1980 buick regal sport coupe / 78 3.8 turbo build

[cowboydan]

so i moved the buick into the shop this morning. the car is not in the bad of shape. 5-6 bad areas and one really bad spot. the frame looks intact. so it's time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! may long is the deadline to get it running.

 

[charlief1]

I just happen to have an 80 ESC that I won't be using if you want a spare Dan. I got it off Adam several years ago which is a funny story in itself.

 

[cowboydan]

thanks charlie, i do believe that i have a th350 tranny. it has the one corner taper on the pan. it is a 3speed auto. i'll have the engine on the ground in a couple days. tires are being swapped to the turbines. i must rest now. lots of excitement today

 

[cowboydan]

so the old engine is ready to come out. i have neve done this by my self. i have always understood pulling an engine was a 2 person job. i think i'll undo the 2 bolts and let the mount just fall out. i have barly enough room to clear the front clip. should be interesting. oh and i remove the converter bolts but i left the tranny housing bolted to the engine. it just makes the divorce alot easier. i did however find one or 2 loose bolts in the bottom of the tranny pan. not sure but i think i may have a problem with the tranny. all i gotta say about the old engine...... is yuck!

 

[charlief1]

I've pulled my share of engines over the years and most of them were by myself. It might take a little longer but it's not that hard. I had the old buick to the point that I could have it out in about 1 hour but I''m a little slower now.

 

[cowboydan]

yea, i'm just going to eat something and then i'll have it out. i just hate fenaggling the hoist by myself. and i like the extra set of eyes to make sure nothing gets snagged.

 

[cowboydan]

ok, it's on the ground. the only hard part is that i need more than 8 feet clearance. i had to pull the jack stands out and drop the car a few more inches. then i had to lift the tranny over the front grill. the whole think onlt took 7 hrs total. 5 yesterday and a couple today. i even managed not to make that big of a mess...lol

 

[1980 Buick]

Looks fun ! "LOVE the T-Tops" ! Please keep us updated with pic's OK?

 

[Scott Adcock]

This will be an awesome car when done for sure

 

[cowboydan]

thanks guys. up next is my patented waterless engine bay detail. as you can see there is no shortage on nasty here. the wiring is old. adding pressurized water to clean the engine bay may make things worse. i'm gonna show a few pics of my dads car (93' olds 98 touring sadan. just so you guys know what i mean when i say waterless engine bay detail. atleast i can stay sort of on topic with a classy sadan

 

[cowboydan]

all i can say is yuck. time to do the nasty! atleast i only have to do this once. i figure it's layered 3/8 thick of YUK

 

[mat231v6]

wow that's a lot of oil and dirt build up. time to bust out the power washer. lol

 

[cowboydan]

yep it sure is. like 10lbs worth...lol..... really.... no joke check this out! i sprayed her all down with a can or 2 of brake clean. now she is ready for some paint. the inspection went very well. i need only tranny/ engine mounts and sway bar bushings. even the control arm bushings are in great shape the car was factory under coated so rust seems to be affecting only the body.

 

[1980 Buick]

"Hows that bad boy coming" ??

 

[RUDE DOG]

All that crud and buildup may look bad but it helped preserve that metal really good. Great job

 

[cowboydan]

ok, so the broken engine got in my way. so i stripped its guts, crated her up, and exit stage right..... out the door. this was the discovery.... do you see anything.... i just don't know what would cause that jackhammer sound..... best take a look at it soon eh. heads are still good, keep them, bolts are always a commodity round here...keep. acessories...keep, timing plate...yard it. oil pan...yard.... maybe no just yet. now that that is done, i can focus on getting some real work done on the car. i'm not sure, but i'm thinking about creating a cross roads.... not sure what i mean yet, but i'll figure something out. oh, not sure how these pics look, new phone, we'll call this a test

 

[cowboydan]

so now the nasty is done and over with. back to shift work i go... all weekend

 

[1980 Buick]

I think 231's are 231's ... (I.O.W Turbos and regularly asp. engines are all the same block). None-the-less
you'll be GREAT when this parts done ! < LOVED Pic's (thanks) >

I'm working on another black Regal (1980) myself ... "WHY is the question"
KEEP US UPDATED !

 

[cowboydan]

to some degree, i believe that statement. but then edelbrock advertises a 79-what ever year, but specifically states not for 78. my son and i agrre that really, we jut wanna drive the car. so..... what to do. there is nothing wrong with stock. if it works and it drives, we can enjoy, cause all it need is cam/bearings, some exaust work and hopefully the tranny works. fix the t-roof leak and then it's just red tape from there. if i choose to build, then i must choose to wait another year. i think i'll just throw a gasket kit and some new head bolts at it and enjoy what will be left of summer. besides, i'm pretty sure both sets of heads are good, i could get the next package ready for next year, including headers. not much point in building slick heads if the stock exaust isn't built. carb rebuild is next...... oops..... forgot all about my carb till just now. few days in the dip did little, shall we take a peek after a few months?? guess i should get on it...lol

 

[cowboydan]

ok, i know there are a few alberta members on here.... i had a conversation with one person a long time ago pretty sure he was in strathmore AB. i am starting to figure out what i need. i'm not set up with any internet pay system. wife won't let me change that. she is paranoid about internet shopping.... cant say i blame her...lol. but, i still need parts. i have to visit a machinist for the cam bearings, but i need a good cam, matching lifters. i'm not sure who makes good lifters and i've read alot of bad stuff from one major company. i need some exaust pieces too but i have no idea what the correct system looks like, but i know i ain't got the right cross over... the one i have is na. i need solid engine mounts. the 2 sets i have are toast. i'm not worried about the cam, just the companies who make em. my concern is the exaust. not sure which i need either down pipe, up pipe or cross over. someones sawsall made it pretty difficult to id any of the exaust. it has been strongly recomended that i ditch the 78 block, and i may do that if i can't find the parts i need( locally). i also have a 3speed auto, but if i found the cross member, and a 4speed, i would make the effort. happy fathers day. time for a little boating trip today. but really, all i'm thinking about is this engine. i'm feeling pretty serious about this 78. it's going to be a challenge. who can help me find albertans with 3.8 buicks???????