Thoughts on 86/87 Buicks

[epeterson]

Hey guys I thought I'd start a thread about 1986/87 Buick Grand Nationals and Regals. The car that packed mote horsepower under the hood then GM's sports car, the corvette. I'd like to know your guys thought on these cars. Especially Buick aficionados. Do you like them as pro touring cars? Could they be viewed as a car turning into a classic. Ultimately this is what i'm trying to gauge, when you see one at a car show, what thoughts come to mind? I just sold my 1971 Buick Skylark and am in the market for a new car, I found a sweet looking black 1987 Buick Regal in mint condition. Its got its original paint in pristine condition. All orginal no tear interior. Perfect pans. It has hotchkis suspension all around. With a built Chevy 383 Stroker. And turbo 400 transmission. All in all it looks like a fantastic car and I'm thinking about buying it. What are your thoughts? I've only owned cars from the 70's and it was kind of weird eing attracted to this being an 87. This is also a proven Buick Regal Type T we4 edition. It was slightly faster than the grand national and there were only 2500 of this type ever made. It is rare. So just pop your thoughts in and let me know! Thanks for reading guys

[alocker]

They look great with the proper wheels and stance. I love the GN's except the sound of the 3.8. The interiors are kinda blah but t-tops can make me overlook that. Show some pics of the car you are looking at.

[silvermonte]

Im in my 30s, and I think the g-bodys, along with the 3rd gen camaros, and the fox body mustangs, will be the next set of cars that are still affordable to build and buy and will probably be the last generation of cars that are worth doing. The aftermarket is stepping up for the g-bodys so you can build them just as well as any camaro,nova, or chevelle. Build it right and it will get just as many looks as any other car.

As far as that T-type its not all that rare anymore with the chevy engine in it, unless it came with all the original parts. Now Im not against putting a chevy in a buick, as I put a chevy in my olds but I know a few people that would get bent out of shape about finding out about the t-type with a chevy, but its the owners car let him do what he wants.

[epeterson]

Pics just posted in the multimedia and photography forum

[alocker]

That's a clean looking T. What's he asking?

[SSLance]

. double post

[SSLance]

G-Bodys were one of the last body on frame V8 cars built, that's why I like them. And they can be built to handle.

Some of the hard core Buick guys get bent when they see one modded up, especially if done with non-Buick parts. I say screw 'em, I'd mod it up just to mess with them.

[epeterson]

He's trying to get around 8 grand for it. And yes I agree with you 'SS'

[SSLance]

The car looks good, looks like it's more set up for drag racing but shouldn't take much to make a corner carver out of it. $8k sounds pretty good for it if it really is as pristine body, paint and interior wise as you described. Check the frame rails behind the rear tires for rot, as well as the body mounts at the corner of the firewall. The other thing that can get pricey with the Buicks is the filler panels between the bumpers and the body. Pay close attention to them and their condition. It needs a T56, and some front and rear upper and lower control arms to be well on it's way.

[epeterson]

Okay thanks for the input! I'm a GM fanatic but just recently just started getting into buicks. The last car was my first buick and I had so much fun in that. I'm hoping that this car is as good as it looks. I'll keep you guys updated by this weekend if I buy it or not

[SSLance]

I looked again and that car doesn't have the fillers that I was thinking about that are so rare, but check the other areas I mentioned for sure. The car has been molested a little bit, but doesn't look too cut up. Good luck!! Start at $7,000 and go from there. Pay no attention to the seller talking about it being a rare car as cut up as it is. It's just a clean G-body at this point.

[epeterson]

Sounds good, thank you! What are you running under the hood of that monte carlo?

[SSLance]

GMPP HT383, it's basically a high torque, low RPM truck engine fed by the stock 305 CCC carb and distributor. Gets 18 mpg if driven nicely and puts 400 lb ft to the wheels at 2000 rpm. Perfect match for the T56 (for me anyway).

[epeterson]

Yeah it sounds good. There are a lot of 85/86 monte carlo's that are really nice and in my price range. So they are a possibility too. Any pro's or con's about the car you could share?

[ugotdubbz]

The turbo V6 engine makes the GN and T-Type stand out more and worth more. I own a 86 GN and love it when it is running good. I don't get bent out of shape when I see Chevy engines in them, but it is a little disappointing. With as much trouble as I have had with the car I do understand why some people jump ship on the turbo 6 and put an easier engine to work on in it.

[SSLance]

They have real flexible frames that need braced\supported if you really want to make it corner precisely. And if a T-Top car, be very wary of body rot. In fact, just stay away from T-Top cars all together. They are pretty easy to work on and have lots of aftermarket support and getting more all the time. Factory seats are horrible, plan on replacing them. Other than that...I like them. Cheap hot rods, early muscle underpinnings with later model looks.

[epeterson]

Thanks the info on the monte. And I would like to see that original V6 turbo that would make it a high value car, but on the other hand I do like the 383 strokers. The can really squeeze out a good amount of horsepower. I like numbers matching cars but also cars that have been adapted to what the owner likes it as an has a unique touch. Both are cool in there own ways

[epeterson]

Hey guys! I won the Buick on an auction for 6500! Picking up tomorrow. I'll tell you guys how it goes

[SSLance]

You did alright me thinks... Hope it's solid.

[epeterson]

Me too

[Ron Sutton]

G-Bodys were one of the last body on frame V8 cars built, that's why I like them. And they can be built to handle.

Some of the hard core Buick guys get bent when they see one modded up, especially if done with non-Buick parts. I say screw 'em, I'd mod it up just to mess with them.

:rotfl:

[J-440]

Didn't they also make a limited edition GNX for the last year? It was a $30,000 car back then in 87...quite expensive for the day!! If you want a badass example of a Pro-Tourer, check out the 200mph Regal in Tony Huntimer's How To Pro-Touring book. That thing is modded to the max. Nice score by the way!!

[reedld]

Buick GN is on my bucket list......I'd love to find one and do a LS swap!

[novaderrik]

if you have a few hours, scroll thru this thread to see what can be done with an 87 GN... this car is probably the best example of a Pro Touring style build that i've ever seen done to any G body, even if he did get a little carried away on some parts:

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/threads/1987-pro-touring-grand-national-from-the-ground-up.351277/

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[epeterson]

Picked up the car last night and it is fantastic. Zero rust anywhere. This car has been baby'd. Only problem is the headliner is in bad shape, and the speedometer hasn't been hooked up after the engine swap. These problems are minor but I'd like to definetly have thag spedometer done now. How much do you guys think it would cost to hook it up? Or is it easy enough to do without a lift?

[alocker]

Sounds like you got a good deal.

Speedo depends on a few things. If it was as easy as connecting the cable it would probably work already. First determine if it has a cable and go from there.

[PT Sportwagon]

Coming from a Buick Purest. I will say. The 86-87 Regals did come from the factory with the Small block Chevy, my parents has an 86 Regal limited with the SBC. To make a correction, no authentic T-type regal came with anything other than the 3.8 Buick Turbo motor. In 86-87 it was intercooled. As far a getting out of shape for building one. I for one will not. I have seen meny G bodys that have been great handling cars, and look wicked in the process. I say go for it and enjoy. especially with the aftermarket suspension parts already on it.

Tim

[novaderrik]

Coming from a Buick Purest. I will say. The 86-87 Regals did come from the factory with the Small block Chevy, my parents has an 86 Regal limited with the SBC. To make a correction, no authentic T-type regal came with anything other than the 3.8 Buick Turbo motor. In 86-87 it was intercooled. As far a getting out of shape for building one. I for one will not. I have seen meny G bodys that have been great handling cars, and look wicked in the process. I say go for it and enjoy. especially with the aftermarket suspension parts already on it.

Tim

in 87, the T Type didn't exist any more, and the "T" was a suspension package that was available with any trim level and drivetrain- there are "T" cars out there with the mighty Olds 307 and the non turbo 231.. they are slow, but they handle awesome... you could also get the turbo drivetrain with any trim package that year, too..

[nekkidhillbilly]

ive seen this car i think before. id still rather have the turbo engine and od trans.

[epeterson]

You live around the midwest? And I'm not a big numbers matching guy. I love this chevy motor, its got gobs of power, decent mpg, and it handles well so I'll take it out to the track soon

[Anthony k]

Hey guys I thought I'd start a thread about 1986/87 Buick Grand Nationals and Regals. The car that packed mote horsepower under the hood then GM's sports car, the corvette. I'd like to know your guys thought on these cars. Especially Buick aficionados. Do you like them as pro touring cars? Could they be viewed as a car turning into a classic. Ultimately this is what i'm trying to gauge, when you see one at a car show, what thoughts come to mind? I just sold my 1971 Buick Skylark and am in the market for a new car, I found a sweet looking black 1987 Buick Regal in mint condition. Its got its original paint in pristine condition. All orginal no tear interior. Perfect pans. It has hotchkis suspension all around. With a built Chevy 383 Stroker. And turbo 400 transmission. All in all it looks like a fantastic car and I'm thinking about buying it. What are your thoughts? I've only owned cars from the 70's and it was kind of weird eing attracted to this being an 87. This is also a proven Buick Regal Type T we4 edition. It was slightly faster than the grand national and there were only 2500 of this type ever made. It is rare. So just pop your thoughts in and let me know! Thanks for reading guys


The T type was no faster than a gn than a we4. All the exact same drive train. Your information is incorrect

[epeterson]

My we4 edition came factory with the same drivetrain as the grand national, but the we4 was lighter than the stander grand national. With it being lighter than the grand national it was faster.

[Anthony k]

My we4 edition came factory with the same drivetrain as the grand national, but the we4 was lighter than the stander grand national. With it being lighter than the grand national it was faster.

Since I've owned quite a few of them. Where was the weight savings?

Bench seat..... Nope heavier.

Where is the weight savings.......

There wasn't..... Is the answer.

It might make you feel better to think that, but facts don't back it up.

Unless black paint is heavier. Ahahahahahaha

[epeterson]

Mine has buckets not a bench, from factory is had aluminum bumper braces, different lighter wheels than the grand nationals wheels, and no rear spoiler. Where are the weight savings? Right there.

[nekkidhillbilly]

You live around the midwest? And I'm not a big numbers matching guy. I love this chevy motor, its got gobs of power, decent mpg, and it handles well so I'll take it out to the track soon

it was brought down to a car show her in the south a few years back. im not a numbers guy really just like brand to be brand powered more or less. that said id hate no overdrive and the turbo engine has so much more potential.

[uxojerry]

If you ever want to put a 3.8 turbo back in TA performance has a complete line of aftermarket stuff to build one, even a 4L aluminum block. Hot Rod built one that did 700hp on the dyno.

[T-CHRGD]

Picked up the car last night and it is fantastic. Zero rust anywhere. This car has been baby'd. Only problem is the headliner is in bad shape, and the speedometer hasn't been hooked up after the engine swap. These problems are minor but I'd like to definetly have thag spedometer done now. How much do you guys think it would cost to hook it up? Or is it easy enough to do without a lift?

You can get a new ABS headliner at GBodyParts.com
And, Yes, you can make these cars handle.

[nekkidhillbilly]

i didnt find them bad even when they where stock even