1987 Buick Regal Turbo

**pajeff02** · 04-15-2013, 06:56 PM

Thanks, J. Looking forward to seeing your car all back together.

**silverWS6** · 04-15-2013, 07:57 PM

Nice! Get some videos Jeff

**RONS98TA** · 04-16-2013, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Finally drove it for the first time tonight since we brought her home. It is amazing how hard this thing pulls.

For comparison sake:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Still have a few minor things to address, but she is all back together and can be driven now.

Wow!! Looks like it did back in 1985. Great job with the resto!!

**pajeff02** · 04-16-2013, 04:39 AM

Thanks!

Anyone familiar with clunking under the dash noises on G-bodies? I have one that sounds like it is somewhere up behind the instrument panel that I'll need to track down and remedy.

**pajeff02** · 04-16-2013, 06:59 PM

Did a little research on the intrawebs and found a couple of sites that identified the center rear hood bumper as the likely culprit. All of them said that the noise appears to eminate from up under the dash, but that it is really the hood bumper. The remedy is to lower it a turn or two, or to simply apply a bit of grease to the rubber. I went the latter route and will see if the noise goes away.

**pajeff02** · 04-21-2013, 07:31 PM

Here she be all cleaned up. Zach came down this afternoon and we went for a spin in his Firebird and then took the Regal out for a ride. New brakes on all four corners, blasted and applied POR-15 to the rear drums, correct style lugnuts (had a mis-matched batch on the car), flipped the tires around, cleaned up the bead area on the rims and then re-balanced them.

**cpop98ws6** · 04-21-2013, 07:39 PM

Awesome Jeff! Looks great!

**ls1camino** · 04-21-2013, 08:20 PM

Cleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aan

**pajeff02** · 04-22-2013, 04:32 AM

She has a few battle scars, but looks good all cleaned up. We took another ride last night after taking pics. I'll probably have to replace the gas pedal before too long... Dawn is going to wear that thing out.

**Zapper2003** · 04-22-2013, 02:23 PM

After driving it last night I can't understand why....

**pajeff02** · 04-22-2013, 06:30 PM

I jus may have to drive it to the office tomorrow. Definitely bringing it to dinner tomorrow night.

**pupi305** · 04-22-2013, 06:35 PM

Looks amazing I love regales that was actually my first car I miss it soo much! Congrats!!!

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**pajeff02** · 04-22-2013, 06:44 PM

Thanks! Going to enjoy this car for a long time.

***SMWS6TA*** · 04-24-2013, 03:33 PM

stealth sleeper.....

so whats the next project car?

**silverWS6** · 04-24-2013, 10:12 PM

That looks great! You should widen the stock rear wheels

do you have any more plans for it?

**pajeff02** · 05-09-2013, 06:25 PM

Just bringing her back to what she was, really.

I was going to hold off on doing anymore work on the Regal... but after buying Kirban's Guide to the Turbo Buicks I ended up shopping some more. Started by swapping out the front lenses that are mounted in the bumper. Mine were cracked and had quite a bit of road rash as you can see from the pic.

I purchased some good old Made in USA high strength u-joints from AC Delco (no grease passages) as the ones in the car were clearly the stock units. GM injection molded plastic around the u-joint caps in lieu of metal clips. If I recall, the u-joints on the Trans Am are similarly secured. I also picked up new sway bar bushings and end links as the stock ones were pretty hammered. I had to get the big boy tools out to remove the sway bar. Ended up cutting the end links out and using the air impact to remove the sway bar bracket bolts. Fortunately, none of them broke and they can all be re-used. I mounted a wire cup in my angle grinder and removed all the surface rust on the driveshaft and sway bar. They now have the first coat of POR-15 on them with one more to go before a final top coat of paint.

Yesterday, I dropped the exhaust system and removed the driveshaft from the car. I am installing a catback from Pypes together with their Race Pro mufflers. This system has the factory style tips that exit behind each wheel. Looking forward to firing her up with the new exhaust. Should have everything back together by Saturday if all continues to go well. With the driveshaft out, I installed the safety loop in the tunnel. Much like the Trans Am, this mounts in place of the stock tunnel brace.

I did manage to pick up the factory service manuals at Carlisle. Unfortunately, there were a couple of years in which the full car line was covered in a single set of books. 1987 was one of those years and these things are big and heavy.

**RONS98TA** · 05-11-2013, 05:26 AM

WOW!!! Those owners manuals are huge. Don't keep them in the glove box, they will prob add .5 tenths to yours 1/4 mile times!! LOL

**pajeff02** · 05-11-2013, 06:33 AM

I was surprised when I found that this was the only way they came in '87. I am so accustomed to the 2 or 3 volume softbound service manuals from GM and hadn't planned on these. Now I need to find a good place to stash them as they won't fit in my garage cabinet.