Bonneville Engine Identification

Discuss your 2000-2005 Bonneville SE, SLE, SSEi, Buick Le Sabre 00-05 and Buick Park Avenue 97-05. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
Post Reply
widtrak77
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:38 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Buick Park Avenue Ultra
1999 Bonneville SSEi

Bonneville Engine Identification

Post by widtrak77 »

I am hoping someone can help me determine if I have the correct year engine in a 2001 SSEi I just acquired. I was thinking that just the supercharger was swapped at one point because it has the earlier year M90 with the vacuum tube thing near the boost valve and the wrong throttle body but as I work on it I am wondering if the entire engine was swapped at one time. I noticed the water pump pulley is marked '97 Riviera but I figured it was a replacement water pump but why would you not use your original pulley? I think the fuel rail is incorrect also. It doesn't have the flat round can thing(don't know what purpose it serves) on it like my '00 Ultra. However, my '99 SSEi doesn't have that on the rail either. The gm parts sites indicate it should have that flat canister. I know there are supposedly a few tags behind the AC compressor to indicate the year but I just cannot see back there. Are there any other tell tale indications of an earlier L67?
I have no idea what I have now :banghead:
I would appreciate any advice. You folks are awesome, thanks in advance.
User avatar
harofreak00
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 26022
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm
Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
Location: Browerville, MN
Contact:

Re: Bonneville Engine Identification

Post by harofreak00 »

Water pump pulley is an easy place for a yard to identify an engine. Along with all the other tell-tails, you have a 97 Riv engine in your SSEi. Not a big deal, as long as it runs. There are no performance differences between the 2.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited
Image
2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
widtrak77
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:38 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Buick Park Avenue Ultra
1999 Bonneville SSEi

Re: Bonneville Engine Identification

Post by widtrak77 »

Well, if that is the case I have no clue of the maintenance history. There was timely service indicated for the life of the car at the same dealer on the Carfax, not that you can trust Carfax for everything obviously but was definitely encouraging, now no clue what I'm dealing with. It does have the 2000+ heavier aluminum style oil pan on it which made me think it was likely the original engine but I suppose it could have been swapped over. Also don't know now what the trans is from, if it was swapped together:(
User avatar
harofreak00
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 26022
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm
Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
Location: Browerville, MN
Contact:

Re: Bonneville Engine Identification

Post by harofreak00 »

The oil pan had to be swapped over, its parts of the engine mount bracket. The Riv trans would not have worked in the 01 SSEi. It's probably just a standard junkyard engine replacement. I'd start by doing the lower intake manifold gaskets and coolant elbows if you plan on keeping the car a long time. Everything else just replace on a case-by-case basis.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited
Image
2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
widtrak77
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:38 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Buick Park Avenue Ultra
1999 Bonneville SSEi

Re: Bonneville Engine Identification

Post by widtrak77 »

Thanks. The gaskets look like they have been done recently, I can see the metal frames clearly but the coolant elbows no. Easy enough, I have done it a few times on other cars. No clue how many miles this engine has and when I need parts will have to remember 1997. Just crazy to think the original engine got trashed Maybe from failed gaskets over time. The whole car is exceptionally clean in and out. Don't think it was ever driven in snow and not left in the sun.
Post Reply