Greetings Turbo Regal Inner Circle Members 06-21-2017 -
Link to this Inner Circle on our website.
MEMORIES OF ALFRED “TREY” CREASE III -
September 14, 1966 - June 12, 2017
We appreciate all the nice emails and posts on turbobuick.com that we have received about the recent passing of my good friend Trey Crease.
I just went through over a thousand photos to find ones I had taken of him over the years. I am glad that about four days prior to his passing, we had a great talk and reminisced about the good times we had over the years, beginning around 1985-1986.
When we first met, Trey was a delivery kid for a local pizza place. He would deliver pizzas for our lunch when we lived on Sugar Bottom Road in Furlong, PA.
When we hired him, I believe he drove a 1970 GTO, which was the perfect combination for coming to work for me. Back then we worked out of our house on Sugar Bottom Road, so his duties also included cutting the lawn.
Trey painted probably several hundred GTO radiator shrouds. He packed orders daily. One year I even sent him and Big Bill to the Pittsburgh swap meet to sell parts.
Almost every day at quitting time we would play badminton. I had a court built in the back yard at our house, complete with a light for nighttime games. We used badminton rackets that cost $100 each and the games were intense. His teammate was usually Vanessa, who also worked for me. I would play both of them - against me alone. If they beat me, they got $100. I was extremely good at badminton. By making the stakes $100, they really played their best. We never kept track over the years of how much money they won. Pete Serio, the original Window Rattle Guy, would come several times a year from Ohio, and we would also play badminton. Our son Darrell and several of his buddies also took up the sport. Looking back, those were really “great times.”
We would often play past midnight some nights. We even played in the winter. It did not matter. It wasn’t too many years later that Trey got interested in Turbo Regals and started his own business Zero-To-Sixty Performance. At the time, I rented a shop in nearby Ivyland, and rented him half the space. It worked out great for both of us, since I would drop cars at the shop and pay him to remove any aftermarket parts and alarm systems before I would put the Turbo Regal up for sale.
It was a great working relationship. He built up a successful used Turbo Regal parts business way before it became popular. I think I sold him at least 3 of the cars he personally owned over the years, including the El Camino and trailer he would take to the GS Nationals. Pete Hoffman, who would later work for our company, started to work with Trey back then.
Trey even squeezed in a few months working at a nearby Cadillac dealership as a sales guy. He had the personality to sell cars. I recently ran into one of the sales people he worked with who agreed.
We squeezed a lot of good times in the 30-plus years I knew him. I remember the last conversation I had with him about 4 days prior to his untimely death. He said I really miss those badminton games and wished we had played more.
Trey would have been 51 years old this coming September 14th, the same day I turn 71.
In the last two years Trey has been in and out the hospital and rehabilitation homes. I would send him car magazines and lottery tickets almost every week to keep his spirits up. Several of his turbo friends would stop by and see him as well. He often commented to me that he found it tough to make friends in the nursing homes because most of the residents were very old. As soon as he did, it seemed within a few months that person died.
One of Trey’s closest friends, Mike Brabazon, has been the go-between guy for Trey. He would take him his mail and take Trey to car shows over the last several years. Mike used to own a Grand National and actually picked up one of the very first Grand Nationals I bought in Hutchinson, Kansas in the early 1990s. Mike was also the last person to talk to Trey last Monday.
I wanted to share some photos from over the years with Trey.
PHOTO 1 - The top left photo was sent to me by Pete Serio and shows Pete and Trey together. I believe at the Buick event in Norwalk, Ohio years ago. The top right photo shows Trey and Pete as they tinker with one of the rare T-Type turbo Rivieras that Trey had sold to Pete. The bottom left photo shows Trey on one of our road trips where we picked up a Grand National. Trey really enjoyed driving the various cars home for me. The bottom right photo shows a photo we staged as a gag, imitating a cop arrest Trey for speeding in a Turbo Regal.
PHOTO 2 - The photo on the top left shows Trey on another one of our road trips. This one is when we picked up a car in New Hampshire. He is standing in front of Bavarian Autosport, which is one of the largest aftermarket companies for BMW owners. (I used to make parts for them). The photo on the top right is one of my favorite ones of Trey. He is standing alongside Molly. I believe this was taken the year Molly came as my guest to the GS Nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The bottom left photo shows Trey and Pete, probably at GS Nationals. The bottom right photo shows Trey on the right as another Turbo car gets loaded at our house to a new owner.
PHOTO 3 - The photo on the left shows Trey with a badminton racket that my employees presented to me at one of our Reunion events. The photo of the right was taken at a local Hatboro car show I think last summer. It was one of the last car shows Trey attended. He is holding a copy of the National Enquirer, which I mailed him every week. We would joke about what an excellent publication it was and how it kept us up on the news in the world.
Mike and I plan to have a memorial for Trey later this summer. Watch for updates.
VALVE COVER DESK TOP LAMP UPDATE -
I just acquired a mint pair of Corvette finned valve cover and a pair of Edelbrock stamped black valve covers that will become desk. They are good used originals that I will not need to restore.
One even has the factory breather on it that says “Edelbrock” in white letters. The other one simply has a plain black breather on the valve cover. Both valve covers say Edelbrock in raised white letters on the valve. If you want one of these four V8 valve covers, email me [email protected] for prices.
These valve covers are hard to find, so as I get them we will advise our readers as to what we have available. In most cases if they appear fairly nice, we will not get them powder coated or repainted.
Again, we will have two Corvette finned valve cover desk top lamp, and two Edlebrock V8 valve cover desk top lamps available. These V8 four valve cover desk lamps would be available first week of July when I return from my Illinois trip.
PHOTO 4 - We show the two V8 Edlebrock valve covers and just one of the finned Corvette valve cover that will become desk top lamps. We will be able to make two of the Corvette lamps. Email me for prices for the version you want. We also have several of the Turbo Regal valve cover desk lamps available.
URGENT NEED FOR CORRECT STEERING WHEEL CORES -
We have an urgent need for correct 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheel cores that are not bent. They can have minor rust on the spokes but cannot be pitted. If you owe us a steering wheel core, please send it in to get your core deposit back.
We have had to raise the core price in order to continue this service. Without cores, owners can’t get a redone leather wrapped steering wheel. Help us continue this needed service. We now issue a Letter for $100, if you have a correct 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheel core.
ANNOUNCING A PRICE REDUCTION ON ALUMINUM REAR BRAKE DRUMS -
Because of the volume of aluminum brake drums that we have sold, plus the fact the project was my idea for A1 Cardone to make the aluminum rear brake drums, we can now lower the price. We have a direct account with A1 Cardone.
We can now sell either the 10-bolt or the 12-bolt rear drum sets for just $199.95 per pair plus shipping. Part #7716 is the 10-bolt, which fit a huge variety of GM muscle cars from the 1970s and 1980s. Part #7717 is the 12-bolt version, which fits the U.S. muscle cars that have a 12-bolt rear.
On another note, A1 Cardone is still working on the latest project I gave them. I hope to have a sample soon of this new item that fits all the Turbo Regals. It’s a part nobody has reproduced yet.
BARN FINDS -
Barn finds have become quite popular for sale at swap meets. If the truth be told, a better title would be to call them “Neglected Finds.”
In some cases, you may be acquiring more than you want with a typical barn find. By that I mean once you bring home the barn find, whatever insects and rodents that nested in the car now have a new home, your garage!
I love it when the seller says it ran when it was last parked. Add 30-plus years of non-use to the equation, countless poop from whatever is the popular rodent in that area - and you have an instant barn find.
It would have been neat to hear about barn finds in the late 1950s and early 1960s, especially if the barn find turned out to be a Duesenberg, Packard, or even an Auburn.
I can recall stumbling on a barn find in the late 1970s about a mile from our house. The owner had just rolled it out of his old barn. It had no drive train, but I was smart enough to buy it on the spot. I can’t member what I paid for it but it did sell quickly. It was a Ford three-window coupe. I am guessing it was a 1933 or 1934 model? The buyer I sold it to turned it into a street rod and, as of about 10-15 years ago, he still had it.
I did pass on another old car a few years later because someone had done some extensive custom work to it. It was a four-door Buick sedan that someone attempted to make into a convertible. It was probably an early 1940s model.
VALUE RATING SYSTEM FOR OLD COLLECTIBLE CARS -
Most value guides for the collectible cars market go from 5 to 1. The #1 means show quality and the #5 means a basket case. Most restorations and original cars (mine included) would fall into the #2-3 category. I think another category should be added to the value chart. Have a #6 category and call that category a lawn ornament. I have looked at several cars that would fit that more accurate description. I will show some photos of what I consider lawn ornament cars that I saw at an auction last week in a future Inner Circle.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS -
While planning 4 different speaking engagements I have over the next 3 weeks, it reminded me of the 8-10 years I traveled with my Dad in the early 1970s. We would be on the road for 10 days at least once a month. On one trip, I was 6 weeks on the road, and travelled over 7,000 miles as we drove up the entire west coast. In the winter months, we would hit the southern states. My Dad spoke on Bible Prophecy and I would sell his books after each meeting. We went to almost every state in the Union. In all those road trips, I never got a speeding ticket.
I quickly learned that down south was a lot different than the northeast part of the county where I lived. I would stop at various Coco-Cola bottling plants and buy up old outdated Coca Cola signs. Early on I bought an open car trailer and would try and buy a used GM muscle car to bring home to sell. Cars from the south were in far better condition than the ones in my area.
My Dad would travel in another truck, so I was free to go anywhere as long as I was at the Church in time to handle the book sales. I had to wear a suit and tie every night.
I bring this story up because over 10 years ago my parents were living near my one sister in Spokane, Washington. My Dad decided to plan one final speaking tour driving across the entire country. He had my one sister and her husband go with him half way, then his one granddaughter drove the rest of the way.
At the time, I was still buying Turbo Regals and I thought it would be neat if I could coordinate a purchase that somehow would match up to a place and time where he would be speaking. I would try to make it a nice surprise for my Dad.
I made it happen. I found a WE4 for sale in a small town west of Chicago. I can’t remember what town where the WE4 was located. Fortunately, the car was just as described. My Dad was speaking near Moline, Illinois on a Sunday morning. I pulled my truck and trailer into the Church parking lot and snuck in the back of the Church as he was speaking that Sunday morning. Within a few minutes, he had spotted me and briefly lost his train of thought.
I knew this was his farewell tour as he was in his mid-70s and I was glad I was able to surprise him. I again worked the book table for him after that service as I had done many years before. He rode with me after the service. I said I would go to his Sunday night service too, before heading back home.
I remember we stopped in Dixon, Illinois for lunch, the birthplace of Ronald Reagan. We reminisced about the good old days when he used to do seminars every month. I always marveled at how my Dad could give the same talk for 7 to 10 nights straight. Now I find myself doing seminars. My topics are nowhere near the depth of what my Dad spoke about and nor do I wear a suit and tie every day! Since Father’s Day was this past Sunday, I miss him.
FIDGET SPINNERS -
Fidget spinners are everywhere for sale and is the latest must-buy craze. The demand is so high, some companies in China are demanding cash up front from companies to speed production. Too bad none of us cashed in on this latest craze. I guess this fad resembles the Pet Rock fad from a few years ago.
MOVIE PREDICTION -
On June 28th, the movie “Baby Driver” hits the movie screen. I could be wrong, but this movie could be the sleeper movie of the summer 2017 season. That’s another investment we all missed out on.
DID YOU KNOW -
Did you know I started writing my weekly Inner Circle emails back in January of 2009. I have never missed a weekly issue except for only a few weeks off between Christmas and New Years over the years. Since it’s 2017, that puts the number of Inner Circle emails I have done at over 450. We appreciate the many compliments we get on our Inner Circles.
EMAILS TO KIRBAN PERFORMANCE -
NOTE - If you email us and do NOT get a timely reply, be sure to check your “SPAM” folder. Some emails do not go thru.
If you need to email us, use - [email protected]
TIP FROM KIRBAN -
Any suspension upgrade you can make will not hurt the value of your Turbo Regal to most buyers. Also, it will drive and handle much better instead of like a 30 year old car.
TIPS AND IDEAS YOU HAVE TRIED -
If you have a tip or a discovery that you found that works on your Turbo Regal, drop us an email giving us the details so we can pass the info on to our readers. Remember, even with my knowledge, I don’t know it all. Simply email me at - [email protected]
UPCOMING RELATED CAR SHOW EVENTS FOR 2017 -
KIRBAN SEMINAR/SWAP MEET TURBO REGAL EVENT - LEMONT, ILLINOIS -
Tuesday June 27th, 2017, 6 until 9 pm?
Paul has recently informed me that he will give everyone that brings a Turbo Regal to this event a FREE Silver Billet T-shirt. I will also be doing a mini No Reserve auction! This is a rare opportunity to hear one of my seminars in your area. Since I am speaking on Hurst later that week at the GTOAA National meet, I will also show you some of the very rare Hurst items and artwork that I have in my collection.
The location is Castle Performance, 220 River Street, Lemont, Illinois. Since I will be in Illinois as a speaker later that week I have arranged with Paul Castle and the local Buick GS Club to coordinate this event. Free pizza and drinks courtesy of the Chicagoland Chapter of the GSCA Club!
NOTE - If you are planning on attending this seminar at Castle Performance in Lemont, Illinois, please email- [email protected] so we have an idea how many people to expect.
I will have a specific gift for each attendee. I will have some tagged and bagged Turbo parts with me and the usual M&Ms contest. This should be a fun time.
I have a special guest that will also be attending. He has been making a certain Turbo Regal part for us for over 25 years. You probably have it on your Turbo Regal.
We will have a special gift for all attendees! Hope to see many of my Illinois customers there.
Paul and the local GS Club request you bring a lawn chair. Food and drinks will be provided. If you reside anywhere near Lemont, Illinois, we hope you can attend and bring your Turbo Regal. It’s also open to any muscle car. I would love to meet some of my customers that may have never been to the GS Nationals. This is a rare opportunity, since I don’t travel long distances much anymore.
NOTE - You can bring any cores - powermasters, turbos, or steering wheels - for a Letter of Credit for parts you may need for your car. It saves you shipping.
Mark the date on your calendar - Tuesday, June 27th, 2017.
UPDATE ON KIRBAN SEMINAR AT CASTLE’S SHOP LEMONT, ILLINOIS -
I already have the M&Ms counted for the contest! Paul and I will have a number of items to offer at our No Reserve auction. As long as the starting bid has been realized, the item will be sold. Paul informs me he has a lot of rare items he will be making available for this event. This event has no rain date. I am speaking two days later at the GTOAA National convention in Springfield, Illinois. The crown jewel of the No Reserve auction will be the go kart body personally signed by Molly at our 2007 Reunion event.
This is just one of the many items Paul and I will have at the No Reserve auction. Bring any parts you want to sell or trade. This event is already shaping up to be a pretty big event for a weekday event.
THE VERY LATEST UPDATE ON CASTLE/KIRBAN LEMONT ILLINOIS EVENT -
When Paul and I first discussed me coming to do a mini seminar, I envisioned maybe we would get 15 to 20 people on a Tuesday night.
As of, June 11h, Paul says the count is now over 50 planning to attend! We have people coming from Indiana, Wisconsin, and even Tennessee! The event is open to anyone, you don’t need to have a Turbo Regal as most of us can appreciate any U.S. produced muscle car. I will also talk briefly and show some of the Hurst items I have that are over 40 years old. Hurst products cross over to all the various U.S. muscle cars from the sixties and up.
Since I am speaking 2 days later on Hurst History at the GTOAA Nats, I will have original Hurst artwork and even artwork that the art director Bob Held did in art school in 1938. He was the art director for over 20 years at Hurst and did all the advertising and Hurst decals during the 1960s and 1970s that many of you will recognize.
Those that are coming are in for a rare treat. Although the time is listed 6 pm until 9 pm with such a crowd expected it will run past 9 pm for sure. We already heard from several people that plan to cut work that day to make the trip. We will also have an assortment of our used tagged and bagged parts and new parts for sale.
Be sure to bring any parts you want to sell or trade. We need powermaster cores, steering wheel cores, stock turbo cores, and now we need original 1984-1987 Turbo Regal valve covers.
I am a possible buyer for any nice parts you no longer need or want. Bring your wallet as both Paul and I will have parts for sale as well as conducting a very unusual No Reserve Auction.
I will have a special gift for each attendee. Paul will have a Silver Bullet T-shirt for each Turbo owner. You must email Paul so we have an accurate count. Pizza and drinks will be provided. You supply a chair to sit on. His email is - [email protected]
Castle has contacted a nearby motel called Extended America. It is less than 3 miles away in nearby Darien, Illinois. You can contact them direct to get a special room rate, if you plan to stay overnight. Use the name “Kirban/Chicago Show” to get the special room rate. Their phone number is 630-985-4706. The address is 2345 Sokol Court, Darien, Illinois 60561. I am told Lemont is a historic little town. I confess I have never been to Lemont, Illinois. This will be my first time. Although back in 1963 I did travel down nearby Route 66 when I ran away from home.
THE VERY, VERY LATEST UPDATE ON THE CASTLE/KIRBAN LEMONT, ILLINOIS EVENT -
As of last weekend, June 18th, the count has passed 80 confirmed that plan to attend the Tuesday June 27th event. This event will definitely go past 9 pm. I’ve been getting things ready to take for sale and for the No Reserve auction. I am personally bringing 23 items for the No Reserve Auction. Some items will have a starting bid of $10. We may open the doors at 5 pm instead of 6 pm since many people are coming a great distance. Please bring us any cores and any parts you wish to sell. We also badly need steering 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheel cores. Without cores, we can’t continue to supply customers with parts they need. I will have several valve cover desk lamps for sale.
38th ANNUAL GTOAA NATIONALS -
JUNE 27-JULY 2, 2017
Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Springfield, Illinois
This event is held in Springfield, Illinois at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. I am guest speaker Thursday, June 29th at 8:30 am until 10 am. I checked with a friend of mine and, although this event is not advertised to the public, you can come as a guest to see some of the finest GTOs in the country. You can use my name and say you are a guest of mine, if you plan to come Thursday.
CARLISLE CHRYSLER NATIONALS -
JULY 14-16, 2017
Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA
This year’s Chrysler event has a special all new Hurst Nationals July 14th and 15th in conjunction with the Chrysler Nationals. I have been asked to conduct a seminar on Hurst both days, July 14th and 15th. The location of my seminars as well as the other seminars is held just off the grounds from Gate 3 at the Carlisle Expo Center. They have not yet told me my speaking times.
My granddaughter, Devyn hopes to go with me to help. With Chrysler introducing the Demon this April, my guess is they will have several Demons on display at Carlisle. Hope to see some of my customers at this event. I am as well versed with early Hurst history as I am with Turbo Regals.
As with all my seminars, I will be doing a M&Ms contest in honor of my parents. The Don Garlits autographed connecting rod will make a nice prize!
21ST EAST COAST BUICK REGIONALS -
SEPTEMBER 15th-16th, 2017
Cecil County Dragway in Cecil Maryland
This is a very well attended event. Once again, we plan to be there as a vendor. It is the same weekend as the annual GS Nationals held in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
For more up to date information go to their website www.magnabuick.com
37th ANNUAL GS NATIONALS -
SEPTEMBER 13-16, 2017
Beech Bend Race Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky
For more details, go to their website or go to turbobuick.com and scroll down to the event section.
CORES NEEDED -
Here is the information on our credits for cores.
URGENT NEED - Powermaster brake units. The must be complete. We will issue you a letter of credit for $125 for each acceptable core. Currently we will also buy them outright.
URGENT NEED - 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheels. They must not be bent or rusted. We will issue a $75 Letter of Credit for each acceptable core.
URGENT NEED - TURBO CORES must be the 1986-1987 Turbo Regal stock turbo. They must be complete. We will issue you a $150 Letter of Credit for each acceptable core.
If you ship to us, the post office is the cheapest method. Pack the item(s) with a note with your name, address and phone number.
MAIL - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
PO BOX 1199
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949
UPS - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
6201 Kellers Church Road
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949-1199
TECH CALLS -
If you need technical information, it’s best to email - [email protected] rather than call us. We will do our best to answer any technical questions within 24 hours. Please remember I have very little knowledge of the mechanical workings of the engine.
NEW PRODUCTS FROM US -
1984-1987 Buick Regal (Including Turbo Regal) -
GM FLUSH MOUNT KIT FOR AFTERMARKET RADIO
Some Turbo Regal owners may want to upgrade their radio to any of the various aftermarket radios available today.
Most of the radio mounting kits sold today for doing an aftermarket radio installation do not allow the radio to sit back in the factory bezel.
The end result is it looks tacky. This special mounting kit uses the factory radio side brackets which attach to the side of this mounting kit.
By using this method it allows any aftermarket radio/CD, etc. player to sit flush with the factory radio bezel. As the one photo shows it accepts two different size radio units, which will work with most Pioneer units as well as many of the other aftermarket brands.
You must have the factory brackets, which we show in the lower center photo. Those brackets do NOT come with the new kit.
This kit was made possible by one of our Turbo Regal customers who is in the radio installation business and has it in his personal Turbo-T.
See part #7803 if you want to purchase a complete Pioneer radio with the mounting kit included. That part number also shows you how it will look once installed in a Turbo Regal.
Photo on the top left shows all the pieces included in this kit.
Photo on the lower left shows the insert installed into the main housing, which you may use depending on the size of the radio you are installing.
Photo on the lower center shows the original radio brackets that you need to re-use from your stock radio to make this new mounting kit fit flush in the radio bezel opening. We do NOT include these brackets.
Photo on the right photo shows this kit installed on a Pioneer radio/CD player, so it sits flush in the radio bezel opening.
NOTE - You may also be interested in this related part - #7789 Reproduction 4″ x 10″ REAR SPEAKERS (2) SET
Another excellent replacement for any interior restoration.
7802 - 1984-1987 Buick Regal (including Turbo Regal) -
GM Flush Mount Kit for Aftermarket Radio - $21.95
Here is a link to this kit on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
SPEEDOMETER CABLE GROMMET
REPRODUCTION ALUMINUM BRACKET
Over time, the original speedometer cable grommet bracket can break, since it’s only plastic. This reproduction bracket is made in aluminum, so it will last.
It is the only part that holds the grommet in place on the firewall to secure the speedometer cable.
I do not know if cars with the digital dash had this bracket or not. Regular Regals did not use this bracket, from what I can determine. I am also not aware if the 1984 and 1985 Turbo Regals used it. It can be difficult to see because it’s somewhat hidden by the harness behind the engine, which is also held in place with a metal bracket.
I have no idea why Buick used a plastic bracket secured by two 7mm screws for this connection. Check this bracket on your car. There’s probably a good chance it is broken.
NOTE - You can paint this bracket semi-gloss black or satin black to match the original bracket.
Another excellent replacement for any engine restoration.
7801 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal - Speedometer Cable Grommet Reproduction Aluminum Bracket - $12.95
Here is a link to this aluminum bracket on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal & 1989 Turbo Trans Am -
Fel-Pro® HEAD BOLTS (16) SET
This is a brand new complete 16-piece set of the correct Fel-Pro hardened head bolts in both of the sizes and quantity required.
These bolts have the proper sealant on the threads.
NOTE - You may also be interested in these related parts - #7060 Fel-Pro® Valve Cover Gaskets (2), #7626 Intake Manifold Gasket Kit, #7576 Original Victor Reinz Head Gaskets (2) Set.
This are must-have bolts if you are rebuilding the engine.
7799 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal & 1989 Turbo Trans Am - Fel-Pro® Head Bolts (16) Set - $24.95 / set
Here is a link to these Fel-Pro head bolts on our website.
1984-1987 G-Body (Including Buick Turbo Regal) -
GM BLACK WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES (2)
These are the factory correct GM black metal wiper blades that are correct for all 1984-1987 Turbo Regals, except for the 1987 Turbo Regals that have the chrome package.
None of the available aftermarket wiper blades look like the original Trico metal black ones. Trico was the original supplier to GM. These are original GM wiper blades.
NOTE - You may also be interested in these related parts - #7237 Reproduction Windshield Washer Bottle, #7632 Reproduction Windshield Washer Cap, #7518 Reproduction Windshield Washer Squirters (2) Set, and #7468 Rebuilt Wiper Motor.
An excellent cosmetic enhancement for the engine compartment!
7800 1984-1987 G-Body (including Buick Turbo Regal) -
GM Black Wiper Blades (2) - $32.95
Here’s a link to these black wiper blades on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
UPGRADED ALUMINUM RADIATOR
Because of the age of these cars, the radiator has lost some of its efficency. Also the factory core size is marginal at best.
These upgraded radiators are 100% brand new, and made by COLD-CASE, a division of Max Performance, who also owns Pypes Exhaust.
This new radiator is bare aluminum. It has two 1" tubes, which are bigger than stock. The core size is 1/4" wider and the end tanks are 1/4" wider.
This radiator has undergone several months of testing by Nick Micale in his car in Arizona.
The original radiator weighs 25.6 lbs, this radiator weighs 15.2 lbs. The overall weigh savings over the stock radiator is about 10 lbs.
This upgraded radiator is designed so it fits exactly like the factory radiator and accepts all the factory original oil and transmission coolant fittings. The factory radiator cap will also fit this radiator. The reproduction radiator top plate and the custom top plate will also fit.
Our first photo shows this new upgraded aluminum radiator. Our other photos show a comparison views of an original radiator and this new aluminum radiator.
NOTE - If you plan to paint the radiator, we highly recommend Eastwood’s Radiator Black 12 oz Satin Finish, part #10340Z @ $12.99 per can. A typical radiator requires 2 coats of paint. Normal engine paints are too thick for radiator use, which will interfere with heat transfer and block air flow over the cooling fins. Also, standard paint tends to flake off metal radiator tanks. The Radiator Black is specially formulated to solve these problems, will not interfere with heat transfer, and is heat resistant to 300°F.
NOTE - Shipping cost is based on an oversized package.
Another nice engine restoration item.
7457 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal - Upgraded Aluminum Radiator - $379.95
Here is a link to this upgraded aluminum radiator on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
CUSTOM RADIATOR TOP PLATE & HARDWARE
In many cases, the original metal radiator top plate that holds the top of the radiator and secures the housing for the electric fan may be rusted or bent.
This radiator top plate is unique to the 1986-1987 Turbo Regals, making it difficult to find a nice used one today.
This radiator top plate is made by Spoolfool but does not look like the stock original steel radiator top plate. It is fiberglass and not metal. It attaches the same way, however the top surface is smooth. This gives it a more custom look.
Each one is done in black gelcoat polished to a high gloss shine. It weighs only 1 pound versus 3 pounds for the metal plate. It saves a small amount of weight, but more importantly, it will never rust!
It comes with 5 powder-coated black bolts, which are the correct size for this plate, and easy-to-follow directions.
NOTE - Our first picture show this new CUSTOM Radiator Top Plate and Hardware, #7776. Our second photo shows the stock Reproduction Radiator Top Plate & Hardware, #7774. The second photo also shows the placement of this plate in the lower photos.
A nice finishing touch for under the hood.
7776 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal - CUSTOM Radiator Top Plate & Hardware - $128.95
Here is a link to this CUSTOM Radiator Top Plate on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
POWDER-COATED GLOSSY BLACK BOLTS (5) SET for Radiator Top Plate
If you have an original radiator top plate, you may want to purchase our new powder-coated glossy black bolts set to replace the rusted original bolts.
These are special bolts for this plate.
NOTE - These 5 bolts come with the Reproduction Radiator Top Plate and Hardware, part #7774, and the Custom Radiator Top Plate & Hardware, Part #7776.
A nice finishing touch for under the hood.
7775 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
Powder-coated Black Bolts (5) Set for Radiator Top Plate - $5.95
Here is a link to these powder-coated black bolts on our website:
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS -
If you have any product ideas that would fit our Turbo Buick market that you would like to see available, email me direct - [email protected]
ALWAYS IN A BUYING POSITION FOR TURBO REGAL PARTS -
Got any Turbo Buick parts you are not using? Why not cash them in for parts you need with a Letter of Credit. Simply email me a list - [email protected]. Also, we are still buying dead or partially dead 1984-1987 Turbo Regals under $4,000 that are within 250 to 350 miles of our location.
NOTE - ABOUT LINKS IN THE INNER CIRCLE -
We have heard from a couple people that have had problems with the links in our Inner Circle.
When we check the links, they work fine. However, if you are not able to be directed to the exact website page or internet site, you can "copy" and "paste" the link into the URL in your browser (such as Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc.) If it doesn't link in one browser, it may work in another.
Most people having problems are using Internet Explorer. If you are having issues with links, try another browser to see if it works.
You may need to "UPDATE" your browser to be use you are using the current version.
NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE -
We have heard from a couple people that have viewed the photos on the website. Because these must be low-resolution photos to work on the Inner Circle segments on the website, any photos of text don't appear clear when enlarged. This is a problem when you are trying to see numbers, such as those on the VIN labels or pages from Options booklet. Also, because of photo reproduction and computer screen variations, the colors may not be true to the actual product or photo.
If you would like to have us email you any photo at the higher resolution for viewing, just email us and we will email them to you. Be sure to be specific on which pictures you want to see - Reference Inner Circle date and photo number 1, 2, 3 or 4 - [email protected]
ABOUT OUR EMAILS -
Any inquiries concerning used parts, you must email me direct - [email protected] - I will answer you. However, if I fail to answer you within 24 hours, please email us again. Since expanding into used parts, I get a lot of emails and sometimes I may forget your request or may not remember who requested the item.
RARE PARTS FROM US -
We will not be listing any Rare Parts again until the July 5th Inner Circle, due to my travel plans to the midwest.
IN CLOSING -
I hope to see many of my midwest customers in Lemont, Illinois on Tuesday night, June 27th. If nothing else, come for the free Pizza!
Link to this Inner Circle on our website.
MEMORIES OF ALFRED “TREY” CREASE III -
September 14, 1966 - June 12, 2017
We appreciate all the nice emails and posts on turbobuick.com that we have received about the recent passing of my good friend Trey Crease.
I just went through over a thousand photos to find ones I had taken of him over the years. I am glad that about four days prior to his passing, we had a great talk and reminisced about the good times we had over the years, beginning around 1985-1986.
When we first met, Trey was a delivery kid for a local pizza place. He would deliver pizzas for our lunch when we lived on Sugar Bottom Road in Furlong, PA.
When we hired him, I believe he drove a 1970 GTO, which was the perfect combination for coming to work for me. Back then we worked out of our house on Sugar Bottom Road, so his duties also included cutting the lawn.
Trey painted probably several hundred GTO radiator shrouds. He packed orders daily. One year I even sent him and Big Bill to the Pittsburgh swap meet to sell parts.
Almost every day at quitting time we would play badminton. I had a court built in the back yard at our house, complete with a light for nighttime games. We used badminton rackets that cost $100 each and the games were intense. His teammate was usually Vanessa, who also worked for me. I would play both of them - against me alone. If they beat me, they got $100. I was extremely good at badminton. By making the stakes $100, they really played their best. We never kept track over the years of how much money they won. Pete Serio, the original Window Rattle Guy, would come several times a year from Ohio, and we would also play badminton. Our son Darrell and several of his buddies also took up the sport. Looking back, those were really “great times.”
We would often play past midnight some nights. We even played in the winter. It did not matter. It wasn’t too many years later that Trey got interested in Turbo Regals and started his own business Zero-To-Sixty Performance. At the time, I rented a shop in nearby Ivyland, and rented him half the space. It worked out great for both of us, since I would drop cars at the shop and pay him to remove any aftermarket parts and alarm systems before I would put the Turbo Regal up for sale.
It was a great working relationship. He built up a successful used Turbo Regal parts business way before it became popular. I think I sold him at least 3 of the cars he personally owned over the years, including the El Camino and trailer he would take to the GS Nationals. Pete Hoffman, who would later work for our company, started to work with Trey back then.
Trey even squeezed in a few months working at a nearby Cadillac dealership as a sales guy. He had the personality to sell cars. I recently ran into one of the sales people he worked with who agreed.
We squeezed a lot of good times in the 30-plus years I knew him. I remember the last conversation I had with him about 4 days prior to his untimely death. He said I really miss those badminton games and wished we had played more.
Trey would have been 51 years old this coming September 14th, the same day I turn 71.
In the last two years Trey has been in and out the hospital and rehabilitation homes. I would send him car magazines and lottery tickets almost every week to keep his spirits up. Several of his turbo friends would stop by and see him as well. He often commented to me that he found it tough to make friends in the nursing homes because most of the residents were very old. As soon as he did, it seemed within a few months that person died.
One of Trey’s closest friends, Mike Brabazon, has been the go-between guy for Trey. He would take him his mail and take Trey to car shows over the last several years. Mike used to own a Grand National and actually picked up one of the very first Grand Nationals I bought in Hutchinson, Kansas in the early 1990s. Mike was also the last person to talk to Trey last Monday.
I wanted to share some photos from over the years with Trey.
PHOTO 1 - The top left photo was sent to me by Pete Serio and shows Pete and Trey together. I believe at the Buick event in Norwalk, Ohio years ago. The top right photo shows Trey and Pete as they tinker with one of the rare T-Type turbo Rivieras that Trey had sold to Pete. The bottom left photo shows Trey on one of our road trips where we picked up a Grand National. Trey really enjoyed driving the various cars home for me. The bottom right photo shows a photo we staged as a gag, imitating a cop arrest Trey for speeding in a Turbo Regal.
PHOTO 2 - The photo on the top left shows Trey on another one of our road trips. This one is when we picked up a car in New Hampshire. He is standing in front of Bavarian Autosport, which is one of the largest aftermarket companies for BMW owners. (I used to make parts for them). The photo on the top right is one of my favorite ones of Trey. He is standing alongside Molly. I believe this was taken the year Molly came as my guest to the GS Nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The bottom left photo shows Trey and Pete, probably at GS Nationals. The bottom right photo shows Trey on the right as another Turbo car gets loaded at our house to a new owner.
PHOTO 3 - The photo on the left shows Trey with a badminton racket that my employees presented to me at one of our Reunion events. The photo of the right was taken at a local Hatboro car show I think last summer. It was one of the last car shows Trey attended. He is holding a copy of the National Enquirer, which I mailed him every week. We would joke about what an excellent publication it was and how it kept us up on the news in the world.
Mike and I plan to have a memorial for Trey later this summer. Watch for updates.
VALVE COVER DESK TOP LAMP UPDATE -
I just acquired a mint pair of Corvette finned valve cover and a pair of Edelbrock stamped black valve covers that will become desk. They are good used originals that I will not need to restore.
One even has the factory breather on it that says “Edelbrock” in white letters. The other one simply has a plain black breather on the valve cover. Both valve covers say Edelbrock in raised white letters on the valve. If you want one of these four V8 valve covers, email me [email protected] for prices.
These valve covers are hard to find, so as I get them we will advise our readers as to what we have available. In most cases if they appear fairly nice, we will not get them powder coated or repainted.
Again, we will have two Corvette finned valve cover desk top lamp, and two Edlebrock V8 valve cover desk top lamps available. These V8 four valve cover desk lamps would be available first week of July when I return from my Illinois trip.
PHOTO 4 - We show the two V8 Edlebrock valve covers and just one of the finned Corvette valve cover that will become desk top lamps. We will be able to make two of the Corvette lamps. Email me for prices for the version you want. We also have several of the Turbo Regal valve cover desk lamps available.
URGENT NEED FOR CORRECT STEERING WHEEL CORES -
We have an urgent need for correct 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheel cores that are not bent. They can have minor rust on the spokes but cannot be pitted. If you owe us a steering wheel core, please send it in to get your core deposit back.
We have had to raise the core price in order to continue this service. Without cores, owners can’t get a redone leather wrapped steering wheel. Help us continue this needed service. We now issue a Letter for $100, if you have a correct 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheel core.
ANNOUNCING A PRICE REDUCTION ON ALUMINUM REAR BRAKE DRUMS -
Because of the volume of aluminum brake drums that we have sold, plus the fact the project was my idea for A1 Cardone to make the aluminum rear brake drums, we can now lower the price. We have a direct account with A1 Cardone.
We can now sell either the 10-bolt or the 12-bolt rear drum sets for just $199.95 per pair plus shipping. Part #7716 is the 10-bolt, which fit a huge variety of GM muscle cars from the 1970s and 1980s. Part #7717 is the 12-bolt version, which fits the U.S. muscle cars that have a 12-bolt rear.
On another note, A1 Cardone is still working on the latest project I gave them. I hope to have a sample soon of this new item that fits all the Turbo Regals. It’s a part nobody has reproduced yet.
BARN FINDS -
Barn finds have become quite popular for sale at swap meets. If the truth be told, a better title would be to call them “Neglected Finds.”
In some cases, you may be acquiring more than you want with a typical barn find. By that I mean once you bring home the barn find, whatever insects and rodents that nested in the car now have a new home, your garage!
I love it when the seller says it ran when it was last parked. Add 30-plus years of non-use to the equation, countless poop from whatever is the popular rodent in that area - and you have an instant barn find.
It would have been neat to hear about barn finds in the late 1950s and early 1960s, especially if the barn find turned out to be a Duesenberg, Packard, or even an Auburn.
I can recall stumbling on a barn find in the late 1970s about a mile from our house. The owner had just rolled it out of his old barn. It had no drive train, but I was smart enough to buy it on the spot. I can’t member what I paid for it but it did sell quickly. It was a Ford three-window coupe. I am guessing it was a 1933 or 1934 model? The buyer I sold it to turned it into a street rod and, as of about 10-15 years ago, he still had it.
I did pass on another old car a few years later because someone had done some extensive custom work to it. It was a four-door Buick sedan that someone attempted to make into a convertible. It was probably an early 1940s model.
VALUE RATING SYSTEM FOR OLD COLLECTIBLE CARS -
Most value guides for the collectible cars market go from 5 to 1. The #1 means show quality and the #5 means a basket case. Most restorations and original cars (mine included) would fall into the #2-3 category. I think another category should be added to the value chart. Have a #6 category and call that category a lawn ornament. I have looked at several cars that would fit that more accurate description. I will show some photos of what I consider lawn ornament cars that I saw at an auction last week in a future Inner Circle.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS -
While planning 4 different speaking engagements I have over the next 3 weeks, it reminded me of the 8-10 years I traveled with my Dad in the early 1970s. We would be on the road for 10 days at least once a month. On one trip, I was 6 weeks on the road, and travelled over 7,000 miles as we drove up the entire west coast. In the winter months, we would hit the southern states. My Dad spoke on Bible Prophecy and I would sell his books after each meeting. We went to almost every state in the Union. In all those road trips, I never got a speeding ticket.
I quickly learned that down south was a lot different than the northeast part of the county where I lived. I would stop at various Coco-Cola bottling plants and buy up old outdated Coca Cola signs. Early on I bought an open car trailer and would try and buy a used GM muscle car to bring home to sell. Cars from the south were in far better condition than the ones in my area.
My Dad would travel in another truck, so I was free to go anywhere as long as I was at the Church in time to handle the book sales. I had to wear a suit and tie every night.
I bring this story up because over 10 years ago my parents were living near my one sister in Spokane, Washington. My Dad decided to plan one final speaking tour driving across the entire country. He had my one sister and her husband go with him half way, then his one granddaughter drove the rest of the way.
At the time, I was still buying Turbo Regals and I thought it would be neat if I could coordinate a purchase that somehow would match up to a place and time where he would be speaking. I would try to make it a nice surprise for my Dad.
I made it happen. I found a WE4 for sale in a small town west of Chicago. I can’t remember what town where the WE4 was located. Fortunately, the car was just as described. My Dad was speaking near Moline, Illinois on a Sunday morning. I pulled my truck and trailer into the Church parking lot and snuck in the back of the Church as he was speaking that Sunday morning. Within a few minutes, he had spotted me and briefly lost his train of thought.
I knew this was his farewell tour as he was in his mid-70s and I was glad I was able to surprise him. I again worked the book table for him after that service as I had done many years before. He rode with me after the service. I said I would go to his Sunday night service too, before heading back home.
I remember we stopped in Dixon, Illinois for lunch, the birthplace of Ronald Reagan. We reminisced about the good old days when he used to do seminars every month. I always marveled at how my Dad could give the same talk for 7 to 10 nights straight. Now I find myself doing seminars. My topics are nowhere near the depth of what my Dad spoke about and nor do I wear a suit and tie every day! Since Father’s Day was this past Sunday, I miss him.
FIDGET SPINNERS -
Fidget spinners are everywhere for sale and is the latest must-buy craze. The demand is so high, some companies in China are demanding cash up front from companies to speed production. Too bad none of us cashed in on this latest craze. I guess this fad resembles the Pet Rock fad from a few years ago.
MOVIE PREDICTION -
On June 28th, the movie “Baby Driver” hits the movie screen. I could be wrong, but this movie could be the sleeper movie of the summer 2017 season. That’s another investment we all missed out on.
DID YOU KNOW -
Did you know I started writing my weekly Inner Circle emails back in January of 2009. I have never missed a weekly issue except for only a few weeks off between Christmas and New Years over the years. Since it’s 2017, that puts the number of Inner Circle emails I have done at over 450. We appreciate the many compliments we get on our Inner Circles.
EMAILS TO KIRBAN PERFORMANCE -
NOTE - If you email us and do NOT get a timely reply, be sure to check your “SPAM” folder. Some emails do not go thru.
If you need to email us, use - [email protected]
TIP FROM KIRBAN -
Any suspension upgrade you can make will not hurt the value of your Turbo Regal to most buyers. Also, it will drive and handle much better instead of like a 30 year old car.
TIPS AND IDEAS YOU HAVE TRIED -
If you have a tip or a discovery that you found that works on your Turbo Regal, drop us an email giving us the details so we can pass the info on to our readers. Remember, even with my knowledge, I don’t know it all. Simply email me at - [email protected]
UPCOMING RELATED CAR SHOW EVENTS FOR 2017 -
KIRBAN SEMINAR/SWAP MEET TURBO REGAL EVENT - LEMONT, ILLINOIS -
Tuesday June 27th, 2017, 6 until 9 pm?
Paul has recently informed me that he will give everyone that brings a Turbo Regal to this event a FREE Silver Billet T-shirt. I will also be doing a mini No Reserve auction! This is a rare opportunity to hear one of my seminars in your area. Since I am speaking on Hurst later that week at the GTOAA National meet, I will also show you some of the very rare Hurst items and artwork that I have in my collection.
The location is Castle Performance, 220 River Street, Lemont, Illinois. Since I will be in Illinois as a speaker later that week I have arranged with Paul Castle and the local Buick GS Club to coordinate this event. Free pizza and drinks courtesy of the Chicagoland Chapter of the GSCA Club!
NOTE - If you are planning on attending this seminar at Castle Performance in Lemont, Illinois, please email- [email protected] so we have an idea how many people to expect.
I will have a specific gift for each attendee. I will have some tagged and bagged Turbo parts with me and the usual M&Ms contest. This should be a fun time.
I have a special guest that will also be attending. He has been making a certain Turbo Regal part for us for over 25 years. You probably have it on your Turbo Regal.
We will have a special gift for all attendees! Hope to see many of my Illinois customers there.
Paul and the local GS Club request you bring a lawn chair. Food and drinks will be provided. If you reside anywhere near Lemont, Illinois, we hope you can attend and bring your Turbo Regal. It’s also open to any muscle car. I would love to meet some of my customers that may have never been to the GS Nationals. This is a rare opportunity, since I don’t travel long distances much anymore.
NOTE - You can bring any cores - powermasters, turbos, or steering wheels - for a Letter of Credit for parts you may need for your car. It saves you shipping.
Mark the date on your calendar - Tuesday, June 27th, 2017.
UPDATE ON KIRBAN SEMINAR AT CASTLE’S SHOP LEMONT, ILLINOIS -
I already have the M&Ms counted for the contest! Paul and I will have a number of items to offer at our No Reserve auction. As long as the starting bid has been realized, the item will be sold. Paul informs me he has a lot of rare items he will be making available for this event. This event has no rain date. I am speaking two days later at the GTOAA National convention in Springfield, Illinois. The crown jewel of the No Reserve auction will be the go kart body personally signed by Molly at our 2007 Reunion event.
This is just one of the many items Paul and I will have at the No Reserve auction. Bring any parts you want to sell or trade. This event is already shaping up to be a pretty big event for a weekday event.
THE VERY LATEST UPDATE ON CASTLE/KIRBAN LEMONT ILLINOIS EVENT -
When Paul and I first discussed me coming to do a mini seminar, I envisioned maybe we would get 15 to 20 people on a Tuesday night.
As of, June 11h, Paul says the count is now over 50 planning to attend! We have people coming from Indiana, Wisconsin, and even Tennessee! The event is open to anyone, you don’t need to have a Turbo Regal as most of us can appreciate any U.S. produced muscle car. I will also talk briefly and show some of the Hurst items I have that are over 40 years old. Hurst products cross over to all the various U.S. muscle cars from the sixties and up.
Since I am speaking 2 days later on Hurst History at the GTOAA Nats, I will have original Hurst artwork and even artwork that the art director Bob Held did in art school in 1938. He was the art director for over 20 years at Hurst and did all the advertising and Hurst decals during the 1960s and 1970s that many of you will recognize.
Those that are coming are in for a rare treat. Although the time is listed 6 pm until 9 pm with such a crowd expected it will run past 9 pm for sure. We already heard from several people that plan to cut work that day to make the trip. We will also have an assortment of our used tagged and bagged parts and new parts for sale.
Be sure to bring any parts you want to sell or trade. We need powermaster cores, steering wheel cores, stock turbo cores, and now we need original 1984-1987 Turbo Regal valve covers.
I am a possible buyer for any nice parts you no longer need or want. Bring your wallet as both Paul and I will have parts for sale as well as conducting a very unusual No Reserve Auction.
I will have a special gift for each attendee. Paul will have a Silver Bullet T-shirt for each Turbo owner. You must email Paul so we have an accurate count. Pizza and drinks will be provided. You supply a chair to sit on. His email is - [email protected]
Castle has contacted a nearby motel called Extended America. It is less than 3 miles away in nearby Darien, Illinois. You can contact them direct to get a special room rate, if you plan to stay overnight. Use the name “Kirban/Chicago Show” to get the special room rate. Their phone number is 630-985-4706. The address is 2345 Sokol Court, Darien, Illinois 60561. I am told Lemont is a historic little town. I confess I have never been to Lemont, Illinois. This will be my first time. Although back in 1963 I did travel down nearby Route 66 when I ran away from home.
THE VERY, VERY LATEST UPDATE ON THE CASTLE/KIRBAN LEMONT, ILLINOIS EVENT -
As of last weekend, June 18th, the count has passed 80 confirmed that plan to attend the Tuesday June 27th event. This event will definitely go past 9 pm. I’ve been getting things ready to take for sale and for the No Reserve auction. I am personally bringing 23 items for the No Reserve Auction. Some items will have a starting bid of $10. We may open the doors at 5 pm instead of 6 pm since many people are coming a great distance. Please bring us any cores and any parts you wish to sell. We also badly need steering 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheel cores. Without cores, we can’t continue to supply customers with parts they need. I will have several valve cover desk lamps for sale.
38th ANNUAL GTOAA NATIONALS -
JUNE 27-JULY 2, 2017
Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Springfield, Illinois
This event is held in Springfield, Illinois at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. I am guest speaker Thursday, June 29th at 8:30 am until 10 am. I checked with a friend of mine and, although this event is not advertised to the public, you can come as a guest to see some of the finest GTOs in the country. You can use my name and say you are a guest of mine, if you plan to come Thursday.
CARLISLE CHRYSLER NATIONALS -
JULY 14-16, 2017
Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA
This year’s Chrysler event has a special all new Hurst Nationals July 14th and 15th in conjunction with the Chrysler Nationals. I have been asked to conduct a seminar on Hurst both days, July 14th and 15th. The location of my seminars as well as the other seminars is held just off the grounds from Gate 3 at the Carlisle Expo Center. They have not yet told me my speaking times.
My granddaughter, Devyn hopes to go with me to help. With Chrysler introducing the Demon this April, my guess is they will have several Demons on display at Carlisle. Hope to see some of my customers at this event. I am as well versed with early Hurst history as I am with Turbo Regals.
As with all my seminars, I will be doing a M&Ms contest in honor of my parents. The Don Garlits autographed connecting rod will make a nice prize!
21ST EAST COAST BUICK REGIONALS -
SEPTEMBER 15th-16th, 2017
Cecil County Dragway in Cecil Maryland
This is a very well attended event. Once again, we plan to be there as a vendor. It is the same weekend as the annual GS Nationals held in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
For more up to date information go to their website www.magnabuick.com
37th ANNUAL GS NATIONALS -
SEPTEMBER 13-16, 2017
Beech Bend Race Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky
For more details, go to their website or go to turbobuick.com and scroll down to the event section.
CORES NEEDED -
Here is the information on our credits for cores.
URGENT NEED - Powermaster brake units. The must be complete. We will issue you a letter of credit for $125 for each acceptable core. Currently we will also buy them outright.
URGENT NEED - 1986-1987 Turbo Regal steering wheels. They must not be bent or rusted. We will issue a $75 Letter of Credit for each acceptable core.
URGENT NEED - TURBO CORES must be the 1986-1987 Turbo Regal stock turbo. They must be complete. We will issue you a $150 Letter of Credit for each acceptable core.
If you ship to us, the post office is the cheapest method. Pack the item(s) with a note with your name, address and phone number.
MAIL - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
PO BOX 1199
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949
UPS - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
6201 Kellers Church Road
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949-1199
TECH CALLS -
If you need technical information, it’s best to email - [email protected] rather than call us. We will do our best to answer any technical questions within 24 hours. Please remember I have very little knowledge of the mechanical workings of the engine.
NEW PRODUCTS FROM US -
1984-1987 Buick Regal (Including Turbo Regal) -
GM FLUSH MOUNT KIT FOR AFTERMARKET RADIO
Some Turbo Regal owners may want to upgrade their radio to any of the various aftermarket radios available today.
Most of the radio mounting kits sold today for doing an aftermarket radio installation do not allow the radio to sit back in the factory bezel.
The end result is it looks tacky. This special mounting kit uses the factory radio side brackets which attach to the side of this mounting kit.
By using this method it allows any aftermarket radio/CD, etc. player to sit flush with the factory radio bezel. As the one photo shows it accepts two different size radio units, which will work with most Pioneer units as well as many of the other aftermarket brands.
You must have the factory brackets, which we show in the lower center photo. Those brackets do NOT come with the new kit.
This kit was made possible by one of our Turbo Regal customers who is in the radio installation business and has it in his personal Turbo-T.
See part #7803 if you want to purchase a complete Pioneer radio with the mounting kit included. That part number also shows you how it will look once installed in a Turbo Regal.
Photo on the top left shows all the pieces included in this kit.
Photo on the lower left shows the insert installed into the main housing, which you may use depending on the size of the radio you are installing.
Photo on the lower center shows the original radio brackets that you need to re-use from your stock radio to make this new mounting kit fit flush in the radio bezel opening. We do NOT include these brackets.
Photo on the right photo shows this kit installed on a Pioneer radio/CD player, so it sits flush in the radio bezel opening.
NOTE - You may also be interested in this related part - #7789 Reproduction 4″ x 10″ REAR SPEAKERS (2) SET
Another excellent replacement for any interior restoration.
7802 - 1984-1987 Buick Regal (including Turbo Regal) -
GM Flush Mount Kit for Aftermarket Radio - $21.95
Here is a link to this kit on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
SPEEDOMETER CABLE GROMMET
REPRODUCTION ALUMINUM BRACKET
Over time, the original speedometer cable grommet bracket can break, since it’s only plastic. This reproduction bracket is made in aluminum, so it will last.
It is the only part that holds the grommet in place on the firewall to secure the speedometer cable.
I do not know if cars with the digital dash had this bracket or not. Regular Regals did not use this bracket, from what I can determine. I am also not aware if the 1984 and 1985 Turbo Regals used it. It can be difficult to see because it’s somewhat hidden by the harness behind the engine, which is also held in place with a metal bracket.
I have no idea why Buick used a plastic bracket secured by two 7mm screws for this connection. Check this bracket on your car. There’s probably a good chance it is broken.
NOTE - You can paint this bracket semi-gloss black or satin black to match the original bracket.
Another excellent replacement for any engine restoration.
7801 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal - Speedometer Cable Grommet Reproduction Aluminum Bracket - $12.95
Here is a link to this aluminum bracket on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal & 1989 Turbo Trans Am -
Fel-Pro® HEAD BOLTS (16) SET
This is a brand new complete 16-piece set of the correct Fel-Pro hardened head bolts in both of the sizes and quantity required.
These bolts have the proper sealant on the threads.
NOTE - You may also be interested in these related parts - #7060 Fel-Pro® Valve Cover Gaskets (2), #7626 Intake Manifold Gasket Kit, #7576 Original Victor Reinz Head Gaskets (2) Set.
This are must-have bolts if you are rebuilding the engine.
7799 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal & 1989 Turbo Trans Am - Fel-Pro® Head Bolts (16) Set - $24.95 / set
Here is a link to these Fel-Pro head bolts on our website.
1984-1987 G-Body (Including Buick Turbo Regal) -
GM BLACK WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES (2)
These are the factory correct GM black metal wiper blades that are correct for all 1984-1987 Turbo Regals, except for the 1987 Turbo Regals that have the chrome package.
None of the available aftermarket wiper blades look like the original Trico metal black ones. Trico was the original supplier to GM. These are original GM wiper blades.
NOTE - You may also be interested in these related parts - #7237 Reproduction Windshield Washer Bottle, #7632 Reproduction Windshield Washer Cap, #7518 Reproduction Windshield Washer Squirters (2) Set, and #7468 Rebuilt Wiper Motor.
An excellent cosmetic enhancement for the engine compartment!
7800 1984-1987 G-Body (including Buick Turbo Regal) -
GM Black Wiper Blades (2) - $32.95
Here’s a link to these black wiper blades on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
UPGRADED ALUMINUM RADIATOR
Because of the age of these cars, the radiator has lost some of its efficency. Also the factory core size is marginal at best.
These upgraded radiators are 100% brand new, and made by COLD-CASE, a division of Max Performance, who also owns Pypes Exhaust.
This new radiator is bare aluminum. It has two 1" tubes, which are bigger than stock. The core size is 1/4" wider and the end tanks are 1/4" wider.
This radiator has undergone several months of testing by Nick Micale in his car in Arizona.
The original radiator weighs 25.6 lbs, this radiator weighs 15.2 lbs. The overall weigh savings over the stock radiator is about 10 lbs.
This upgraded radiator is designed so it fits exactly like the factory radiator and accepts all the factory original oil and transmission coolant fittings. The factory radiator cap will also fit this radiator. The reproduction radiator top plate and the custom top plate will also fit.
Our first photo shows this new upgraded aluminum radiator. Our other photos show a comparison views of an original radiator and this new aluminum radiator.
NOTE - If you plan to paint the radiator, we highly recommend Eastwood’s Radiator Black 12 oz Satin Finish, part #10340Z @ $12.99 per can. A typical radiator requires 2 coats of paint. Normal engine paints are too thick for radiator use, which will interfere with heat transfer and block air flow over the cooling fins. Also, standard paint tends to flake off metal radiator tanks. The Radiator Black is specially formulated to solve these problems, will not interfere with heat transfer, and is heat resistant to 300°F.
NOTE - Shipping cost is based on an oversized package.
Another nice engine restoration item.
7457 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal - Upgraded Aluminum Radiator - $379.95
Here is a link to this upgraded aluminum radiator on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
CUSTOM RADIATOR TOP PLATE & HARDWARE
In many cases, the original metal radiator top plate that holds the top of the radiator and secures the housing for the electric fan may be rusted or bent.
This radiator top plate is unique to the 1986-1987 Turbo Regals, making it difficult to find a nice used one today.
This radiator top plate is made by Spoolfool but does not look like the stock original steel radiator top plate. It is fiberglass and not metal. It attaches the same way, however the top surface is smooth. This gives it a more custom look.
Each one is done in black gelcoat polished to a high gloss shine. It weighs only 1 pound versus 3 pounds for the metal plate. It saves a small amount of weight, but more importantly, it will never rust!
It comes with 5 powder-coated black bolts, which are the correct size for this plate, and easy-to-follow directions.
NOTE - Our first picture show this new CUSTOM Radiator Top Plate and Hardware, #7776. Our second photo shows the stock Reproduction Radiator Top Plate & Hardware, #7774. The second photo also shows the placement of this plate in the lower photos.
A nice finishing touch for under the hood.
7776 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal - CUSTOM Radiator Top Plate & Hardware - $128.95
Here is a link to this CUSTOM Radiator Top Plate on our website:
1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
POWDER-COATED GLOSSY BLACK BOLTS (5) SET for Radiator Top Plate
If you have an original radiator top plate, you may want to purchase our new powder-coated glossy black bolts set to replace the rusted original bolts.
These are special bolts for this plate.
NOTE - These 5 bolts come with the Reproduction Radiator Top Plate and Hardware, part #7774, and the Custom Radiator Top Plate & Hardware, Part #7776.
A nice finishing touch for under the hood.
7775 - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
Powder-coated Black Bolts (5) Set for Radiator Top Plate - $5.95
Here is a link to these powder-coated black bolts on our website:
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS -
If you have any product ideas that would fit our Turbo Buick market that you would like to see available, email me direct - [email protected]
ALWAYS IN A BUYING POSITION FOR TURBO REGAL PARTS -
Got any Turbo Buick parts you are not using? Why not cash them in for parts you need with a Letter of Credit. Simply email me a list - [email protected]. Also, we are still buying dead or partially dead 1984-1987 Turbo Regals under $4,000 that are within 250 to 350 miles of our location.
NOTE - ABOUT LINKS IN THE INNER CIRCLE -
We have heard from a couple people that have had problems with the links in our Inner Circle.
When we check the links, they work fine. However, if you are not able to be directed to the exact website page or internet site, you can "copy" and "paste" the link into the URL in your browser (such as Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc.) If it doesn't link in one browser, it may work in another.
Most people having problems are using Internet Explorer. If you are having issues with links, try another browser to see if it works.
You may need to "UPDATE" your browser to be use you are using the current version.
NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE -
We have heard from a couple people that have viewed the photos on the website. Because these must be low-resolution photos to work on the Inner Circle segments on the website, any photos of text don't appear clear when enlarged. This is a problem when you are trying to see numbers, such as those on the VIN labels or pages from Options booklet. Also, because of photo reproduction and computer screen variations, the colors may not be true to the actual product or photo.
If you would like to have us email you any photo at the higher resolution for viewing, just email us and we will email them to you. Be sure to be specific on which pictures you want to see - Reference Inner Circle date and photo number 1, 2, 3 or 4 - [email protected]
ABOUT OUR EMAILS -
Any inquiries concerning used parts, you must email me direct - [email protected] - I will answer you. However, if I fail to answer you within 24 hours, please email us again. Since expanding into used parts, I get a lot of emails and sometimes I may forget your request or may not remember who requested the item.
RARE PARTS FROM US -
We will not be listing any Rare Parts again until the July 5th Inner Circle, due to my travel plans to the midwest.
IN CLOSING -
I hope to see many of my midwest customers in Lemont, Illinois on Tuesday night, June 27th. If nothing else, come for the free Pizza!