Engine Swap: Help with choices and other questions

[happydog500]

I would like to buy a used motor for my 97 Lesabre. I read in another thread about a 93-94 swap. He needed a new wiring harness, I think one had one O2 Sensor, while the other had two.

What I'm wondering is, what Make(s), Model(s) will be a perfect fit, with no mods at all?
On parts I've bought in the past, some have been 95-99; I remember one was 95, 96-97, 98-01. Any yeas to avoid or to try to get? It may be a while so I could be on the lookout for a certain one.

A local auto parts store has the same software wrecking yards use to find motors. I had them look. He looked for a long time. He said, "Wow, I looked in the whole country and only found four motors."
I asked what he searched for (3800?). He said, just for a 97 Lesabre motor.

I found one not to far away. It had 195-200 compression, with 40psi for the oil. What is a 97 supposed to have?

Thank you for any replies,
Chris.

[maxwedge]

A call to any salvage yard and they can tell you from there salvage guides what is a direct interchange. The one you checked the specs are fine.

[HotZ28]

The 3800 Series II V6, first available in the LeSabre in 1996, went basically unchanged until 2002 and then, with only minor changes! IIRC, the front engine mount was redesigned around 99-2000 to facilitate changing the serpentine belt without removing the spacer between the engine block and mount bracket.

[happydog500]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

The 3800 Series II V6, first available in the LeSabre in 1996, went basically unchanged until 2002 and then, with only minor changes! IIRC, the front engine mount was redesigned around 99-2000 to facilitate changing the serpentine belt without removing the spacer between the engine block and mount bracket.

Thanks for the information. If I get a motor for another year, make, I might not be able to get the ECS Prom thing from the car. I need to make sure it's a perfect fit electronically. One that will just go right in, everything hooks right up.

So if you read my question, your answer is, any of these cars

* Buick Le Sabre
* Buick Park Avenue
* Buick Regal LS
* Buick Riviera
* Chevrolet Camaro
* Chevrolet Impala
* Chevrolet Lumina LTZ
* Chevrolet Monte Carlo
* Holden Commodore (VS, VT, VX, VY)
* Holden Statesman (VS, WH, WK)
* Holden Ute (VU, VY)
* Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight
* Oldsmobile Intrigue
* Oldsmobile LSS
* Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
* Pontiac Bonneville
* Pontiac Firebird
* Pontiac Grand Prix

from 1996 to 2001 will go right in without anything else needed? "In 1999 (Camaro, Firebird) a new throttle body with Electronic Throttle Control was introduced." If I didn't have that, would that just hook right up and run?

Chris.

[spinne1]

You can always swap engine accessory pieces from your engine to make a perfect match. As long as the engine is the same exact model as the one you had any mounts and such can be swapped from your engine. It would not need to come from a Lesabre.

[Jrs3800]

As long as you get a 3800 Series II Vin K you will be fine... You will have to swap parts to make it work but the Long block will be the same..

Your best bet is to find the newest engine possible with low miles if you can..

[HotZ28]

In 1999 (Camaro, Firebird) a new throttle body with Electronic Throttle Control was introduced." If I didn't have that, would that just hook right up and run?

No, it would be better to stay away from these two, and any other RWD cars, many parts are different. Stick with FWD transverse mount engines!