In Search of an Engine

[L|_|da]

My 1987 98 regency Brougham threw a rod recently, i was afraid of this as the previous owner pushed the car to hard, but i love that car and i only paid 1000$ for it, eveyrhting is in great shape, had to replace the timeing chain, 500$, and a new alternator, another hundred, but its been worth it. but now i need a new engine, this one is shot. the cheapest ive been able to track down is about 1200$. does ANYONE know of a good place to look for a matching engine, or an engine that would work?

its a 3.8L FWD, i cant recall the vin code but i can get it when im @ hope later today. i am in desprate need of assistance on this. i can do the swap my self, i jsut did my friends 72' nova 350CID swap so im fairly capable with the mechanics of the operation, i jsut cant find a decently priced engine. if anyone knows a place that i can get a engine for a decent price [800$ or less] i want a crate/rebuilt but ill take one with low milage. if anyone knows a place PLEASE let me know.

[Alibi]

If you have a 1987 3800, then you more than likely have a Vin C engine. You wont be able to find a good engine in a junk yard since vin c's haven't been used since the mid-90's. However, a crate engine would get you a new engine...but a junkyard engine would get you a cheap engine if you can find a car taht has been semi-recently wrecked w/ around 100k on it. 3800's will easily last 300k, maybe 350k if well taken care of....and the odds of your car surviving 200k more is slim...

So....there are slim pickings in the junk yard, but there are more than just 98's w/ the 3800.

olds 88
olds 98
buick century
buick lesabre
pontiac bonnevile

1987 through 91 (ithink) all had 3800 vin c's....

Good luck, but definately check your junk yards and watch for granny cars too w/ low miles.

[L|_|da]

its either a 3 or a c i got hit with a massive amount of work yesterday and didnt get home til late.

is a 3.8L and a 3800 the same engine?

and i could pull an engine out of any of those cars and it would work in my regency?

Are there any other engine size i could put in?

[Alibi]

Yes, a 3.8 litre is the same as the 3800. 3800 is the name of the engine and it is named after its capacity. Vin B, Vin C, Vin K, Vin L, etc. exist and they might fit in your car, but not all the extra componoents may not match right.

You would be best to find another Vin C or 3 (whichever your engine is) so that everything would match. But yeah, a vin C/3 engine out of any of those cars ought to work. GM has a thing about making the same car for all its sattelite compaines but w/ different trim and names for each separate co. so that they seem different.

[L|_|da]

i guess its a 3 then. well ill look into finding a junked one of those cars as well. the cheapest is still 1200$ for a new one, so ima keep looking.

[L|_|da]

it is defiantly a VIN 3 engine, 3.8L HO SFI, my manual and my vin both say so.

[GTP Dad]

Try either of these web sites car-part.com or cherry-auto.com either should help you find an engine in your area at a reasonable price.

[Hansnet]

It is most likely LN3 motor, mainly 86-87, does it look like one of these?

Differences:

LG3 (88-91)



LN3 (86/87)



These motors are a dime a dozen at nearly any junkyard, Most likely a motor will run you $400 or so + install.

[L|_|da]

its EXACTLy like the second one, right down the to the spoark plug wire cover not fitting back on quite right. and im doing the install, so thats no problem. what do i as kthe junkyard ppl for? an LN3 engine? circa 86-87?

[L|_|da]

what years can i pull the engine from?
ive found 3 or 4 junk yards that have a ton of engines, i jsut dont want one that incompatible, will the 3800 run in my car?

heres a list of the cars i can get an engine from:
Near me:

1. 1988 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8L, AT, VIN C $450
2. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 Royale TESTED $450
3. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8L, AT, RUNS $450

Those are @ the nearest junkyard, like 30 or so miles away, the rest are all way further

1. 1987 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8L MPFI $600
2. 1988 Engine Oldsmobile 88 $450
3. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8 $450
4. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 98 $450
5. 1990 Engine Oldsmobile Cruiser $450
6. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3800 $450
7. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3800 $450
8. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3800 $450
9. 1990 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3800 $450
10. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3800 $450
11. 1990 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8 AUTO AC $400
12. 1990 Engine Oldsmobile 98 3.8 AUTO RUN GOOD $400
13. 1988 Engine Oldsmobile 98 3.8L MPFI COMP-110-175 $350
14. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8L MPFI RUNS GOOD $350
15. 1990 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8L MPFI $350
16. 1989 Engine Oldsmobile 88 3.8L MPFI $350

what would yall recommend? preferably out of the first group, but im willing to go where every to get it, there all within 70 miles, give or take a few.

if i end up with a 3800 im going to need new hoses and such right? how do i get them? ask for the hoses off of the type of car the engine came from?

and thank you very much for you help, i was worried id have to go buy a new car, but its not looking like it now. :-D