396 Regal???

I'm planning to put a 396 CBB and a TH400 in my '79 Regal? anyone tried this? what will I need to know?? o No:

 

With a 396 I think a TH 350 would me more than adequate. Less HP losses...

 

the 396/th400 ran high 9's in a 62 2400lbs. Nova... so I think I'll keep this setup... I just need to know if the engine/tranny willl fit in my Regal without cutting to much in it

 

should fit.... I know people with Blown 454's in monte carlo's (same basic car)..

Good luck.

 

The transmission will require a new crossmember, or crossmember mods. If you're looking at a high-HP setup then you'll definitely want to look at a G-force from crossmembers.com. Best chance of owning a non-pretzel Regal :TU:

 

ok thanx :3gears:

 

Why would you ask BUICK guys if they have used a chevy motor in their car?? ou:
And besides a heavy 396 will make your regal nose heavy and slow. A stock 455 will smoke you all over the place.

 

uzzled: why would your screen name be 455 if your using a 396 :boring: :error: in your car uzzled: :shock:

Mike ......thats a 9 sec. 396 :shock:

 

the 455 screen name is for my 71 buick riviera :bglasses:
and the 396 for my regal, is for one reason only: parts are cheap and easier to get, here in Denmark, where I live...

 

BBC into Regal

455,

Yes it does fit. I just did an '82 Turbo Regal, 454HO/TH400 combo. You will need the following parts;

A-body crossmember, shorten width by apprx 1/2 inch on each side
Drive shaft from a '85-'88 G-body w/TH200R4 (51" I believe)
Motor mounts from a Monte Carlo w/small block Chev (Upr/lwr)
A 3 or 4 core radiator ('86 Monte SS w/ac and H-D cooling)

That's the basics, wiring harness for the engine will most likely come from a Monte of the same year as your Regal. This will get most of the wires in the ballpark. The crossmember mounts using new Grade 8 hardware, single hole drilled in the frame. Bolt the lower motor mounts in the same location as the Monte Carlo (they only fit in one place). Drive shaft will need a new set of U-joints, with the front being a combo unit to mount the TH400 yolk. Have the shop press out the old joints and install the new ones.

The rear face of the passenger side head is going to hit the firewall at the airbox. Additional clearance can be gained with a very large hammer. You will damage the fibreglass heater box (3x4" area). Shift linkage will be fun, I had to make all of mine to get things to work correctly. Keep an eye out for a corporate 8.5 to replace the 7.5 rearend. It will breck if too much "spirited" driving takes place.

If this car has a Buick motor currently, then you will need to add an electric fuel pump and reroute the fuel lines in the engine compartment. Overall, this is not a complicated swap. Most of the folks on this board will try to convince you to stay pure and use Buick power. But if you have the parts, built it.

By the way, we saved our original engine ('72 GS 455) and trans to do a cleaner Regal later.

PM me if you have more questions on the swap. Good Luck

Jim

 

To gs_jimmy... that'a exactly the info I needed :TU: the car has a pontiac 301 engine with a Quadrajet, I believe it's the original engine o No:

 

Not sure if a Pontiac motor is original. Could also swap a Pontiac 455 into it. Mounts are already present, and would be a simple bolt in. Best way to check is look up a '79 Regal at the autoparts store using the 301 as a reference. I'd look for a gasket set for the Regal using the Pontiac motor. Since it sounds like this was an export car originally, anything is possible.

One other thing, by using a transdapt conversion plate you could retain the original TH350. Have the trans built to take more power (shift kit, converter, ect). This would allow you to make this more of a straight bolt in. I'm guessing that american cars are hard to come by in the junkyard.

Good luck with your project.
Jim

 

GS_Jimmy: the car is for sure an export model. I don't know for sure what kind of transmission I have? in the pan there is stamped "METRIC" o No:

Finding US cars here in Denmark at the junkyard....No way!

 

Based on the age of this car, my best guess is it is a TH350 Metric. There will be an electric plug on the driver's side of the case. It is square. The oil pan should be square, with one corner being slanted (cutoff looking). The vaccuum sender is located on the rear of the trans, pass side. This would be the most common trans to put behind a Pontiac 301.

Do some reading as to the performance capibilities of this trans. I don't think you'll have a problem building it. By the way, METRIC is stamped into the pan to keep the mechanics straight on what they were working on. At that time there were still '60's era cars coming in for service.

Jim

 

79n Regal

You have a 200 Metric trans in the 79 Regal and some did come with the Pontiac 301. Good luck on the swap. I have a 81 with a Buick 455 and a 350 trans and a 9" Ford rear. Hope to run it for the first time this weekend. Only has a stock 73 engine.
Jim N.