1979 buick regal turbo 3.8l v6 hesitates

sahuntjr · 08-09-2006, 06:10 PM

Hey, i just got a hold of my second buick regal, the first one i had was a 1985 regal, unfortunaley an old lady ran smake dab into me and totaled the car. I love that damn car, perfect condition only needed a good paint job. With all that being said, i recently bought a 1979 buick regal turbo 3.8l v6 (sounds like butta). Once again the car is in damn near perfect condition, i''m the 3rd owner. the first owner ( get this!!!!!) was a old lady, god bless them. But here's my problem. It has the Q-jet 2 barrel carb and i know it's not a 350 v-8, but from all the research i have done, the 3.8 turbo is like the first model for the GN's types. So, it hesitates when i accelerate and also when i drive uphill it starts to overheat. I'm going to have a diagnostic done on it this weekend, but need some pointers on what could be the problem. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ttype83 · 08-09-2006, 06:16 PM

Get a boost/vac guage, check/replace the vac lines, give it a tune-up, made a cold air kit, clean the carb..or get a 4bbl carb

sahuntjr · 08-09-2006, 06:37 PM

where can i get "a cold air kit", getting a major tune up and diagnostic done this weekend. will starting lookng into a 4 brl carb, that will give more gas to the engine right and the cold air will bring more air into the engine?

Ttype83 · 08-09-2006, 07:31 PM

You can make one with rv sewer hose (3") and 3" muffler hose with a k&n filter. Don't worry about the 4bl untill you get it running good. flush the rad out and install a 160 deg therm to help with the over heating.

tony moore · 08-09-2006, 08:08 PM

my cold air kit is metal dryer hose and a round k&n. may want to check your timing on the running hot issue.

sahuntjr · 08-10-2006, 01:33 PM

is there any instruction that i could follow that would help me make a cold air intake? it does attached to the carb right.should i remove the stock "red metal intake hose"?

mikeD · 08-10-2006, 05:41 PM

Can't you take the bottom of the air filter assembly off and attach one of Postons ram Air kits? Check out page # 75 Part 3 PE434996 @ $249.00. You will need an 86-87 Passenger air Dam. Just my .02, Thanks Mike D.

moejr · 08-10-2006, 08:25 PM

First off there was no 2bbl Turbo in 79 only 78. My guess on the hesitation is the carb. If it is the round one not the half a QJet one then that is defnitely gonna be the issue. Saw alot of those come thru the shop like that. The accelerator pumps get dry rotted and don't pump correctly. The overheating could be a number of things including: Lean fuel mixture,Too far advanced or retarded timing,Stuck Thermostat or blown head gasket.

sahuntjr · 08-11-2006, 11:41 AM

from all the advice i've hear looks like the carb is the problem, i have access to a holly 750 double pumper 4bl carb, can that fit on my car or would it be too big?

Ttype83 · 08-11-2006, 02:33 PM

Tooooo Big....

sahuntjr · 08-11-2006, 05:19 PM

what size card should i look at getting or should i get the q-jet rebuilded.

sahuntjr · 08-11-2006, 05:57 PM

Edelbrock Performer Series 4 Barrel Carburetor 1405. 600 cfm, square-flange, manual choke, non-emissions, universal application

moejr · 08-17-2006, 11:42 PM

Get the QJet rebuilt. It is a great all around performance carb.

b4black · 08-18-2006, 06:14 AM

If the carb is not stock (which seems to be the case), then the power valve is likely plumbed incorrectly. It needs to be connected to downstream of the turbo.

A Q-jet from a 1978-80 turbo V6 is the best bet IMO.

08-09-2006, 06:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
sahuntjr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	1979 buick regal turbo 3.8l v6 hesitates Hey, i just got a hold of my second buick regal, the first one i had was a 1985 regal, unfortunaley an old lady ran smake dab into me and totaled the car. I love that damn car, perfect condition only needed a good paint job. With all that being said, i recently bought a 1979 buick regal turbo 3.8l v6 (sounds like butta). Once again the car is in damn near perfect condition, i''m the 3rd owner. the first owner ( get this!!!!!) was a old lady, god bless them. But here's my problem. It has the Q-jet 2 barrel carb and i know it's not a 350 v-8, but from all the research i have done, the 3.8 turbo is like the first model for the GN's types. So, it hesitates when i accelerate and also when i drive uphill it starts to overheat. I'm going to have a diagnostic done on it this weekend, but need some pointers on what could be the problem. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

08-09-2006, 06:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ttype83 Resident Slut Join Date: May 2001 Location: Newnan,Ga Posts: 5,438	Get a boost/vac guage, check/replace the vac lines, give it a tune-up, made a cold air kit, clean the carb..or get a 4bbl carb __________________ Jim Seaton 83 T type Limited CarbedHotAir Slug ET 14.342 @ 94.67mph 14 psi boost, 2.080 60' In pieces Comp Cams will never get another dime of my money 86 White moon roof T-type, STOLEN toys:2004 Ram 1500 Quadcab Solar Yellow(HEMI) 2006 HD 1200C Sporty 1980 C3 Vette ...another project Soon gone like someone else DSR member #6

08-09-2006, 07:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ttype83 Resident Slut Join Date: May 2001 Location: Newnan,Ga Posts: 5,438	You can make one with rv sewer hose (3") and 3" muffler hose with a k&n filter. Don't worry about the 4bl untill you get it running good. flush the rad out and install a 160 deg therm to help with the over heating. __________________ Jim Seaton 83 T type Limited CarbedHotAir Slug ET 14.342 @ 94.67mph 14 psi boost, 2.080 60' In pieces Comp Cams will never get another dime of my money 86 White moon roof T-type, STOLEN toys:2004 Ram 1500 Quadcab Solar Yellow(HEMI) 2006 HD 1200C Sporty 1980 C3 Vette ...another project Soon gone like someone else DSR member #6

08-09-2006, 08:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
tony moore old skool Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South carolina Posts: 3,735	my cold air kit is metal dryer hose and a round k&n. may want to check your timing on the running hot issue. __________________ 86 grand national 2nd owner t tops, digital dash and few other options. bone stock no mods(yet!!) brought back from the dead. new paint and interior 85 regal t type clone, blue in and out , carb. turbo stock engine , no ecm, msd btm,holley blue fuel pump, 650 holley double pump carb. 3.73 gear with mini spool,all the gauges, stock trans and conv. slow but fun!!

08-10-2006, 01:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
sahuntjr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	attatched directly to carb is there any instruction that i could follow that would help me make a cold air intake? it does attached to the carb right.should i remove the stock "red metal intake hose"?

08-09-2006, 06:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
sahuntjr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	where can i get "a cold air kit", getting a major tune up and diagnostic done this weekend. will starting lookng into a 4 brl carb, that will give more gas to the engine right and the cold air will bring more air into the engine?

08-10-2006, 05:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
mikeD Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NewJersey Posts: 57	Cold air kit. Can't you take the bottom of the air filter assembly off and attach one of Postons ram Air kits? Check out page # 75 Part 3 PE434996 @ $249.00. You will need an 86-87 Passenger air Dam. Just my .02, Thanks Mike D.

08-10-2006, 08:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
moejr Own an 84 T-Type Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NH Posts: 26	First off there was no 2bbl Turbo in 79 only 78. My guess on the hesitation is the carb. If it is the round one not the half a QJet one then that is defnitely gonna be the issue. Saw alot of those come thru the shop like that. The accelerator pumps get dry rotted and don't pump correctly. The overheating could be a number of things including: Lean fuel mixture,Too far advanced or retarded timing,Stuck Thermostat or blown head gasket.

08-11-2006, 11:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
sahuntjr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	CARB!!!!! might be the problem from all the advice i've hear looks like the carb is the problem, i have access to a holly 750 double pumper 4bl carb, can that fit on my car or would it be too big?

08-11-2006, 02:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ttype83 Resident Slut Join Date: May 2001 Location: Newnan,Ga Posts: 5,438	Tooooo Big.... __________________ Jim Seaton 83 T type Limited CarbedHotAir Slug ET 14.342 @ 94.67mph 14 psi boost, 2.080 60' In pieces Comp Cams will never get another dime of my money 86 White moon roof T-type, STOLEN toys:2004 Ram 1500 Quadcab Solar Yellow(HEMI) 2006 HD 1200C Sporty 1980 C3 Vette ...another project Soon gone like someone else DSR member #6

08-11-2006, 05:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
sahuntjr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	what would be a good size what size card should i look at getting or should i get the q-jet rebuilded.

08-11-2006, 05:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
sahuntjr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	would this fit Edelbrock Performer Series 4 Barrel Carburetor 1405. 600 cfm, square-flange, manual choke, non-emissions, universal application

08-17-2006, 11:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
moejr Own an 84 T-Type Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NH Posts: 26	Get the QJet rebuilt. It is a great all around performance carb.

08-18-2006, 06:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
b4black Carb/Turbo Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 1,611	If the carb is not stock (which seems to be the case), then the power valve is likely plumbed incorrectly. It needs to be connected to downstream of the turbo. A Q-jet from a 1978-80 turbo V6 is the best bet IMO. __________________ Rich BEFORE BLACK Website 1983 Regal T TYPE 14.21 @ 93.75 mph - Have I caught the IC cars yet??? 1982 Regal GRAND NATIONAL 1998 Regal GS and 1996 Dodge Ram TurboDiesel too! Chicagoland Chapter GSCA

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