Oddity - swap FWD 3.0/3.8/3300/3800/etc Buick V6 into Gbody?

[joesregalproject]

Re: Oddity - swap FWD 3.0/3.8/3300/3800/etc Buick V6 into Gb

There are several Grand Prix GTP and Bonneville SSEI cars in the yards around here with the superchargers. It turns my head every time I see one.

They were majorly under credited and fast cars. My buddy has one and it throws you into the seat. I'd love to have one.

 

[King_V]

Re: Oddity - swap FWD 3.0/3.8/3300/3800/etc Buick V6 into Gb

It is not so much the carburetor, but the poor heads, low CR, lame camshaft, and the rear gears holding the 3.8 back. Being a 90 degree V6 doesn't help either. From my understanding, the 3800 is a near complete redesign of the older 3.8s and that not much interchanges.

As for the 3800 (1988 and later), you are correct. On-center bore spacing, compression upped to 9.0:1, etc

The 3.8 (1986-1988) is a somewhat different animal - and I *think* closer to the original RWD in some respects. The block # is almost the same (110 I think) vs the later Regal/GN block (109 if I recall correctly). I sort of refer to this as the "pre-3800" for FWD.

The compression was still only 8.0:1, same as the 2-bbl RWD version. I don't know the specs of the camshaft, though the FWD 3,8 is a roller cam.

Gained 10 ft-lbs (200 vs 190), and 40 hp (110 to 150), as well as notably better fuel economy. Though the fact that it has a 2.83 (approx) axle ratio rather than 2.41 probably helps, as does the 4-speed auto with the slightly steeper 1st and 2nd gears.

I remember doing 80 MPH from Maryland to NJ with my 1986 Delta 88 (4-door) and getting 29.5 MPG with it, and the car had a noticeable amount of oomph. It was a twitchy beast at idle, though.

 

[Peter]

Re: Oddity - swap FWD 3.0/3.8/3300/3800/etc Buick V6 into Gb

There are several Grand Prix GTP and Bonneville SSEI cars in the yards around here with the superchargers. It turns my head every time I see one.

They were majorly under credited and fast cars. My buddy has one and it throws you into the seat. I'd love to have one.

Ya my daily is an SSEI and i love it; the 3800's are bulletproof and the supercharged ones are just as reliable and have plenty of giddyup. They would be awfully tempting to throw some go fast part at it if it werent FWD. That and if the 4t65's could handle the abuse without some upgrades.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: Oddity - swap FWD 3.0/3.8/3300/3800/etc Buick V6 into Gb

It has been done a few times. I have read some threads on different sites about it. I am actually looking around for one to replace my LC2 3.8 when I grenade it, lol. 😀

Look over at the turbobuick boards.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Re: Oddity - swap FWD 3.0/3.8/3300/3800/etc Buick V6 into Gb

It is not so much the carburetor, but the poor heads, low CR, lame camshaft, and the rear gears holding the 3.8 back. Being a 90 degree V6 doesn't help either. From my understanding, the 3800 is a near complete redesign of the older 3.8s and that not much interchanges.

As for the 3800 (1988 and later), you are correct. On-center bore spacing, compression upped to 9.0:1, etc

The 3.8 (1986-1988) is a somewhat different animal - and I *think* closer to the original RWD in some respects. The block # is almost the same (110 I think) vs the later Regal/GN block (109 if I recall correctly). I sort of refer to this as the "pre-3800" for FWD.

The compression was still only 8.0:1, same as the 2-bbl RWD version. I don't know the specs of the camshaft, though the FWD 3,8 is a roller cam.

Gained 10 ft-lbs (200 vs 190), and 40 hp (110 to 150), as well as notably better fuel economy. Though the fact that it has a 2.83 (approx) axle ratio rather than 2.41 probably helps, as does the 4-speed auto with the slightly steeper 1st and 2nd gears.

I remember doing 80 MPH from Maryland to NJ with my 1986 Delta 88 (4-door) and getting 29.5 MPG with it, and the car had a noticeable amount of oomph. It was a twitchy beast at idle, though.

The roller cam is probably somewhat different between being designed to advantage of sooner lift over a flat tappet. Also cams for EFI are designed differently from those for carbs. Between the roller cam and better gears would explain most of the HP difference.

My HO 305 with 3.73 gears is getting about the same MPG as my old 231 with the former 2.41 gears. Though alot of that is between the higher CR of the 305 and the TH2004R replacing the TH200. Overdrive is a big advantage.

 

[81cutlass]

Re: Oddity - swap FWD 3.0/3.8/3300/3800/etc Buick V6 into Gb

The series 2 and 3 3800's have the same blocks regardless of if they are FWD or RWD.

Take a FWD 3800, throw the RWD accessories, oil pan, oil filter adapter, intake and flex plate and its a RWD motor.

F body motor mounts on a 3800 are real wierd though, really wide.