam and compression street friendly. I always like these things with strong Buick 455s in them. Great strong street engine. Hey big motors can get decent mileage with a OD tranny a working lock up converter and a q-jet
Pilot, your hearing a lot of different opinions, change this swap that. All these recommendations do things are great, but ask yourself first how you use and plan to use this car and what's important to you, Gas mileags sounds important. Although a lot of these buick fans here will Quap about Chevy engines being in a buick, just do what's best, befitting your needs. I have a 71' GS I'm doing a 468 in, took it's 350 out and putting it in an 86' Regal, I also have another 86' Stock regal and if you have a verticle oil filler neck just behind to the left of the water pump, it is an Old's 307 engine, not a 305. But the 307 is a weak Som-Bee, runs great but I hate it, putting any money on this engine is in my opinion a waste, it makes 146Hp. Firstly it's hard to knock that for roughly $1500. you can get a new crate 290Hp SBC 350. Your fuel pump lines come out the frame on the pass. front frame to more easily go to the Chevy engine, "something I've had to change using the buick 350." Also tragically is the fact that the buick 350 hasn't been made since 1981 and a build up is more costly, and parts available not as easy as SBC 350, plus pully brackets for newer style air compressors if having air is important are rare. I bought a vintage air system to put in my GS but they don't make any brackets for buick engines. I also have a 66' Elcamino "31 years now" with the orginal 327 and it is a killer engine, don't know why comments about it not streetable have been said? I have flattop 10.25-1 forged pistons, a summit 1106 .488 lift cam, airgap manifold, MSD Ign. and the car is a real scrapper on the pedal, or a nice driver easy on the pedal. My friend with a 65' Camino & 327 is more built and runs 11.13's and he drives his on the street too. Mine went over 200K before needing a rebuild, so I stick by Chevy engines as well as Buicks & all GM's. If this is your daily driver, and you don't race it, but just want it to be far better with power and running healthy, you don't need to change anything in the rearend. I'm keeping my 2.14 geared 7.5 stock rearend behind my buick 350 also for the simple fact of gas mileage. The buick engine makes great torque and get's it going fine, but it's not my racer. Changing to 3.42 will surely have it leap off the line better, but how are YOU going to want it? On your diff. you can check your passenger side tube for the code to tell you your gearing. 2AK=2.14 2AH=2.29 2AJ & AZ=2.41 2AA=2.56 2AB & AX=2.73 these are codes on conventional diffs, not limited slips. With a 25" tall tire 1.00 final gear at 2200rpm a 3.42 rear gear will have you going only 47.3 mph, while 2.14 rear gears will have you at 75.6 mph, so you decide how you want your car, and do what's best for you. For mine I like the idea of burning as little fuel as possible and run low rpm to go down the freeway. To reach 75mph with 3.42's you'll be spinning at 3500rpm. Good luck with what you decide.
I agree, build it to suit you, however I say go with buick power. if you can't afford a big block,then go with a buick 350, and do a stock buildup. I have nothing against the sbc, the one in my suburban is very smooth,and reliable. I just feel if you're gonna build up a nice buick, it needs a buick engine in it.
Glad to have some differing opinions! I agree 100% about getting the goals worked out first, but I have to disagree with the SBC & gear opinions. If you want gas mileage - sell the Regal and buy a 4 banger...but remember that good gas milage does not a cheap car make! If you want a car that saves you money screw the gas milage and go for the minimal purchase cost and lowest maintenance - the Regal is a clear winner here. If you want to spin the tires off, and have a car that is 5 parts fun, 5 parts transportation then go with the Buick 445 or 350. I run the SBC 350 in my other wagon and frankly... it's dull. I can light up the tires if I really push, and when I pop the hood it's "oh, just another chevy". To each their own, the Chevy is certainly a fine engine, but if you like something a little more unique and has a strong torque kick the Buick is superior. On the suspension mods and doing nothing - I could not disagree more! The Regal is a DOG in the corners without the front frame ties. For $5/ bar at the wrecker this is a *great* improvement. The car feels stiffer all around. On the gears - unless you are doing a *lot* of highway driving these are just not worth it IMHO. I've logged more than 500k kms in mine on the highway and the thing was great - on the highway. In town the car was sluggish and often times had to be kicked down to get going up hills - a huge gas sucker. I used to get 12 mpg in town with a 305/3spd/2.29 - I currently get 12mpg in town with a 455/th400/3.42! If you drive harder in town, the lower (numerically) gear does not pay out in me experience. For fun factor, the 3.42 gear will spin the tires even with a SBC, the 2.29 will not. I've made a lot of engine changes to the 350 and you rarely "feel" the difference unless you race it and drive the car a lot. The rear gear change for less than $500 is far more noticeable than a $1500 engine swap IMHO. Just a voice of dissent. Fire away!
All good inputs, but Pilot needs to do what fits him the most, in a PM he told me he's not looking for that much changes or spending all the $$ everyone's recommendations will cost. Many of us here know how to make these a faster or better handling car, but it may not be what Pilot needs, whether some of you guys want to agree with me or not. I know its hard to not have the mindset of doing everything performance improving and turn them all into 1/4 mile runners, but not everyone needs that. Firstly your daily driver being what you race and put all your money in, to make it faster is only going to leave you stranded and not getting to work. At any rate, my stock regal gets me 17.5mpg around town. It's sluggish once up to temperature, for the first several miles after startup it has acceptable power and almost seems decent, and that's with that weak 307 and 2.14 gears. Once warmed up it looses a ton. Now turn on the A/C and I could pedal faster. :af: Although my GS ran very healthy bone stock, my 327 Camino would hand my GS with the 350, serious spanking papers, that's why I'm putting a big block in it. I'm hoping the new TA212 Cam, & TA Manifold will give the Buick 350 even better power, I was pleased with it's power in the much heavier GS, so I'm hoping it makes this other 86' Regal have far more giddie up then my stock one and be a car I can enjoy more as a daily driver. It's still backed by the T350 Trans but now also a 2500 stall, that's why I'm leaving the 2.14 rear gears, and test it for awhile, and hopefully I'm hoping with better power this regal will actually get even better MPG. It won't take as much pedal to get it going, I could be satisfied with a V8 Regal getting 20mpg, I know it can be done. I knew a guy with a Big Block Nova and kept it geared tall and got 20mpg, it'd still even run high 13 to 14 flat. I think I will be pleased with it's acceleration even with the 2.14's behind the torquier buick 350 and small stall, it should be roughly 130 HP more then that Olds 307.
Right now, all I am using my Regal for is to get me back and forth to the airport(s). I'm finishing up my Commercial Pilot's licence - hence no money! My Regal will be doing quite a bit of highway running this summer (5 hours one way) to the bush flying base. So, I think I'll be keeping the 2.56 gears and my 200-4R for now. I just want to thank everyone for their suggestions, it's been a big help in weighing out my options. Perhaps next year I can find another daily driver, and mod up this Regal to be more of a street machine to play with on weekends. I have to admit though, I'm really leaning towards sticking a 327 Chevy in it. Buick engines are hard to find up here. If I end up going the BB route down the road, I would definitely go with the 455, but that's in the distant future.
Keep in mind when you switch engines with the 2004-R and you have moved away from the computer that you need a switch to operate the lock up feature of the torque converter. Its usually good for 1 mpg. Also a Q-jet cruising on the small primarys can be worth 1 mpg over a Holley. fwiw I got 17.0 mpg hwy only with 509ci with 3.42s in the same trim and shortly after running 12.60 @ 109.6. It was not particularly tuned or dialed in either. What it did have going for it mileage wise was OD, functioning lock up, reasonable cam, Q-jet.
