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turbo buick?

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Old 01-22-2009, 09:23 AM
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turbo buick?

i recently bought a 78 turbo regal with a rebuilt 231 carb turbo engine. i will have to sell my iroc roller and thats the last thing i want. so has anyone ever done this swap before? it is carb which should make things a little less hard.
Old 01-22-2009, 10:33 AM
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Car: 88 V6 'bird/89TBI bird/85 T/A
Engine: 2.8/TBI/TPI
Transmission: V8 T-5/700R4 x2
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open/2.73 open/ 3.27 9 bolt
Re: turbo buick?

I think you need to be very clear as to what exactly you want to do....

If you are talking about putting the turbo Buick engine into your IROC then some of us can help you.

The turbo Buick swap has been done lots on this board. I have not seen anyone do the carb turbo swap, though, only the fuel injected version. The fact that your engine is carb does not make it easier at all, so forget that. The hard part is getting it in, the wiring is fairly straight forward.

Search just a little and you will see all of the instructions you need to get the job done.

The turbo (fuel injected) Buick 3.8 was available in 1989 in a Turbo Trans Am, but it used a 2004R trans (which you don't have), special motor mounts (which you don't have) and front wheel drive vin code C 3800 cylinder heads.

Like I said, search a bit and you will find pictures and lessons on the job.

Good luck!!
Old 01-22-2009, 12:47 PM
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Re: turbo buick?

Originally Posted by KrisW
I think you need to be very clear as to what exactly you want to do....

If you are talking about putting the turbo Buick engine into your IROC then some of us can help you.

The turbo Buick swap has been done lots on this board. I have not seen anyone do the carb turbo swap, though, only the fuel injected version. The fact that your engine is carb does not make it easier at all, so forget that. The hard part is getting it in, the wiring is fairly straight forward.

Search just a little and you will see all of the instructions you need to get the job done.

The turbo (fuel injected) Buick 3.8 was available in 1989 in a Turbo Trans Am, but it used a 2004R trans (which you don't have), special motor mounts (which you don't have) and front wheel drive vin code C 3800 cylinder heads.

Like I said, search a bit and you will find pictures and lessons on the job.

Good luck!!
a 1978 has the hot air turbo and quadrajet. My uncle had one, I was always working on it. Unless you want to go slower than a 305 though, I dont think I would bother with that.
Old 01-23-2009, 07:03 AM
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Re: turbo buick?

ya i have an lt1 sitting in my garage and im prob going to throw a hotcam and a carb on with a 700r4 and call it day. i just wanted to explore the possibility of the turbo swap. im still considering it, ill do research like you guys said
Old 01-23-2009, 08:20 AM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
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You might want to research carb on an LT1 before you do that downgrade as well.
Old 01-23-2009, 03:33 PM
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Re: turbo buick?

well the wiring harness is junk and im on a small budget and i already have a standered sbc msd ignition for it. when you say downgrade your just reffering to the carb vs fi or is there something i dont know?
Old 01-23-2009, 11:39 PM
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It isn't cheap nor easy. New harness off eBay would be cheap and easier. Run better, too.
Old 01-24-2009, 04:01 PM
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Re: turbo buick?

where can i find a wiring harnes for a third gen swap? i have had trouble finding one
Old 01-24-2009, 05:24 PM
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You don't need one. Just do what is indicated in the LT1 swap sticky and all the LT1 wiring threads in the LSx/LTx sub-forum.
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