I am rethinking my approach to getting a car. I think the Regal would be good but it has 350,000kms and I wouldn't trust that so would it be good to get a new motor from GM Performance Parts? I would want a 3800 Series II but at GM Performance Parts they are Supercharged. I like the idea of a supercharged Regal. Maybe a new trans or one off of another Regal. Would it be worth to do this? It has 350,000 kms on the car but it could be capable of getting more right with a new engine? If anyone knows how much a new crate motor is then please tell me. I think I may just get the Regal now before it goes to the wreckers. They only want $200 or less. WOuld this be a wise choice to do or should I go with a newer vehicle?

If I were you I'd try getting the car for even less than that. If you know it's going to the wreckers, offer them $100 or so. They'll only get pennies on the pound for junking it anyway.

A 3800 Series II swap could get expensive. Newer ones have different computers, wiring harnesses, etc. than the Series I.

I think you're better served buying a master overhaul kit for the engine that's in it and rebuilding it. Bore out the cylinders to get rid of the wear, and change whatever doesn't meet the acceptable tolerances for that engine.

When the intake manifold gasket went in my '96 Riviera (naturally aspirated Series II 3800) with 131,000 miles on it, I was presented with two basic options. My father, who owns a body shop, could get a brand new, zero miles long block from GM for $2500 (shop rate). I instead opted to buy an engine with 14,000 miles out of a wrecked '04 LeSabre for $1500 from a local yard that deals specifically in late model wrecks. It didnt have to be broken in, and it runs excellent. I was able to go in and see it run and everything. At the same time, I was also offered an engine out of an '02 Regal with 26,000 miles on it for $1300. This was in January of this year, so I would assume prices wouldn't have fluctuated too much either way since then. Hope this helps!

Thanks that helps a lot. I may go for the Series II but if it is expensive than a Series I would be better. Does GM still sell them but is it only the Series IIs and up.

It has too many kilometres to my liking but I have changed my mind. I checked out the rust on the rocker panels because someone, but I dont remember who, told me to check it out. The rust is terrible in that spot and I feel that safe with that. I got on my knees and looked under the regal and the rust is really eating the frame. The rocker panels are heavily rusted, the left front fender is being eaten away by rust and same with the rear quarter panel. The frame had what looked to be a chunk out of it. I dont know but it didnt look safe to me. They also have a 97 Cavalier there that I may check out. It has about 300k on it but little rust and the rust is only on part of the hood. The interior is perfect and I trust Cavaliers more because I see them everywhere. I trust the Regals just not that one in that condition. I have seen over 30 of that generation Regals driving around since last Sunday. They are all four doors though except for the odd 3 or 4. They also don't have any rust on the rockers that I could see. The Cavalier would be cheaper than the Sunfire. It also passed emission tests but the Regal didn't.

You can easily check ebay and junk yards. Even if you can just get your hands on the short block from a 3.8L F-body, all you need is the upper half from a junkyard Grand Prix or something...

If I were you... I'd just increase your spending margins and get something that runs good, looks good, and that you won't have to put a great deal of work into. Learned that with buying that POS Grand Am. I'm so far happy with my Millenia other than its gas mileage (which has dropped below 20mpg, btw).

If I were you... I'd just increase your spending margins and get something that runs good, looks good, and that you won't have to put a great deal of work into. Learned that with buying that POS Grand Am. I'm so far happy with my Millenia other than its gas mileage (which has dropped below 20mpg, btw).

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Yeah... laugh, bitch!

yep !

You cant put a SII engine in an SI car. Wrong PCM, wrong harness, wrong transmission..........nice to dream though. There are people that can do it and have done it, there are also many more that have tried and failed, and that is those that also aquired the correct electronic transmission, wireing harness and PCM. The web is full of guys still trying to get their SII transplants running properly.

350,000km's, whats that like 200,000 miles ? Not the end of the world for a $200 car.

I am rethinking my approach to getting a car. I think the Regal would be good but it has 350,000kms and I wouldn't trust that so would it be good to get a new motor from GM Performance Parts?  I would want a 3800 Series II but at GM Performance Parts they are Supercharged. I like the idea of a supercharged Regal. Maybe a new trans or one off of another Regal. Would it be worth to do this? It has 350,000 kms on the car but it could be capable of getting more right with a new engine? If anyone knows how much a new crate motor is then please tell me. I think I may just get the Regal now before it goes to the wreckers. They only want $200 or less. WOuld this be a wise choice to do or should I go with a newer vehicle?

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You are obviously Canadian from the kilometers thing. Well, my 92 Regal 3800 Series I has almost 375,000 kms which is 231,000 miles (I have 228,000 miles). I don't know the condition of that one you refere to...if there's no rust, then that's cool...however, what's the point of adding engines, trannies, etc...you don't know what kind of shape they are in.

Now, Mr. Goodwrench offers the remanufactured engines/transmissions for the old cars. However, I have priced it and it is expensive. That's why I say that we need to baby cars, making them last a long time and getting to the stage where they become throw-aways.

I would've taken a picture of the frame but I didn't have my camera. It did not look good. It was a good sized chunk out of it by all the rust I guess. All I can say is it is going to the wreckers but I may ask them if I could take some parts from it.

I wouldn't really bother with having anything to do with that Regal. I'd just stay away from it.

Browse sites like cars.com and see if you can find a car that is having engine trouble if you want something to fix. I found a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire (somewhere, I'm actually not sure if it's in my area or not) for $800 bucks (U.S.) with engine trouble.

There is a 1997 Cavalier that I am curious about. They get older cars constantly now so I will just check in often.

There is a 1997 Cavalier that I am curious about. They get older cars constantly now so I will just check in often.

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Do that and pay attention to the classifieds in as many local newspapers you can get.

Also... Autotrader.com is great.

. . .Look for an older model Bonneville (like a 1993 model). Those cars were so awesome for a big, front-drive car when it came to features and interior layout. It's, to be crude, stylist masturbation on four wheels.