3800 Transplant Questions

[rkhodges21]

This may have been asked and answered before, but can a 3800 out of a Bonneville or other front wheel drive be installed into a rear wheel drive car such as the Camaro or Firebird with minimal difficulty and vice versa?

[Jfridge92]

Don't quote me on this for the S2 motors, (and assuming this is going from an f-body to the Bonne) but I believe they can be swapped as long as you swap all of the accessories, intake manifold, exhaust manifolds, vacuum lines, and sensors from the bonne onto the f body motor. Most of the sensors should be the same between the two motors, but for the difference in the F-body intake and exhaust manifolds, there may be a different MAP, MAF, and O2 sensor. Not sure on that since I've never had an f-body motor up close, but as long as you have both of the donor motors you should be okay with the swap.

[95naSTA]

^^ Add oil pan/pick up tube, oil filter adapter, ICM bracket.

You basically have the take the engine down to everything but the heads and front/rear covers.

F-body guys swap in L26s and swap over everything necessary.

[94SilverSSEi]

So in a nutshell it's a lot more work but yes it's the same engine. Basically any NA 3800 95-08 can be swapped for any other one with swapping the right parts.

Edit: Ahhh, I take that back. Make 100% sure the flywheels are the same! I learned that one the hard way. Had to pull engine again to swap flywheels. That wasn't fun.

[nos4blood70]

All blocks are the same, just gotta swap the accessories and the LIM/UIM. That's if you're planning on staying NA, hahaha.

[rkhodges21]

I see you guys talk about top swaps to run a charger on the L36 engines. Can you top swap the F body 3800s to run an L67 S/C setup?

[nos4blood70]

Yes you can, but there is a small issue with the blower clearing the cowl. Also, the blower will still be fed from the back.

[rkhodges21]

Yes you can, but there is a small issue with the blower clearing the cowl. Also, the blower will still be fed from the back.

Good point. I guess a turblow or aftermarket s/c would be the better option for an f-body.