I've been told that 81-87 Regal interiors will exact fit 78-80 cars? Have a nice black 79 Turbo Regal (all rebuilt) posi w/Ttype rims w/ horrible red velour padded seats! Disco era stuff! Yuk! Want to change out, hard back Regal buckets or later model buckets w/console if I can find nice ones at a reasonable price. Car has TH 350 on column currently, also willing to go regular bench or 55-45 (hopefully already red/maroon) to bolt right in. Either way, gotta be better than what I got now! Anybody out there got anything? Will insert a pic shortly, took a couple nice shots w/digital yesterday. 98 Riveria Supercharged (daily driver) 1965 LeSabre 400 conv 1979 Regal Turbo Coupe nerozzi01@epix.net or mnerozzi@kaneisable.com
The seats should switch out easily, only possible problem areas are the upper door panels and the trim around the quarter glass. If switching from bench to buckets you might have to redo the plates for the mounting studs for the rear of the seats, and yes any G-body should work.
mine was family owned till I sold it almost 3 years ago had gn wheels on it factory black car there are some pics on here if you do a search
Just got back from a business trip to Chicago. I'll have time to post pics later today. Love the car, sometimes it's a pain in the ass though. Little things like the carb. I am still looking for a suitable bucket seat interior for it to replace the velour mess!!!!!
Update, found hard back buckets for my Turbo Regal, still need a console. Somebody out there gotta have one!!!!!!!!!!!o No:
I would take any color, are the 81 - 87 consoles any longer than the 78 -80 console? I wouldn't think so. My interior is red so red or maroon would be best though. I am recovering a set of hardback buckets I pulled from a 1980 Gran Prix. Virtually the same as the Buick hardbacks and would like to switch to a floor console (I have a shifter and cable assembly) also would like to find a steering column w/o provision for the column shifter to complete the swap.
Hate to say I have a console, but it's reserved for my Regal. On the steering column though, any '79-'88 G-body column will work, if that helps any. So if that Grand Prix you got the buckets from is still out there, you might wanna grab it. (assuming its a floor-shift column of course) The plastic covers can be easily painted to match.
Probably gonna do that. Should only be a couple of bolts down at the floor and the ones out under the hood with a couple of wiring clips to disconect. It's 24 degrees out today so I won't attempt to go take it out until it gets a little better.
By the way Supercrackerbox, my black 79 Turbo Coupe looks exactly like the one on your post except it has the Landau (black) top and a set of aluminum 14 in 83 Ttype rims w/ TA radials. Tried to post pics but had trouble attaching them?
I'd like to get my 79 TR back together too. It's a silver Limited with light blue crushed velour 60/40 bench.....may be funny looking seats, but they;re more comfortable than the couch in my living room! Been thinking about replacing the draw-thru turbo/carb setup with a blow-thru 4 bbl intake with an intercooler. :Brow: It ran low 14's back when it was together. It was a real blast to drive!:TU:
It would run better for sure. The carb turbo setup I have is stone age. Doesn't the later set up have to be run by an engine management computer?
I believe the computer-controlled carb started in 1982, then fuel injection in 1984. Our 79's just have a plain ole Q-jet! And the only electronics in the '79 was the timing retard module activated by a knock sensor. Very prehistoric by todays standards. I have a '88 Saab 900 turbo that has a very nice boost control system. It uses a knock sensor to control the boost pressure. It works great. Timing is handled by a vacuum/pressure unit similar to the old vacuum advance canisters. I bet the Buick V6 would love the Saab turbo control system.
I don't think you would be able to put a later model injection set up on the early turbo Buicks? No computer in my 79, so no way to control it. The biggest thing I've had trouble with is issues with the play in throttle shaft on the Q-jet. It seems that later Q-jets are bushable on the shaft, the Q-jet I have has no provision for that and while it seems that I get good performance at fuller throttle, I'm having issues with idle or low speed with the Q-jet. I had it professionally rebuilt, and gone over a second time with similar results. I got another used Q-jet being rebuilt currently to see if the carb is really the issue. I disconnected the turbo box on the fan shroud because it wasn't working right. All that does is help retard the timing in the event of knock. Real primitive and with todays better gas (I run it on premium unleaded) it shouldn't detonate like in 79. Thoughts? With head flow work done on my heads, no cat and a 2 1/2 in exhaust, solid tranny and reasonably good turbo the car runs out well but idle is a little off, and low speed performance isn't quite right.
I considered that for some time as well, but never got the chance to attempt it. The only loss I could see would be originality, and let's face it- These cars aren't commanding a high auction price. At very least, I never liked the idea of running the air/fuel mix through the turbo. And like you said, the provisions for an intercooler would be a huge benefit as well. Years ago, I think MSD made a boost referenced active knock retard ignition box that I think would take the place of the factory ESC set up. My thought was to use an Edelbrock (or equivalent) 4bbl intake, the MSD setup, and a boost-referenced carb (although I never did fully research the details on the carb). As for the boost control, that is easily adjusted by adjusting the length of your wastegate rod. Shorter puts more tension on the spring, requiring more pressure to open it.
It's not about the money really. I only have about $3000 in the car to date and it is a really solid 79 Regal especially since it is a Pa car. I never see any like it at any car event I ever go to. It has the potential to be a really great old car that will actually run pretty well. I just have to be patient and work it all out. The problem is that you can't just get a replacement carb for the thing at the auto parts store and every vacuum leak it ever has effects how it runs. It was featured in the Buick Bugle along with a couple early turbo cars earlier this year. Upgrading the interior now too but still need a floor console.
Here's a console on I just found on Ebay. Not mint, but looks servicable if you can have it re-dyed to match. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/78-8...6.c0.m245&_trkparms=72:64|65:12|39:1|240:1318
Already eyeballed it, a few issues but it might be a possibility. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Only Buick guys would do that!!!
