I just bought a 1984 Buick Regal Limited with the V6 motor. I was wondering what a ball park figure for a tune-up would be. By tune-up, I mean like plugs, rotor, distributor cap (if needed), wires (if needed) as well as check and adjust timing and carb (also if needed). And maybe even throwing in a new fuel filter.
Thanks!!
I’d guess if you change everything, probably like $30-50 in parts (depending on if you go for the good stuff or not) and around an hour in labor, so multiply that by whatever the local rate is. IIRC, the carburetors from this era of GM product supposedly don’t require any periodic adjustment, although that’s assuming someone in the last 30 years didn’t toss the original smog carburetor.
You should definitely consider taking a crack at it yourself. Tune ups on these old cars are pretty fun when you get the hang of them, and this car should have plenty of room under the hood. Probably more than it left the factory with, depending on how much of the smog equipment has wandered off! The only special tool you really need is a timing light, and if you’ve got a parts store that loans tools they ought to have one.
Thanks!!
Everything it left the factory with is still there. It only has 32,051 miles on it. I’m calling it my mid-life crisis car. 
I had a 1987 Olds Cutlass Salon at one time that was very similar, including the same interior color.
I would go for the quality parts and maybe spend $100.00 or so.
Of the items mentioned, probably only spark plugs are due, assuming it did not have a 30,000 mile service. The air filter would also be due at that mileage. Tell me which engine it has – apparently they were all V6’s, but there were four different ones – and I can look up the maintenance schedule.
3.8, 3.8 turbo, 4.1, 4.3?
Ignition timing should not need adjustment, as it normally does not change. Carb adjustment may require special tools and is generally best left alone unless you KNOW what you’re doing.
The plain jane 3.8, no turbo.
Thanks Gary T!
The following items are on the schedule at 30K miles:
Air filter
Engine coolant flush and fill
Engine oil and filter
Crankcase filter (PCV system filter, probably a little thing inside the air cleaner)
Transmission fluid and filter
Spark plugs
It also lists clean and repack the (front) wheel bearings, but in reality there’s no need. That can wait until the front brake pads need replacement (overlapping labor, costs less), and even then it often costs less to leave them be and replace them if and when they get bad than to repack them several times.
The fuel filter’s not on the schedule. I’d replace it at 60K.
Thank you!!
I just ordered an original owner’s manual off of eBay today, so then I’ll know what the maintenance schedule should be. It was only $10.
Kimballkid - May want to casually look around for a seasoned , melancholy mechanic, just to bounce questions off of. Couldn’t hurt, yes?
Melancholy? WTF?
I just did. I think Gary T is a pretty ‘seasoned’ mechanic. He’s also got several years of experience. 
I don’t know what the melancholy thing is all about.
How the hell can a 30 year old car only have 30k miles on it?
Uhmmmm…it didn’t get driven much?
I think that’s pretty standard for Buicks. Church on Sunday and whatnot.
I don’t know and I don’t really care, I’m just happy I found it.
Inspect the belts and tires of course! And I would do the fuel filter, just in case.
Pics please, I love me some old cars.
I’m taking it in to the shop tomorrow to have them do an oil change and service as well as check it over. I’ll probably also make an appointment to have the rest of the 30,000 mile service done then also.
I’ll post pictures tomorrow. I thought I could do it through Facebook, but when you do it that way it seems to want to share all my pictures not just that particular album.
OK, I think I’ve got this figured out. Here are some pictures.