Learn Me: Non T-Type Buick Regals Regals

So I was up in Stoon the other weekend and saw a Buick Regal for sale at a garage sale. Being a G-body GM, it should be a good first project car right?

Are there any quirks I should look for before buying it? How hard is a manual swap? Etc. etc..

How did I type 'Regals' twice? Guess I need more coffee.

Rxbalt wrote: How did I type 'Regals' twice? Guess I need more coffee.

Perhaps you're thinking of getting a really, regal Regal

They are about as simple to work on as you can get. Here's a good write up on putting a T56 into a Monte Carlo. Having owned a Monte and driven several others I would do something about the brakes before worrying about the transmission.
http://www.darklair.com/manual_monte.html

All the suspension bushing will be shot to hell, so just get the Powerflex master kit and be done with it.

I had a '78 Regal with a 3.8 turd and I loved it!

Lots of parts available from roundy-rounders and such. One of the first things I did after buying mine was swing by a shop owned by a fella who ran a stock car on the local dirt oval and snagged some upper A-arm shims.

Hello caster!

Check the frame carefully around the rear axle.

doesn't anyone on this site just buy a car they like and learn as they go??

up here, it's rare for any G body that is still on the road to have the frame rails behind the rear axle still attached... brake and fuel lines rust out in front of the rear tire.

other than that, if the car looks solid it probably is. they are simple to work on, but they do have their oddball quirks compared to other GM rwd cars... but if you are new to GM, then they are a good place to learn.

novaderrik wrote: doesn't anyone on this site just buy a car they like and learn as they go??

I'm sure some do. But some of us prefer driving to wrenching/tinkering. Count me in the former camp.