If you know 3.8, I have questions!

[ogdizzle85]

Please bear with me here, my first post on here

I have a 1995 Bonneville SE
3800 series II

I have been told there are a few differences with my OBD-I series II compared to a 1997+ Series II.
It feels more powerful than newer series II's. Also looks like the car was fitted with the Series II very last minute (The P/S fill point is almost impossible to reach whereas my mother's Series II LeSabre has the P/S relocated)
I was hoping someone could tell me what the internal differences might be? I have heard almost everything in the book. I am planning on taking the motor/transaxle out and rebuilding it for some more n/a power, and want to know if I need different parts than a 97+ internally (or whether I'm better off just getting a 97+ motor?)

Also I was wondering if anyone has the TRUE scoop on whether my 3.8 can be used longitudinally. I have a jeep I'd LOVE to put it in. I've also looked that up but with very mixed answers.

I am no expert on 3.8's in general (although I would like to be), I just love these cars (My last bonnie was a 89 LN3 powered SE... miss it )



(gotta love the finish, stupid recall paint)
Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Tony

[bill buttermore]

Here is a good place to start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V6_engine

[ogdizzle85]

I have browsed the wikipedia page on it before, although I did pay much more attention this time. I have also run into other pages, This Page pretty much says avoid anything after the LN3. I have seen a couple other contradictions as well. I also saw a site somewhere... (trying to find it...) that said they had the same casting number in the Camaro. Very confusing.
I haven't run into anyone who's done it personally so I'm kinda in the dark here

Is the transmission bolt pattern difference just the bellhousing alteration they're talking about on Wiki? (LOL, took me a minute )

Also is my 95 motor different from a 97+ series II internally?
Very hard to price out internals, they all say 97+ series II (some 96), never my year (but I have a Series II)
My friend told me my car is OBDII with a OBDI reader, told me I must have a half year or something... but I don't know if thats where the differences stop

Thank you for responding

Tony

[Jrs3800]

The 1995 Series II( started in Sept or October 94 for the 95 Model Year )... The 95-96 Series II 3800 is 100% Identical to the 96-03... 04-09 had some small updates but was the same block and crank, flywheel among other parts..

There are sill a lot of people out there who believe that the Series II started in the W Bodies in 1997.... Thats not the case, 1995 was the first model year it was used, 1996 was the first year for the series II supercharged... The first 2 years the Series II was used int he C and H bodies and then was used in the W Bodies..

[ogdizzle85]

Thanks much for the answer. At least now I know what parts I can buy.

If I find out the longitudinal switch is a 'no-go', then I may try to attempt a turbo kit. If I am to put it in the jeep I'd much rather a naturally aspirated setup, or slight possibility of a s/c.

Anyone who might know somebody who has done it or someone who has tried it that would be amazing. (referring to the longitudinal switch)
Not to knock the info I've been given as this helps me greatly.

Tony

[Jrs3800]

I can tell you this... The Blocks are the same FWD vs RWD, the difference was in the Oil pan set up and iirc the oil pick up tube...

When we get to the Transmissions used thats a different story for me... If you were to use a 4L60E for the Jeep, I don't know for sure but I think that the 4L60E has a bolted on Bell housing, so they just might be interchangeable, not sure about the 5 Speed that was used on the 3800 tho..

There are little things I can tell you but I am not 100%, you would have to do your research to get at the bottom of some of this stuff..

[bs009]

I'm not sure which 4L60E to look for but I know that they will bolt up to a 3800. There is also at least one manual transmission out there that will work. This sort of swap has been done numerous times though so there's a lot of info out there.


If I were you I'd try to find a 3800 from a camaro or firebird and swipe some parts off of them. This would be the simplest way out there.
One of the main problems you'll run into with this swap is that the intake as it sits in the bonneville will be facing the firewall of the RWD car. The Intake in the firebird/camaro 3800 is turned around to fix this problem.