Spare L36. What would you do?

[rkhodges21]

As most of you guys probably have read in my other topics and posts, I have a 2000 Bonneville that was wrecked in the rear end that I was able to pick up for next to nothing. I had planned to use it as a parts car for my 2003 Bonneville. Well, I just completed an IM gasket job on my 03, and I couldn't be happier with the results thus far. I also took the time to do a compression test on the engine and found that all the cylinders were over 120 psi, so that and the overall consensus of this group made me realize that this engine still has a good bit of life left in her even though she has 288000 miles and climbing daily. I am thinking now that I will probably be ready to buy a newer car before I ever need to swap in the engine from the 2000.

So now I am wondering what I should do with it. Should I find some other car in need of an engine and do a build on the L36 and drop it in and have some fun? Should I sell the engine for what I can get out of it and put the money in savings for more car repairs to my 03 DD? Or put the money towards a new DD, or towards a different project engine such as an LS or something?

I have always wanted to have a project engine to tinker with and learn on, so I like the idea of pulling it and building it to be a mean little heartbreaker, but the Dave Ramsey listening side of me says I need to be financially responsible.

What would you guys do?

[nos4blood70]

The options are sky high. You can top swap it, turbo it, sell it, etc.

Maybe find a V6 F-body with the T5 and go to town!

[rkhodges21]

How much do you think the engine is worth? 170000 miles on it when it was wrecked? It's been sitting for about 3 years now.

[rkhodges21]

Let me also ask this question. Say I were to find a DeVille with a bad engine in it. I know the Deville's use the 4t80 trans, but could I get some tuning and harnesses to make the 3800 work in the caddy for a reasonable price?

[Jfridge92]

I don't think there are any off the shelf harnesses to make the L36 work in the deville. Andrew (harofreak00) swapped an L67 into his Bonneville GXP, so that's probably the closest swap to look into. He made it work with the 4T80, but had to do a few modifications to get them to bolt up.

[xxdabroxx]

Build a blender.

[nos4blood70]

The motor as it sits is worth no more than 500 dollars at the maximum.

People have put the 3800 into the Deville, I've seen a couple. There was one member here who had one. Not sure if it still had the 4T80 under it or the 4T65.

[rkhodges21]

The motor as it sits is worth no more than 500 dollars at the maximum.

People have put the 3800 into the Deville, I've seen a couple. There was one member here who had one. Not sure if it still had the 4T80 under it or the 4T65.

If it was possible to get the 3800 to mate to the 4t80 and work, I would be all for it. I found a really good price on a Deville that the owner says has a motor going bad. That would solve my newer car dilemma as well.

[95naSTA]

There's been a few 3800+80e combos built, one in a 96-99 Bonneville even.

[RJolly87]

I am thinking that an L36 with 170k miles isn't no spring chicken neither. Any stupid power that would justify a 4t80 would demand a full build in my eyes. If that's the case, you may as well get the drivetrain built up and lineup a subframe swap.

Since you have the donor car, my vote is building/buying a toy to drop it in (think lighter). 200hp in a sand rail is more than enough to do something completely stupid.

I have even a Mustang in these parts that has all of the body panels chopped off so that it looks like a buggy. With it being a chassis with a vin (assuming you have a title) it should be relatively easy to get registered again, once local DOT laws and such are satisfied.

EDIT: Toy Bonus: You can easily pull parts off of it if something happens to the DD too, or it pukes the motor/tranny.

[thesam1984]

I would find a car that would be easy to mate up the 3800... that never had one... ive seen people drop 3800s into a-bodies (ciera/celebrity/century/6000) before and the 3300 is nearly identical for a swap... maybe find something more interesting like a fiero or cavalier/sunbird... or the older model grand am/achieva/skylarks another idea... they would definately be lighter, and a fun little toy

[Boosted_GR33K]

I 2nd the fiero swap. Or maybe find a RWD trans and put it into an 80s 300ZX or Supra n make the import kiddies cry? ::SHRUGS::

[9D9SSEi]

Stock bottom end 3800's have done high 8's so far, whatever "full build" you see being necessary to justify using a 80e trans, would only make it less reliable. 170k is nothing, a couple hundred in new gaskets/seals/bolts will have it ready to rock for as long as you take care of it. Every once in a while get some oil into the cylinders and turn it over a few times by hand, had the motor I just dropped into my bonne on a stand for several years as well, did this every few months or so. Which reminds me, I need to do this to my other 2 motors soon. Keep it covered as well, I used a large size, thick trash bag on mine.

Keep an eye on craigslist, a 3800 car with a bad motor pops up fairly often, grab it, swap it, and drive or sell the thing.

[00Beast]

Andrew used the 4T65E-HD in his project GXP.

[Wes]

There's been a few 3800+80e combos built, one in a 96-99 Bonneville even.

Pretty sure this was one of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v8PHCPAGro

[SSEiMan01]

Andrew used the 4T65E-HD in his project GXP.

If I were to swap a Northstar to a 3800, I would do the same. It's a little easier.