'79 Buick Regal 198ci to 231ci swap?

[regal78]

Hi guys,

Got a 1979 Buick Regal with a 3.2l V6 and got offered a 1976 Buick 3.8l V6 engine. Will this engine bolt right on? Are the engine mounts the same? What about the engine size?

Current transmission is a THM200 while in '76 they were using either a th350 or th400. Will the THM200 fit on the 1976 231ci?

Will the 1979 stock Rochester 2barrel carb fit the 1976 231ci?

Any other things I should know before actually buying this engine?

All advice is more than welcome, thanks!

 

[L67ss]

Not familiar with the 3.2. Can you get the th350 also? It would be a direct swap

 

[UNGN]

The bore is smaller on the 196 (3.50" vs. 3.80"), but everything else should be bolt on. The 3.2's heads might be better than a '76 231's. I can't image worse heads than a '80's Buick V6, but it appears pre '79s heads were worse.

 

[454GrandPrix]

I cannot imagine a 1976 3.8L V6 being an upgrade from anything, but on paper I'm sure it sounds better than the 3.2L engine. However, you've got to think about your return on (labor/time/money) investment here. Brand new off the showroom floor, the 3.8L only made 110 HP at peak. That can't be more than 10 or 15 extra horsepower over your current 3.2L engine. Why go through all the hassle of an engine swap--even if it does bolt right in--for a difference you can hardly feel? Even worse, why would you pay money to buy and install an engine that is hardly better than what you have now?

Sorry to be that guy, but this whole idea just doesn't sound very logical to me.

 

[L67ss]

Possible reason is if 3.2 is on last legs and 3.8 is cheap

 

[regal78]

Not familiar with the 3.2. Can you get the th350 also? It would be a direct swap

Yea probaly, but I prefer keeping the current transmission if possible

 

[regal78]

I cannot imagine a 1976 3.8L V6 being an upgrade from anything, but on paper I'm sure it sounds better than the 3.2L engine. However, you've got to think about your return on (labor/time/money) investment here. Brand new off the showroom floor, the 3.8L only made 110 HP at peak. That can't be more than 10 or 15 extra horsepower over your current 3.2L engine. Why go through all the hassle of an engine swap--even if it does bolt right in--for a difference you can hardly feel? Even worse, why would you pay money to buy and install an engine that is hardly better than what you have now?

Sorry to be that guy, but this whole idea just doesn't sound very logical to me.

You are completely right but like L67ss said the current 3.2l is completely stock and lazy. If i get the 3.8l I'll probably rebuild it before replacing the 3.2l. I would rather put in a Buick 350 but I'm from the Netherlands and car laws here are very strict so getting the car papers from a V6 to a V8 is hard as hell. It also seems that 3.8l rebuild kits are easier to get than 3.2l rebuild kits.

 

[regal78]

Thanks for your replies, so the 1976 3.8l will bold right on my current THM200? Waterpump, ignition, manifolds etc will swap right on from the 1979 3.2l to the 1976 3.8l engine?

 

[L67ss]

Yup. But th350 is a MUCH better trans

 

[regal78]

Yup. But th350 is a MUCH better trans

No modifications needed to the driveshaft when swapping the 3.2l / thm200 with a 3.8l / th350?