93 transport engine swap

Well it has been a while (1 yr) since my last post and this is really the continuing saga of the last post. Just to summarize, my son somehow managed to snap the crankshaft on my wife's transport. Originally i had thought that it must have been caused by a broken timing chain but finally today While I had the motor out, I took the cover off and found the chain fully intact. Anyhow, I also have a 92 APV which has a good motor in it, but for various reaons is no longer roadworthy so this will become my donor car in the swap operation.

So now let me set the scene. Both engines are 3.8L. Both engines are out (extracted from the bottom) The 4 frame bolts on the donor car came out without a struggle, but 2 of 4 on the transport were siezed inside the frame channel so I had to butcher them off (wasn't pretty).

Once i removed the donor engine I noticed that both the front and rear manifolds were cracked. So, i will have to swap the manifolds from the transport engine. Just as well because the oxygen sensor will now match the wiring harness on the transport. The bad news is that the EGR valve on the front manifold does not connect with the throttle body on the donor car. To compensate, I simply plugged the connector.

Now on to my next challenge. I realize that there are few difference between the two years some wiring issues, but the biggest difference is the hamonic balancer and the crankshaft position sensor. In order for all timing to be the asme as it was in the transport, I removed the harmonic balancer and the cranckshaft position sensor from the tansport engine and installed it on the donor engine. My question is, Was this the right thing to do? is there anything else I should look out for?

Also, one other question, My A/c does not work anymore and I do not feel like dumping more money into the A/C so I would prefer just to remove the compressor. Does anyone know wher I can get an accessorie belt that bypasses the compressor (part #)

Anyhow I will keep everone updated on the

Also, one other question, My A/c does not work anymore and I do not feel like dumping more money into the A/C so I would prefer just to remove the compressor. Does anyone know wher I can get an accessorie belt that bypasses the compressor (part #)


Why not replace the compressor with a bypass pulley for the A/C? Then you can use the same belt. Advance Auto has them, so I would think other parts stores would too.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look into that. I think I would rather go with a shortened belt though - one less pulley to worry about...

You can buy a shorter serpentine belt that avoids the A/C pulley. I have one indeed, because with my '93 Transport 3.8 I used to completely disable the A/C in winter and wrap the a/c compressor and clutch in plastic to avoid salt from degrading these components.
. With A/C the serpentine belt is 102.5", PN 1025K6. THe belt for NO_A/C is 72.5", 30" shorter, PN 725K6. A valid listing in reference books is for 1989 Olds Delta 88 with out A/C because there is no such listing for Transport...
www.avigex.ca/xport/serpentinebelt.jpg
Most if not all '92 3.8's did not have EGR, at least in the Bonneville/Oldsmobile series. . THis was compensated by a different timing and fuel mixture. It is reported this timing and lean mixture was prone to burn the exhaust valves....and maybe, to crack manifolds...??? "Oddly enough, for the 1992 model year only, the L27 came without an EGR Valve, which can cause burnt valves down the road." (answers.com)
I'm a bit suspicious of this balancer difference: for sure, I would have kept the engine with its original balancer. The '93 3.8 is an L27 and I think '92 should be also L27 but former 3.8 (LN3) might mave more subtle differences. Both are even-firing after the 1977 redesign of the crankshaft. ( though, I remember the '88 3800 in the Oldsmobile was much rougher, and indeed the former odd-firing LG3 was used in the Oldsmoibile till 88.5...).
Anyway the L27 has a two piece, upper plenum intake and lower intake, the LN3 should be all one piece.

Thanks LMP. you are a wealth of knowledge. forthe record, the donor engine is in the transport. One other difference I have found is that the subframe to frame bushings and bolts differ between the 92 APV and the 93 transport. The 93 Transport are much beefier. I still have a ways to go, I got hungup on the exhaust downpipe to manifold connection. I hade to replace the original flange with one of those split collar jobs and then line up the springs and bolts that connect the two together. Not much room to maneuver in there... My hands have taken a real beating. Anyhow, I will try the Transport balancer on the 92 APV engine and see what happens. I have kept the balancer from the APV and I bought new Crank position Senser for the 92 APV, but I do not have the alignment tool which makes it tough to line up properly.

Will keep all updated.....