1987 Buick Turbo T Walkaround with Steve Magnante

[@jameslandi1797]

Steve's expertise, extensive experience, telegenic personality make for compelling and informative viewing. I never miss his daily "Junk Yard Crawl" vidoes, and I'm fervently hoping he'll be regularly presenting running and driving cars of historical/technical interest on this channel.

[@TerryDZ28]

He should have a TV show!

[@googleusergp]

Those hokey wheels and tires would be the first to go if I owned that car. We got the VIN, we win: 1G4 for US made Buick, GJ11 for Regal coupe, 7 for 3.8L V6 with SFI intercooled and turbocharged, aka "Whistle While You Work, aka Silent but Deadly", 4 is a check digit, H for the 1987 model year, P for Pontiac, MI assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Pontiac, MI plant closed in 1988 after the last of the RWD G bodies and Fieros were assembled. It was the Pontiac "home" plant. We got the SPID, glad you did: AC3 for six way power driver's seat, AR9 for reclining front bucket seats, A01 for tinted glass, all windows, A31 for power windows, BS1 for acoustical insulation, BV8 for colored door lock/door handles, BW3 for painted roof trim, BX5 for painted roof drip moldings, B24 for painted side reveal moldings, B32 and B33 for front and rear floor mats, B71 for black wheel reveal moldings, B72 for painted belt reveal moldings, B77 for windshield reveal moldings, B79 for dashboard color, B88 and B89 for painted reveal moldings, B91 for black door edge guards, B94 for exterior body emblems, CC1 for removable roof panels, CD4 for delay wiper system, C18 for black wiper arms and blades, C49 for rear window defogger, C60 for air conditioning, D55 for floor console, D68 for LH and RH remote control painted outside mirrors, FE3 for sport suspension, FFL for Flint, MI assembly (likely the engine), GU6 for 3.42 rear axle ratio, G87 for 8.5" ring gear, J42 for aluminum brake drums, J50 for vacuum power brakes, K09 for 120 amp alternator, K34 for cruise control, LC2 for 3.8L V6 SFI turbocharged engine, high output, MW9 for THM200-4R four speed automatic overdrive transmission, MX0 for automatic transmission merchandising option, NA5 for Federal emissions, NP5 for leather wrapped steering wheel, NQ5 for Silver transmission shifter cover, N33 for tilt steering wheel, N89 for aluminum wheels, PON for Pontiac, MI assembly, QYH is a tire code, TL6 for black grille, TL8 for painted hood molding, TT5 for halogen headlamps, T83 for automatic headlamp control, T93 for special tail and stop lamps, UA1 for heavy duty battery, UQ1 for stereo radio provisions, US7 for painted power antenna, UX1 for AM-FM stereo cassette with clock and ETR, U23 for odometer with trip odometer, U66 for four speaker system, VK3 for front license plate bracket, V73 for US and Canada vehicle statement, WG1 for power seat option, merchandising, W02 for blackout trim, Y56 for performance package, 19U for Black exterior paint, 828 and 82I for Medium Dark Gray interior trim, 829 for Gray seat belts, among other codes. J47 in the corner means Buick Regal two door.

[@tomwesley7884]

Don't know what a guy was trying to prove by tinkering with it so much, do ya really want a drag car with T-tops? oh well...

[@googleusergp]

Not sure.

[@HSTvids357]

I own an 87 turbo t optioned similarly to this one. Mine was a power split bench seat, but is a 19U, W02, chrome bumper car that predates the early-model-year introduction of the we4 package. I always like when I see them, as there were supposedly just a couple hundred made.

[@chriscadman6379]

Where is Katie the dog?

[@stoneylonesome4062]

Is Katie a female?

[@jeffreycarleton1535]

Wrong show!

[@googleusergp]

That's his "Junkyard Crawl". Mr. Magnante also is a spokesman for High Octane Classics as well.

[@chriscadman6379]

@@googleusergp So no Katie?

[@googleusergp]

@@chriscadman6379 Katie is the junkyard dog at Bernardston Auto Wrecking.

[@greggalletta8679]

Steve is my favorite automotive historian

[@fireredgs]

Steve in 87 only you could get the LC2 engine option in any trim level Regal including the Limited. Buick built 1035 Regal Limited Turbo T's in 87. Also the T Type name was dropped in 87. Simply called the T package which could be had with standard 3.8, turbo 3.8, or the Olds 307 engine I believe.

[@princesrmichael1967]

In 87, Buick had a performance division, they offered a 4.1 upgrade for GN's, I purchased two, no one, and I mean no one could beat me, i had it all, Hyperchip, HKS, oversized turbo and wastegate, with Meth! I couldn't keep tires on it, ended up going to straight up Mickey race slicks, bolted to some convopro centerline wheels, I loved that car!

[@minibikemadman]

I lived down the street from CPP ..aka conleys performance plus. He did some of the nicest work and fastest v6 buicks around.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

😍Great vid!!!👍 Love the Buick T Types!!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Love these GM G-Body cars. These and the B-Body cars are my favorites. So good looking. So comfortable. And so much potential to make them better

[@joelharris3073]

Need more Katie

[@warpspeeed6345]

Non posi units came with aluminum brake drums... The Auburn posi, a true posi, is a great upgrade, and uses the original shims... Turns out the Auburn was designed as a warranty replacement for broke rears..

[@scottsavard80]

Is it for sale?

[@erickort1987]

whats the differance between a turbo t and a t typ?

[@elvay6847]

The Buick naming convention was goofy. For the sake of my explanation here, I will ONLY be talking about the 86/87 Regal with the LC2 engine option. In 1986, an LC2 equipped Regal WITHOUT the Grand National package, was a called a T-Type. Short for Turbo Type. That's it. Grand National or T-Type in 1986. In 1987, an LC2 equipped Regal WITHOUT the Grand National package (WE2) was called a turbo Regal. There was a 'T' package available that included a few extra and/or alternative options within it. It was not OFFICIALLY called a T-Type or Turbo T. It was simply a turbo Regal. Enthusiasts call these cars Turbo-Ts, but technically that is incorrect. Lastly, an option code was available for a turbo Regal called WE4 that it was marketed by Buick as the Turbo-T package. It was a turbo Regal with the grand touring suspension, black paint ONLY, grey interior. I believe all WE4 cars had aluminum bumper supports, steel lined aluminum brake drums, no t-top option available, no rear spoiler (only available as a factory option on the WE2 Grand National) and was marketed as a lightweight alternative the WE2 package Grand National. 1,547 Turbo-Ts were produced, making them quite rare. The community often gets this all wrong, but it's all semantics really. No one would fault you for calling a gray 1987 turbo Regal with a bench seat a turbo-T, but the community would fault you if you called it a Grand National.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Pretty nice car, Steve. I think it's like a model T only available in Black or at least only looks good in black!! My friend had one, rarely drove it, too bad, it was a Grand National. Fast little six banger it was. All that plumbing is a bit intimidating. I like the sparce little 200 six in my 64 Ranchero. LOL. When tools fall, they hit the ground underneath and you shinny under the car to get them, not like this car. It does remind me of my swimming pool machinery and gadgetry next to my house, I call it "mission control", lots of pipes, computers and stuff. I have not the foggiest idea of what does what and leave it strictly alone for fear of messing something up! Fortunately, the pool man does, so my wife can swim daily down here in AZ as it now reaches the temperature of sunlit planet Mercury, on a "cool" day!! LOL ;D

[@goratgo1970]

Chum in early 90's had a dk. grey/bronze one and raced him in my 91 1LE G92 Z28...

[@roycef6632]

nice car if it was all stock not now

[@remowilliams2.031]

The basic turbo Regal was faster than the Grand National 😮

[@brianmathew09]

Thats quite the wastegate : o reminds me of a 55 chevy i once owned

[@stoneylonesome4062]

One of the best V6’s of all time. My cousin owns a Lister-Bell Lancia Stratos HF Replica with a Twin-charged 3800 from a ‘99 Riviera. More powerful than a Ferrari Dino, more reliable, easier to obtain parts and service for, easier to work on, and about the same size as the original engine. Not quite the same engine as the 3.8, but built on similar architecture.

[@MauiWauiPineappleExpress]

''One of the best V6’s of all time'' For sure not, but it's good.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

@@MauiWauiPineappleExpress for the sake of a daily driver, I’d say it’s one of the best, maybe not from the point of performance, but they can pretty much run forever when maintained.

[@normp3273]

The heads on these didn't flow well. I would much rather have a Syclone engine.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

@@normp3273 I moreso meant the 3800, I always assumed the Regal T-Type’s had the 3800. Apparently, they didn’t. They had the 3.8. My bad. I loved the AWD-system that was in the Syclone/Typhoon. I remember reading that Isuzu wanted to make a Homologation special of the Piazza (sold in America as the Impulse/rebadged as the Geo Storm) that would’ve had that AWD system with its lotus-tuned suspension and Irmscher-tuned Passive 4WS system. Unfortunately it wouldn’t function with a manual, for some reason.

[@jdgreen214]

​@@MauiWauiPineappleExpressThe indy version of this motor is one of the best v6 of all time. It is good up to 2000hp. Mercedes used it in racing in the past and were amazed the abuse they could take. There is a video on KZbin of a British guy using the motor in a car he's building for a racer. He said one of these orginal blocks cost about six grand even with a rod through it. There is a company that makes the stage 2 blocks. The short block is 5 grand and probably another couple grand to build it. You would have to replace the stock 200r transmission with something more sturdy because even when built it won't live that long behind that power. My GN has 500hp and 600tq kind of the safe sweet spot with minor bolt-ons. I have a 92 gmc typhoon and I love the truck but the ignition system on it is garbage. Instead of coils like the grandnational it uses the traditional distributor set up on most older GM vehicles. That ICM fails under high heat and we know turbo cars produce a lot of heat. I'm doing a max ECU upgrade to control it and a holley dual sync distributor to replace the factory one. I plan on being finished before the end of the year.

[@Fony_turgeson]

certain late model 80s 90s and early 2000s gm had some real gems that are under appreciated but not by me what a sexy car i drive a 2000 chevy tahoe z71

[@Iowa599]

I'm not a fan of that crankcase ventilation. I tried an open air system (like that), and it caused oil leaks. After making a PCV setup, with a catch can & engine vacuum, the leaks stopped leaking. I know, blow-by causes crankcase pressure, but my compression was within spec. Boost means there will be lots of blowby.

[@BCaldwell]

She's a beauty....

[@Fony_turgeson]

seems no coolant in the resevoir

[@geraldscott4302]

I like the overall look, and I especially like the fact that it has real wheels and tires, not the huge 30" GHETTO REEHUUMS with just a thin strip of tread wrapped around them. But I just can't bring myself to own a computer car. That one is old enough that you could probably remove that computer V6 and stuff a well built V8 under the hood. Sadly that would probably ruin the value.

[@rageagainstthemachine7434]

▫▫▪▪◾⬛⬛ THIS BODY STYLE KICKS A 💲💲👍👍👍👍💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@twomontess]

Thats a WE4 car. Very rare

[@tracywheat4560]

No just a black t, the WE4 has blacked out bumpers

[@twomontess]

@@tracywheat4560 that’s right. Thanks.

[@golfy808]

Whats comfier Steve.. those seats or your shoes ?? 😂

[@markmonroe7330]

These are only worth much in "as delivered" original condition. The modified ones were driven crazy hard and put away wet. Honestly, they are fragile when turned up to the level needed to compete with anything modern. Best of luck with this one.

[@michaelfried3123]

I wouldn't take this car and the hassles I know would come with it... I had a '78 Turbo Regal that I heavily modified back in the 80's, these cars are fragile sadly.

[@jeffreycarleton1535]

Boy, these cars were holy terrors back in the eighties! I remember the first time I saw one make a pass! No loud exhaust Just get up and gone! Back when, I think it was, Kiser or whoever made jeeps, they had a V6, I want to say it was purchased from Buick for use by them. Anyway, there was this guy in 1968-1970 that had this old Jeep he called, super Jeep, it would regularly beat, corvettes, carmaros, Chevelles, my Dad used to crack up laughing! I remember seeing him after he got a fancy green paint job and lots of polished aluminum! I saw him at New York’s National Speedway! Then he just disappeared! I’ve searched the internet, but never have found anything! It was a cool old V6 Jeep with a roll bar! It was fast!

[@willyhwang1059]

INTERSTING how Liter is spelled Litre in the Car

[@deanstevenson6527]

🥝✔️ The basics on the 7 VIN code non GN SEFI 3.8 Turbo were so right. 15.9 sec 1/4 Mile stock before any mods or loss of a passenger. What an astounding base for such a previously Anemic engine. GM Powertrains greatest work was the Delco P3 CalPac and Triple C ignition. I love the HP 🪛 Screw.😂

[@danielanderson8502]

Hot!!!!!

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

where i come from .. they called these things ... "pro-street-racers" ... and in some states ? ILLEGAL TO DRIVE ON THE STREET !!! ....before you spend a PENNY on this, you need to find out what the state laws are !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ronschlorff7089]

Might become an "investment" then, if you can't drive it "legally" (a quaint term regarding hot rods). LOL That's what I call my old classic cars, (from 60's) and the wife actually believes me, cuz the rest of the economy for making money with money (buying and selling stocks and bonds) is in the "dumpster" and will stay that waly for a long time, even with a change of administration. It takes a while to un-f*ck things that are badly f*cked up, like now!! LOL ;D

[@TomuchLogic-ko8bz]

Putting his grimy hands all over the car. Nice hand prints 😅

[@jakewhitehawk9230]

Sounds like a v8 lol