My 78 Regal Build Thread. June. 21, 2011 UPDATE

Thanks to all that post to keep this forum growing and informative. Been a member for awhile and thought I would share my slow progress.

1978 Buick Regal
305 SBC with cam, timing chain, intake, carb, etc.....
Currently primer but soon to be viper red or black with black and tan insides

Suspension:
7.5" non-posi rearend
Front and rear Monte SS swaybars
Custom front and rear frame rail bars
Jounce bars
Rebuilt front end(still need springs, bushings, and body mount bushings)

Interior:
Pioneer head-unit
3.5" speakers up front with some tweeters
6x9 in the rear
Grant steering wheel
5" tach
Security killswitches
New carpet
INterionr redone except for front seats. Waiting to be installed

Exterior:
14" rally up front on 235/60/14
15" rally out back on 255/60/15(had 275 but too tall for my liking)
New headlights, rear light and side corner lights
Replaced headlight bezels

Immediate Plans:
Finish bodywork and paint
Drop th350 if price is right or rebuild th250
Make decision on swap caddy 500, LQ9 or twin turbo 305
Complete and install interior
Finish suspension
Replace front glass

Again thanks and let me know what you think, and any suggestions

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Very First Picture Of Her. Betsy Is Her Name. Mismatched rally wheels, front end parts a total disaster, interior needing complete makeover. What have I gotten myself in.

Swapping Door
It took over a year to get the right door. The brown one is from an 82 model regal. I went through two different doors before finding out it has to be one from my year range. I finally found one a little over a year later in the junkyard. The guy used to park next to me at the gym and something told me I hope I see the car when it ends up in the junkyard. Low and behold it was in there a few months later. I still couldn't get the door because the car was supposely stolen and they didnt have the title for it. I checked back every week but they couldnt sell any parts off of it. I finally gave up until I visited the yard and parts where missing from the car. I asked and they said yes they could finally sell parts. Finally got the right door but still haven't put it on yet after all this trouble.


I used to have black rallies but I bent one and decided to go back to chrome.



This is way before I started doing bodywork. Previous owner had started on it but by the time I started bodywork I wanted to make sure it was a ok.


All chrome rally


Fiberglassed from old ragtop


Roof Fiberglassed, No Filler Yet. Roof needed fiberglassing from ragtop being remove


More roof repair


Filled in from ragtop


Getting There. Not going to prime it till I get the cowl put on though.
Still gotta lot work to do on it.


Quarter needing repair


Look at the previous damage




Halfway done


Almost ready to prime quarter and front fender




Sanded, cleaned, and tacked. All ready


Door already had primer on it but I took it off just to make sure. All the filler spots are the new dents I found.
Gotta take out the lock so I can sand around that area and be done with it.


Freshly sprayed. Drying so it can be blocked. I left the little corner dry because
I forgot to fill in some small trim holes




First few coats


Another shot


I used a rust primer for the first few coats since it was bare metal.


Looks uneven but pretty level. Drying and waiting to be blocked


Changing the rag joint




Custom made rear frame brace


Custom front frame brace






Jounce bar




Rear Monte SS sway bar. CHECK THE NOVA IN THE BACKGROUND


Extra Beefy SS front sway bar


Mmm. The good stuff


All parts


Brace installed




Rear installed


Ran it through the license plate. Didnt want to put it in the trunk. Here its convient and kinda stealthy looking.

I tried a rebuilt quadrajet but it wouldnt idle right. Tried it on another stock motor and it did same thing. In went the edely


Edelbrock installed with air cleaner. Not the prettiest thing but it gets the job done.


Thinking about changing to the ss tips. I probably will since those are the ones I wanted in the first place. Just havent gotten around to it yet.




Dual exhaust and the pegleg rearend

These are just a few misc pictures of my friend regal

Bestfriend two tone regal with matching interior

Blake442 said:

Coming along nicely!

What color are you gonna paint it once it's all ready?

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Thanks. Probably black or viper red. I was leaning more toward the black because the interior is going to be black and brown but I think I'm in love with the viper red color.

Phoenyx said:

Well black and brown (interior) would probably look pretty good with the red too.

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Yea I guess it really doesnt matter since windows will get tinted. Going to respray the plastic pieces a satin tan color. I forgot the exact color name.