Buick

[opabinia]

Goal: small-block V8, 5-spd 1987 Buick Regal disguised as a GNX.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a 1987 Buick Regal that is 1) not a Grand National and 2) not cursed with a vinyl top? I wonder if they even exist. See, I don't want to ruin a grand national by ripping out the Buick turbo/auto and dropping in a V8/5-spd, but I fear that removing the vinyl top from a regular Regal will practically require replacing the roof. Imagine fifteen years' worth of hidden rust.

I think my best option is to find a Grand National with a shot powertrain, if any of those exist.

Comments

[spriggan.livejournal.com]

have you seen the new honda civic hatchback? it has a freaking vtec.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

I know! And the shifter is like halfway up the dashboard. Honda has finally lost its shit. Iff.. we... make.. one... more.. boring.. car... I.. swear.. to.. GOD...

Re:

[spriggan.livejournal.com]

even their robot is boring looking.

[militart.livejournal.com]

Why not something, lighter, smaller and that can actually handle? Plenty of GM products out there to do that with.

Maybe there's a reason why there's not many Regals around anymore....

[sbazzy.livejournal.com]

keep i mind that he is not looking for a practical car :-)

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

As my woman likes to say: "There's no accounting for taste." I want a fucked-up car. How fucked-up is a black, 350hp, 5-speed Buick Regal, exactly?

[militart.livejournal.com]

I want a fucked-up car.

Oh I can't argue with that one, trust me! :-)

It would definitely be a pretty cool car to have, don't get me wrong, but I hope you can find one around here that you won't have to pour your bank account into!

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Oh I can't argue with that one, trust me! :-)

Finish the project! :)

[militart.livejournal.com]

pfft...I think you mean start the project!! lol

Okay,

[dancer.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you specified V8 - I had a mid-80's Buick Regal (yes, it had the vinyl top, but it was SO sexy) but it had the crappy, standard V6 in it. I drove the thing for 6 months before the engine seized. And it wasn't my fault, it had oil and all. I guess the V6 around that time is an aluminum-block engine, known for its crappy-ass oil clog problems.

Someday, SOMEDAY I'll have another 79' Monte Carlo (this one will of course have a V8 rather than the 4.3 L V6 that my old one had). God that thing was sexy, a really nice shade of dark blue that Chevy hasn't made since the late 70's.

Okay, so I guess I'm a Classic Car geek-wannabee :)

I mourn.

[bottleimp.livejournal.com]

My old 1974 Chrysler New Yorker. It slept 7, 9 if they were friendly, not counting the Big Sleep in the trunk.
Alas, I had neither the room nor the facilities nor the $$$ to get and keep it running right.
Sniff.