Plans for a Regal
#1
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Thread Starter
Plans for a Regal
Well, the latest Regal fell through when it was sold before I saw it. Meanwhile.....I've been keeping my eye out and picking up certain parts when the price has been right. These mods will go on a car that will become the DD for a while. I'm pulling parts together as I find them and appreciate opinions on whether things are good/bad/no difference from stock etc. Parts I already have are bolded.
Sways:
GMPP front and rear bars. They are in the pic somewhere.
EndlinksFront: Energy Suspension urethane 9.8122G (G denotes black, R is for red)
Rear: Moog K662 (Same ones Rob used)
Center bushings The W body guys swear the center sway bushings make more of a difference than the end links. I've done both on the Bonnie, and the centers did make a much bigger difference.
Front: Energy Suspension urethane 3.5131G (I considered the greaseable, ES only offers 33mm and 35mm)
Rear: Energy Suspension urethane 9.5123G
F body brakes: One question was raised by a buddy. Will the spare fit if a tire is shot? No, but you shouldn't run a spare on the front of a FWD, therefore you swap a rear to the front and there is no fitment issues, or use a Bonneville spare. Need to pick up rotors and pads. Rotors are looking to be the R1 Concepts that Dan Thurs uses. He'* found great success. Being that he slows to go through roundabouts all day, they must be good.
Cleaned and painted
Rear brakes: Decided to go with 05-08 GP rear brakes. Same setup as went on CorvetteCrazy'* car this past summer. The E brake is built into the caliper, whereas the Regal E Brake is an inner drum on the disc setup. They are a direct bolt up.
Stainless Goodridge brake lines: These are better than the ZZP lines. I've done the research on spongy brakes after upgrading. There are two reasons. First is using the ZZP lines which are cheap crap, the other is the calipers may take more fluid. Using the Goodridge on the W body appear to be adequate to keep the pedal from being spongy.
Strut tower bars: Front and rear both. Happened to find a set with the Don Rome brackets.
Trailing Arms, Lateral Arms,Toe Links: Went with http://www.westshorefabricators.com/WBody/index.htm
Compared to BMR the quality seems to be equal with $200 less price tag. These have been ordered.
Full poly engine mounts: Thanks to WBS for a great black friday sale. This is the dogbone, front mounts, both trans and engine mounts.
Struts and drop: I have a set of KYB GR2 rear struts and mounts. A 1" drop would help the handling. Picked up a set of matching struts for the front with mounts. I decided to go with Vogtland springs for a .9" drop.
Aluminum W body oil pan w/mount as part of it: If you've never seen the big bracket on a W body that surrounds the oil pan and nearly makes changing the gasket impossible, then you are lucky. This pan has the mount attached to it and will be much easier to work with overall.
Cleaned up
Aluminum cradle: Found in the Monte'* and some Impala'* the aluminum cradle weighs about 25-35 lbs lightger and is said to be stronger. As well, it will facilitate swapping the oil pan.
Powerlog: I have one that will be put it on the car.
Harland Sharp 1.9 Rockers: A set or 7 found their way into my heart. I had one set rebuilt and the others were sold to fund the set for me.
Dual exhaust with SLP fascias:Regals were born with one exhaust cutout in the bumper cover. A bumper cover that hangs low enough to make the oldest prude happy. When adding duals you must cut the cover. SLP made fascia'* to put on both sides and make it look good. Most likely I will pick up the dual exhaust off a GP and change the tips. This will give the Regal a little more of a growl. Got a shorty downpipe and cat welded up along with a GP dual system. Ready to go.
HUD: I consider it a necessary item. Wiring is prepped and ready for install.
Monte Carlo DIC/compass/sunroof switch/homelink: The car I go for will probably be an LS without a DIC. I loathe how GM did the sunroof button closer to the driver in the Regal. It ends up looking like a hacker shop install. Took a look at the wiring and powered it up last night. This will be a slam dunk. Uses the same wiring as a Regal sunroof switch down to the wiring color. I'll find the proper connector and run a Class II Serial line up to be complete.
Good cupholder: If you know Regals, the chance of a good cupholder is near 20%. I have found and fixed one that will go into the car if it'* the right color and needs one. From the dealer these are $150
Stereo: Picked out a Pioneer AVH-P3200BT headunit, Boston Acoustics GTA-1005 amplifer and SC55 and SC90'* for speakers
Sound Deadening: Got a large order from Second Skin Audio of their spray on/trowel on product called Sludge and a lot of their Dynamat like product called Damplifier. The car should be very quiet when I'm done.
Heated Seats: Let'* admit it. In the winter this is the way to go. If the car doesn't come with them, I'll add them. I have both sides from Grand Prix'* basically ready for install, plus a set from an Intrigue if I wanted to be different. I'm leaning toward the GP ones as they use a rocker switch instead of a momentary. Somehow I figure the car will have a remote starter and the rocker would allow me to leave them on, the momentary must be pressed each time.
LED Brake lights/etc: There is a flasher that you modify to use with LED bulbs w/o needing special things. Lights to be ordered soon
Puddle Lights: They will be in the mirror housing and project down when the car is unlocked. Probably LED'*, Oh Rob!
Rob suggested these http://www.oznium.com/led-modules and took pics etc. I've ordered two of the straight ones in white
Turn Signals in Mirrors: I had a set of the LED signal pods got one installed. Need a driverside mirror.
Projector Headlights: Somehow a set of Lexus RX330 lights fell in my lap and need to be put into some Regal housings. Pretty neat setup. Looks like Rob and I wlll be doing the mod at the same time.
E46 BMW Fog Lights: A slightly different look that takes a 9006 bulb. I have the 9006 HID kit for install when these go in.
Fuel Filter: High flow fuel filter comes off a 2004 Tahoe Flex vehicle.
Cabin Air Filter: Automatically purchased because they are always missing or horrible.
O2 Sensor: While talking to Danthurs, he mentioned the O2 he ordered being $38. At $35 I ordered one as a spare/good to have around if the new car needs it.
LIM Gaskets: There is a set on the shelf for the new car.
Wider summer tires, yeah, they look cool, and help handling.
Assembling ahead of time
I'm all for opinions, suggestions etc. Some of the items I already have, doesn't mean I couldn't sell and buy something different
Sways:
GMPP front and rear bars. They are in the pic somewhere.
EndlinksFront: Energy Suspension urethane 9.8122G (G denotes black, R is for red)
Rear: Moog K662 (Same ones Rob used)
Center bushings The W body guys swear the center sway bushings make more of a difference than the end links. I've done both on the Bonnie, and the centers did make a much bigger difference.
Front: Energy Suspension urethane 3.5131G (I considered the greaseable, ES only offers 33mm and 35mm)
Rear: Energy Suspension urethane 9.5123G
F body brakes: One question was raised by a buddy. Will the spare fit if a tire is shot? No, but you shouldn't run a spare on the front of a FWD, therefore you swap a rear to the front and there is no fitment issues, or use a Bonneville spare. Need to pick up rotors and pads. Rotors are looking to be the R1 Concepts that Dan Thurs uses. He'* found great success. Being that he slows to go through roundabouts all day, they must be good.
Cleaned and painted
Rear brakes: Decided to go with 05-08 GP rear brakes. Same setup as went on CorvetteCrazy'* car this past summer. The E brake is built into the caliper, whereas the Regal E Brake is an inner drum on the disc setup. They are a direct bolt up.
Stainless Goodridge brake lines: These are better than the ZZP lines. I've done the research on spongy brakes after upgrading. There are two reasons. First is using the ZZP lines which are cheap crap, the other is the calipers may take more fluid. Using the Goodridge on the W body appear to be adequate to keep the pedal from being spongy.
Strut tower bars: Front and rear both. Happened to find a set with the Don Rome brackets.
Trailing Arms, Lateral Arms,Toe Links: Went with http://www.westshorefabricators.com/WBody/index.htm
Compared to BMR the quality seems to be equal with $200 less price tag. These have been ordered.
Full poly engine mounts: Thanks to WBS for a great black friday sale. This is the dogbone, front mounts, both trans and engine mounts.
Struts and drop: I have a set of KYB GR2 rear struts and mounts. A 1" drop would help the handling. Picked up a set of matching struts for the front with mounts. I decided to go with Vogtland springs for a .9" drop.
Aluminum W body oil pan w/mount as part of it: If you've never seen the big bracket on a W body that surrounds the oil pan and nearly makes changing the gasket impossible, then you are lucky. This pan has the mount attached to it and will be much easier to work with overall.
Cleaned up
Aluminum cradle: Found in the Monte'* and some Impala'* the aluminum cradle weighs about 25-35 lbs lightger and is said to be stronger. As well, it will facilitate swapping the oil pan.
Powerlog: I have one that will be put it on the car.
Harland Sharp 1.9 Rockers: A set or 7 found their way into my heart. I had one set rebuilt and the others were sold to fund the set for me.
Dual exhaust with SLP fascias:Regals were born with one exhaust cutout in the bumper cover. A bumper cover that hangs low enough to make the oldest prude happy. When adding duals you must cut the cover. SLP made fascia'* to put on both sides and make it look good. Most likely I will pick up the dual exhaust off a GP and change the tips. This will give the Regal a little more of a growl. Got a shorty downpipe and cat welded up along with a GP dual system. Ready to go.
HUD: I consider it a necessary item. Wiring is prepped and ready for install.
Monte Carlo DIC/compass/sunroof switch/homelink: The car I go for will probably be an LS without a DIC. I loathe how GM did the sunroof button closer to the driver in the Regal. It ends up looking like a hacker shop install. Took a look at the wiring and powered it up last night. This will be a slam dunk. Uses the same wiring as a Regal sunroof switch down to the wiring color. I'll find the proper connector and run a Class II Serial line up to be complete.
Good cupholder: If you know Regals, the chance of a good cupholder is near 20%. I have found and fixed one that will go into the car if it'* the right color and needs one. From the dealer these are $150
Stereo: Picked out a Pioneer AVH-P3200BT headunit, Boston Acoustics GTA-1005 amplifer and SC55 and SC90'* for speakers
Sound Deadening: Got a large order from Second Skin Audio of their spray on/trowel on product called Sludge and a lot of their Dynamat like product called Damplifier. The car should be very quiet when I'm done.
Heated Seats: Let'* admit it. In the winter this is the way to go. If the car doesn't come with them, I'll add them. I have both sides from Grand Prix'* basically ready for install, plus a set from an Intrigue if I wanted to be different. I'm leaning toward the GP ones as they use a rocker switch instead of a momentary. Somehow I figure the car will have a remote starter and the rocker would allow me to leave them on, the momentary must be pressed each time.
LED Brake lights/etc: There is a flasher that you modify to use with LED bulbs w/o needing special things. Lights to be ordered soon
Puddle Lights: They will be in the mirror housing and project down when the car is unlocked. Probably LED'*, Oh Rob!
Rob suggested these http://www.oznium.com/led-modules and took pics etc. I've ordered two of the straight ones in white
Turn Signals in Mirrors: I had a set of the LED signal pods got one installed. Need a driverside mirror.
Projector Headlights: Somehow a set of Lexus RX330 lights fell in my lap and need to be put into some Regal housings. Pretty neat setup. Looks like Rob and I wlll be doing the mod at the same time.
E46 BMW Fog Lights: A slightly different look that takes a 9006 bulb. I have the 9006 HID kit for install when these go in.
Fuel Filter: High flow fuel filter comes off a 2004 Tahoe Flex vehicle.
Cabin Air Filter: Automatically purchased because they are always missing or horrible.
O2 Sensor: While talking to Danthurs, he mentioned the O2 he ordered being $38. At $35 I ordered one as a spare/good to have around if the new car needs it.
LIM Gaskets: There is a set on the shelf for the new car.
Wider summer tires, yeah, they look cool, and help handling.
Assembling ahead of time
I'm all for opinions, suggestions etc. Some of the items I already have, doesn't mean I couldn't sell and buy something different
#2
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nice, should be a nice car once you find one. sooner or later im going to have to get me some heated seats. leather is just soooooo cold in the winter.
#3
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
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Did some testing and schematic reading tonight. The Monte overhead DIC/Homelink works great. Labeled up the wiring. Looks like the only thing I'll have to bring up from the dash is the Class II Serial wire.
#4
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Hey you have the part numbers for your poly stuff on the bonne or you made them. If so where did you get urathane stock I'm looking for 4" stock for the cradle bushings
#8
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Thread Starter
LOL, and that'* not everything. Want to see a long list, take a look at the Bonneville.
The center bushings on the Bonneville were found on Advance'* website. They can't get them through the store, but you can order them online. Sorry..didn't make my own and the dealer I'd get the bushings from is gone.
It'* not really crazy yet. I didn't mention any real motor work. Part of the reason I am aiming LS is to have an NA motor. They turbo nicely.
The center bushings on the Bonneville were found on Advance'* website. They can't get them through the store, but you can order them online. Sorry..didn't make my own and the dealer I'd get the bushings from is gone.
It'* not really crazy yet. I didn't mention any real motor work. Part of the reason I am aiming LS is to have an NA motor. They turbo nicely.
#9
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Thread Starter
Updated the first link with aluminum subframe and the choice for puddle lights.
Man there'* a lot of LED bulbs out there to consider when swapping over.
Picked up the sway bushings and endlinks last night. Things are really piling up.
Man there'* a lot of LED bulbs out there to consider when swapping over.
Picked up the sway bushings and endlinks last night. Things are really piling up.