1986 H-body suspention/motor upgrades

[MattStrike]

Just want some thoughts or information relating to my summer project for this year.

Long story short:
1986 LeSabre Limited.
My motor is pissing me off and I need to get new struts because FL blew out and RL "bent" (according to some R*tard who dropped it off a lift doing what he called a "wheel alignment"). The tire on that side sits 1-2" lower than the other side and wears the tire funny since.

So:
I can replace the motor with a newer one, or attempt to run the vin 3 motor with the vin c electronics. Both options are equally labor intensive, and would be fun and challenging.

To swap the vin c electronics in as long as I can align the crank and cam sensors to the proper mechanical reference points I don't see any problems, just time to open the motor and make sure they are referenced properly.
Alternatively, what luck is there in using the MAF sensor from the vin c on the older vin 3 controls? Getting hard to find my MAF sensor and don't want to cough up $80 for a new one just to try it to see if it resolves an issue with the current motor (which would make me not pissed off anymore).

If I do the engine swap I will be putting in either a series 2 3800 or a SC series 1 (common enough at our junkyard), haven't decided. I have a 1991 4t60 in the car and a backup 440t4 with the 1-2 accumulator spring change. I won't use them on a SC 3800, but would work on the series 2 so if I use that motor it's one less thing to swap and fit unless the pcm would throw a fit for not having a electronic trans.

What other suspention packages are available that will fit that body? Being that I will likely have to pull everything to replace the struts anyway, It's not much more work to install upgrades. I've got a front strut tower brace on already, is there a brace for the rear? A range of years and RPO codes would help me for this as well. I'll look at the RPO for my existing suspention as I can't remember what it is, but it is the firmer of the two available.

[xX3800Xx]

If you have the firmer one then you have the F41 suspension.
32mm front bar 19mm rear bar.

First thing I would get some addco front swaybar endlinks. Cheapest here: http://www.jegs.com/i/ADDCO/020/015/100 ... Id=1137088 Get 2 sets. use the bushings/washers in the second set for the rear bar.

Second I would get a 21mm rear swaybar from 92-99 SSEi or any Lesabre/Park Ave/Bonneville with the FE2 suspension code. Junkyard should be able to help you there.

Third I would get some KYB GR-2 Struts. They are a little stiffer than stock.
Heres the PN:

236002 Fronts
http://buykyb.com/catalog/advanced_sear ... 02&x=0&y=0

235025 Rears
http://buykyb.com/catalog/advanced_sear ... 25&x=0&y=0

BuyKYB.com has free shipping last time i checked.

Then I would get a set of 16's or 17's and run some 245/50/16 or 245/45/17 tires

[willwren]

KYB struts are generally in the quality/ride/handling range of Monroe Sensatrak, which IIRC are more affordable.

Energy Suspension endlinks are also highly recommended, and are available off the shelf at Autozone.