what can a 3.8 do?

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Derision said:
85 Cutlass Brougham said:
I had figured the gas savings from the 12 mpg I got in the Olds would pay for the Sentra, and it pretty much did--40k - 50k miles a year adds up to lots of money at 12 mpg.

You got 12mpg out of a 3.8 V6...?

if you got 16 or 17 out of these v6's, you would be real lucky
 
redsx2434 said:
Derision said:
85 Cutlass Brougham said:
I had figured the gas savings from the 12 mpg I got in the Olds would pay for the Sentra, and it pretty much did--40k - 50k miles a year adds up to lots of money at 12 mpg.

You got 12mpg out of a 3.8 V6...?

if you got 16 or 17 out of these v6's, you would be real lucky

True. When you see it written, though, 12mpg seems awfully low.

I have a Jeep that gets 5mpg. That's five. Per gallon. It's awful, and it feels so unnatural for anything to consume fuel at that rate. 12 doesn't sound a whole lot better.
 
are we really still talking about 3.8s? time to scrap it and pop a v8 in it, even a 305 would be better then a 3.8! (no offence to the 305 guys) just pulled a 305 out of my buddies regal, the thing was horrible!
 
Read the last post I made. It explains the 12 mpg, and no, it was not the V6.
 
sorry, wasnt reffering to you. i have just developed a hate for 3.8s, they caused me so many nighmares in the past that i would do anything i can to encourage anybody owning one to get rid of it. next to rust issues i would say they are the number one reason that g body cars make it into the salvage yard. you can get a salvage yard 350 into a g body for 500 bucks if you play your cards right. i pulled a lt1 about a year ago for 180 bucks and it had everything and i regret not grabbing the 4l60e to go with it for 50 bucks. thats how much a complete motor and transmission sells for in omaha....... sorry again
 
You know, I've read this entire thread and I have to say, "gee whiz," guys...

1. The 3.8 can be made to deliver decent horsepower, that's true, just go to turbobuick.com and you'll see. It's not huge money, either, if you use stock used parts that those guys are selling when they go nuts with their cars. I'm just saying...

2. The 3.8 will be the longest lasting platform (Buick V6) in production before too long. It's been around since 1962 in various forms and sizes and GM continues to use it. I wonder why??? Because it's a good design, pure and simple. Even just to rip off the carb the G-guys have and to put on junkyard fuel injection from a front drive mid-80's car will give you a nice jump up in driveability.

3. You don't automatically need to drop in a chevy small block for V8 excitement on a budget. Buick V8's do very well with stock bottom ends if you give them only mild oiling mods. These mods don't cost money as much as just time to smooth out some bores and enlarge some others. The highest price you pay is for a long 9/16" drill bit and a book that tells you how to do it. I find Buick 350 engines all day long for nothing - usually in the car - for just a couple of hundred bucks. It's mostly because it's not a chevy so most people are afraid.

I have run Buick 340 and 350 engines in G-bodies and it's awesome. The best part - all of your V6 accessories and pulleys go onto the front of the engine and the fuel lines hook up properly as well. You just need longer belts and radiator hoses from a 70's car with a 350 Buick and you are good to go.

The last car I picked up also had a good TH350 in it, which is a nice upgrade for the TH200 we have now... Until you put that 2004R in!

Whatever you do, just don't rule out a Buick small block swap until you do a little research...

Good luck on whatever you do!!
 
The 3.8's in both my '78 and '81 get around 18-20 MPG. The LeMans has the early 2GE carburetor, which is simple and works really well. I scrapped the computer feedback E2ME on the '81 Malibu for an '80 non-feedback unit and this carb works much better than the feedback POS. Neither car is "blown off the road" during regular use, (no they are not fast, and no, I wouldn't race anyone, but they accelerate fine) and they both run along at highway speeds above 70 MPH with no problems.
Keep in mind both of these cars have original miles in the mid 50k's, so neither engine is whipped. Also be it known as I was actually driving cars in the 1980's when they were new, that basically no domestic cars of this time period had whoop-*ss acceeration compared to what we have now, the G bodies were ranked average among their class. To compare the cars of this time period to what is on the road now makes no sense. The little 2.7 4 cylinder in my '07 Tacoma has more HP and faster acceleration than a stock 305 V8 G body had. I still get a kick out of some of the kids who buy these old G bodies thinking that because it has a big displacement engine that it must be fast. They are usually quickly disappointed on the ride home.

-UT-
 
Uncletruck said:
To compare the cars of this time period to what is on the road now makes no sense. The little 2.7 4 cylinder in my '07 Tacoma has more HP and faster acceleration than a stock 305 V8 G body had. I still get a kick out of some of the kids who buy these old G bodies thinking that because it has a big displacement engine that it must be fast. They are usually quickly disappointed on the ride home.

This is true. Even a lot of the old muscle cars of the 60s and 70s didn't have fantastic acceleration by today's standard. There's been a huge advance in automotive technology in just the last ten years, really.

If we had talent like this working for NASA... we'd be living on Mars by now.
 
i still say the 3.8 in a g body is pointless to keep around. as far as chevy vs. buick v8, as long as its a gm v8 it is going to kill a 3.8. in the last ten years i have owned close to ten 10 body cars and all but 1 came with a 3.8 both running and non running and after wasting more time working on them, swapping timing chains, trying to stop oil leaks "my" cunclusion is its a waste of time and money to keep the 3.8 . as far as newer cars having more horse power, it is true, new engines will out perform old school motors BUT if you take the old school and modernize them then watch out! take a 350 and build it up with modern parts such as roller cams, aluminum heads and fuel injection and see what it does. i have always believed that the saying "there is no replacement for displacement" is still true and most tuners that you will talk to will agree. back to topic, "i" believe the g body 3.8 is best used as a anchor or scrap metal, however the new modern 3.8 is a different story. the new efi 3.8s are known to be excellent motors. i am unsure if the blocks are similar or maybe even the same but whatever gm changed on them must have worked.
 
the new modern 3.8 is a different story. the new efi 3.8s are known to be excellent motors.

now if they could make an intake gasket that didn't leak, that would be impressive!
 
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