[HJones1313]

My old '93 Grand Prix broke down on the freeway about three weeks ago with a bad fuel pump. Being in Michigan, where we've had 65 inches of snow this year so far, and only a 1.5 car garage (my '70's in there) it was going to have to wait until the weather changed before I was going to attempt to repair it. Oh, I also have Parkinson's, which adds roughly 300% time-wise to anything automotive related. I don't complain about the situation, but have friends who'll run me to the bank, store etc, but a girlfriends parents (who I've met twice) dropped a bombshell on me last week when they offered me their spare car as a gift, which I gracefully accepted, still in shock. Given my present position, no car, bad weather, medical condition, I can't thank them enough for their gift of a '99 Buick Regal GS. Picked up the car last Sunday, insured and reg'd it Monday, and then opened the hood for the first time; it's supercharged! This just keeps getting better. Very much a sleeper, 240hp & 3500 lbs makes for a car that's quicker 0-60 than an original automatic '68 GTO (just a tad). It's loaded to the vents with options, has a few problems (nothing mechanical or safety related, and nothing that can't be fixed). It made me realize that the poor ole' GP needs to be disposed of. Fuel pump, rack and pinion, A/C, power windows, tilt, rear trailing arm mount rusted and gone, front subframe mount rusted through, goes through a door handle every year & has 245,000 miles, these are the things wrong with it; it's just not worth fixing. Just wanted to share the story of some good luck; there's probably a moral to the story, but I'm just not sure what it is.

[400 4spd.]

Sounds like some good folks who must think well of you. I think that's the moral to this story.

[KS circutguy]

Congrats,the Regal GS's were nice reliable cars.

[Lightfoot]

Welcome to the world of 3800, my friend.

Those early nineties Grand Prix were sharp, but could become a money pit when they got some age on them. Sounds like yours had the meat when that fuel pump died.

Glad you have good people in your circle. You'll do them proud with that car.

[Bob Dillon]

Absolutely, positively DO NOT run regular fuel in a supercharged 3800! NEVER!

If you need advice on the car, come over here: http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/1992/1999

Sounds like you found a couple of the many good people in the world. Good for you.

[cuz68]

I am happy for you, Nothing like good folks.

[Txbobcat]

Marry that girl. She comes from good people.

[camerjeff]

Originally Posted by Txbobcat

Marry that girl. She comes from good people.

Doesn't sound like a bad plan,

And those Supercharged 3800's are very good engines, out 99 GP ran 15.8 stock, and I was able to get it down to 13.46 with just bolt on's, some upgrades to the Compter, and a set of drag radials. Those Buick GS's are very nice also!!!!!

You will enjoy that car.

[2002Z4CSS]

Congrats on the new old ride.

[JLHarper]

Good deal!

Christmas in Feb.....good luck with it, sounds nice.

[geeteeohguy]

Congrats! I've worked on a few of those cars in the past and the drivetrains were bulletproof.....fast, reliable, and economical. Very under-rated, too. Yes, run the good gas!

[SRR]

Good for you!

[Bob Dillon]

Originally Posted by camerjeff

And those Supercharged 3800's are very good engines, out 99 GP ran 15.8 stock, and I was able to get it down to 13.46 with just bolt on's, some upgrades to the Compter, and a set of drag radials.

A smaller blower pulley and a set of larger injectors, plus a PCM tune, really wakes up a supercharged 3800.

Did you use a shift kit? The transmissions are right on the ragged edge of torque capacity, even stock.

[camerjeff]

Originally Posted by Bob Dillon

A smaller blower pulley and a set of larger injectors, plus a PCM tune, really wakes up a supercharged 3800.

Did you use a shift kit? The transmissions are right on the ragged edge of torque capacity, even stock.

Installed a shift kit as one of the 1st things we did, pcm tune, smaller pulley, wasted $$$ on a larger throttle body, never did get around to larger injectors or rocker arms, we were actually very happy with the way it performed.

The only issues we had with ours were the coolant transfer tubes, and for some reason our car ate steering racks, had to put 3 in in 160,000 miles, other than that great car.

[HJones1313]

Not quite sure about the marriage thing, but othee than that, good info, on the choice of gas and ways to wake the thing up a bit.

[Tim john]

You can also pull the super charger belt off to gain a few extra miles per gallon if that is your goal (to save on fuel consumption). I had a 99 Grand Prix GTP (w/ 3800 engine) for years and ran it all the time with the belt off, this was my everyday work car for summer driving. I put over 250,000 miles on that car and I still see it on the road with the person I sold it to. Very reliable car.


Tim john---