Found a 3.8sc, What's Next?

[eatdust]

Is the 3.8sc a good swap? Is it good for power? Are those engines reliable or will I have alot of problems?

I found a 3.8sc to put in my 87 gt. What else will I need in order for the engine to fit in right? Do I need a conversion kit? Where can you find them at a good price?

[Ragtop_Renegade]

I think the 3800 is the most dependable v6 ever built!! My Regal has yet to let me down. The SC version is equally a dependable motor, my Wife's aunt has a Grand Prix GTP with 160,000 miles and it's still going strong with plugs,wires, water pump and alternator being the only things under the hood that aren't factory original. You don't need a conversion kit, it basically bolts right in, but you will need the ecm and wiring harness. Look for an engine from 1994 or older, anything newer has an electronic controlled tranny and the engine won't run right without it. You might have trouble bolting up to a manual, they fit just fine but the 3800 clutches that are available are all almost exclusively racing clutches and way to rough and grabby for street use. (I think 4.3L V6 Camaro clutches will fit a 3.8 but no promises ) If you go with an automatic the stock turbo 125 3 speed is a bit weak for a 3.8, a turbo 440 4 speed is better but you'll have to do some minor custom fabricating with the shifter and linkage.

[eatdust]

Thanks,

But the engine that I am looking at is out of a 2001 GTP. Will this not work? I don't know if I'd want to replace the trany too. Is there any other way?

[Ragtop_Renegade]

There are places that can reprogram the ecm to delete the transaxle controls (and ABS brakes, and SRS Airbag monitor, etc) as if they were never there. I have heard some pretty nasty horror stories about reprogrammed OBD II ecms - or PCM(powertrain control module), as GM renamed it with the intro of electronic shifting - where they would behave eratically, changing fuel ratios randomly for no reason, developing dead spots through the rpm range of the powerband, kicking the rev limiter in at high idle, just to name a few. After hearing stuff like that I'd probably never do it myself. After all, if it took GM's design teams a few years and a few million dollars in engineering to perfect it, how can some guy flawlessly modify it and ship it back to you in a week or two?

[mr_tw]

on that note, is it possible to bolt up the supercharger from the 3.8? I assume there will be clearance problems, but as far as having to modify it, what is involved?

[Ragtop_Renegade]

Do you mean bolt a supercharger from a 3.8 on a 2.8?

[GTPCatz]

NOt sure what Ragtop is talking about on 94 or older engines...because its not true

Check out
www.l67swap.com

All your answers will be answered there...and any L67 will work if you want it supercharged

[GTPCatz]

Here check this one out.....
http://l67swap.com/rides/thumbnails.php?album=19

[Ragtop_Renegade]

General Motors changed over to electronic solenoid controlled valve bodies on it's all of it's overdrive transaxles in 1995. As proof, I have a 95 Beretta (3100SFI)in my backyard right now with one in it. My wife's old car, now just a traded in memory, was a 95 Grand Prix(also 3100SFI). It ALSO had a 4T60-E. Her aunt owns a 98 GTP(3800 SC that ALSO has an electronic transaxle. My friend has a 98 Riviera (also a 3800 SC) that yup, has an ELECTRONIC VALVE BODY.
So .... um, where am I wrong here?

[Ragtop_Renegade]

Originally Posted by Ragtop_Renegade

Do you mean bolt a supercharger from a 3.8 on a 2.8?

Just an FYI on this, I checked with someone who just rebuilt a 3800sc. He also works at a racing engine shop. He told me, word for word, there is "no way in hell you can fit that blower on a 2.8" without making a complete intake adapter.

[GTPCatz]

All I was saying is that there have been quite a Few Engine swaps to the L67 with no problems with the Tranny.....

You stated that it would not work right and I am telling you that it will...did you even look at the site I Posted

[GTPCatz]

Here I'll post an actual how to guide on a Manual Fiero

How to Engine swap
http://www.l67swap.com/Fiero.htm

How to Bypass auto tranny Codes
http://www.l67swap.com/mantrans.htm

this is with the L67 (3800, 96 and later) currently still in production for Monte, and Imps

[thejacobhartman]

tried the super charger, tried tranny, ,then tried the whole thing motor tranny and s/c. nothing ever worked right for very long. finnaly went with a 350 and a kit from v-8archie.com. love it. has about 70k on it with no problems at all.

[GTPCatz]

I did find a list of Trannys that bolt up fine to the 3800

1985-1991 "440T4" or 4T60 as used in the A/C/H/W FWD cars.
1992-1996 4L60E and 4L60E HD
1981-1994 TH125C aka 3T40, in everything from Fieros, 6000LE's Citations, etc.
Getrag 5 Speeds not sure what years fit what