83 S/E 2.8 V6 to Buick 3.8 V6
12-01-2001, 06:06 PM
#1
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Car: 1983 Firebird S/E
83 S/E 2.8 V6 to Buick 3.8 V6
Hi guys,
I have a 1983 Firebird S/E with 268,000 on the old school 2.8 (carb) that I bought brand new in 83. Yesterday the motor blew and that was it. The trans is also burning it's fluid. A friend of mine has an '84 Buick with the old school 3.8 V6 that runs great. He said he will give me the motor and trans and all the other hook ups that I might need out of the car because all he wanted off the car was the wheels.(the rest of the car is totaled from a rollover.)
What would be invloved in this swap and do you think it's a good idea?
Thanks
-rmccombe
I have a 1983 Firebird S/E with 268,000 on the old school 2.8 (carb) that I bought brand new in 83. Yesterday the motor blew and that was it. The trans is also burning it's fluid. A friend of mine has an '84 Buick with the old school 3.8 V6 that runs great. He said he will give me the motor and trans and all the other hook ups that I might need out of the car because all he wanted off the car was the wheels.(the rest of the car is totaled from a rollover.)
What would be invloved in this swap and do you think it's a good idea?
Thanks
-rmccombe
12-01-2001, 07:11 PM
#2
if the price is right, go for it. for that engine to fit, you can't have AC. If you want AC you need the newer heads froma front wheel drive car.
------------------
-Tas
'89 Formula WS-6
305, TBI, 700R4, P.A.W. 14x3 open element with K&N, Milodon 160* thermo, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips, Hooker 1-5/8" 50 state legal headers, Dynomax 3" I pipe (PN 44063 and 43248)
Super GRK_Taz World
F-Body Dual Exaust
EFI & Intake Options
------------------
-Tas
'89 Formula WS-6
305, TBI, 700R4, P.A.W. 14x3 open element with K&N, Milodon 160* thermo, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips, Hooker 1-5/8" 50 state legal headers, Dynomax 3" I pipe (PN 44063 and 43248)
Super GRK_Taz World
F-Body Dual Exaust
EFI & Intake Options
12-02-2001, 01:58 PM
#4
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
What transmissions are we talking about here? If you have a TH200 and the '84 has a TH700 (which it should), you'll need another crossmember, shifter and driveshaft.
Exhaust manifolds/headers will be a challenge, since the Buick parts on the engine now (what model is this car?) won't fit your F-body chassis, and the rest of the exhaust will have to be custom fabricated. The engine harness probably won't be a direct fit, either, but that shouldn't be too much of a challenge.
I had a '77 3.8 V6 and 5-speed in a '76 Vega. It ran a best of 17.10 at Scribner with headers but completely stock otherwise. The '84 engine probably has more than my 105 HP, though.
Do you consider CC carb to be "old school"?
As to whether it's a good idea, it will probably be as much work or more than a V8 swap, and the car will probably be worth less than it would be now with a good engine. You'll have to weigh the pros/cons of a "free" engine/transmission against the hassles you're sure to face and the lack of resale value. If you do it, I'm sure you'll find in the end that it was not actually "free". But, you'll be a better person for the experience.
------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4, 2300 stall TC. Ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax 2050 cam. ZZ3/4 intake, oil pump, pan & baffle. Accel HEI SuperCoil & module. Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster 80. 2.93 limited slip. Spohn SFCs waiting to be installed. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily year-round driver. Best ET, speed TBD...
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7:1 forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 700 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited December 02, 2001).]
Exhaust manifolds/headers will be a challenge, since the Buick parts on the engine now (what model is this car?) won't fit your F-body chassis, and the rest of the exhaust will have to be custom fabricated. The engine harness probably won't be a direct fit, either, but that shouldn't be too much of a challenge.
I had a '77 3.8 V6 and 5-speed in a '76 Vega. It ran a best of 17.10 at Scribner with headers but completely stock otherwise. The '84 engine probably has more than my 105 HP, though.
Do you consider CC carb to be "old school"?
As to whether it's a good idea, it will probably be as much work or more than a V8 swap, and the car will probably be worth less than it would be now with a good engine. You'll have to weigh the pros/cons of a "free" engine/transmission against the hassles you're sure to face and the lack of resale value. If you do it, I'm sure you'll find in the end that it was not actually "free". But, you'll be a better person for the experience.
------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4, 2300 stall TC. Ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax 2050 cam. ZZ3/4 intake, oil pump, pan & baffle. Accel HEI SuperCoil & module. Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster 80. 2.93 limited slip. Spohn SFCs waiting to be installed. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily year-round driver. Best ET, speed TBD...
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7:1 forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 700 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited December 02, 2001).]
12-05-2001, 04:17 PM
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Car: 1983 Firebird S/E
Thanks for the info!
You are right hooking up the tranny will be the hardest part, because in the buick it has a column shifter and of course the firebird has the console shifter.
When I said "old school" I ment no fuel injection or computers.
Also I realize it won't be free but it's going to cost $1400 to rebuild the 2.8 which will still only have it's 96 horsepower or whatever!
You are right hooking up the tranny will be the hardest part, because in the buick it has a column shifter and of course the firebird has the console shifter.
When I said "old school" I ment no fuel injection or computers.
Also I realize it won't be free but it's going to cost $1400 to rebuild the 2.8 which will still only have it's 96 horsepower or whatever!
12-05-2001, 04:21 PM
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Car: 1983 Firebird S/E
Oh yeah,
What find of motor mounts will fit on the firebird with the 3.8 V6 2bbl carb. out of an 84 Buick Regal?
Didn't the 89 TTA's have a 3.8 in them? What did they use?
Cheers!
-rmccombe
What find of motor mounts will fit on the firebird with the 3.8 V6 2bbl carb. out of an 84 Buick Regal?
Didn't the 89 TTA's have a 3.8 in them? What did they use?
Cheers!
-rmccombe
03-23-2002, 11:30 PM
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The '89 firebirds did come with the 3.8. But they used the 2004r tranny. If you want to use a 700r4 tranny, TCI make an adapter plate. This is the easiest way to go because youll also need to get a crossmember that was only made for 1,550 cars to fit the 2004r. If you have by any chance need anything for your buick 3.8, i have a complete '85 3.8 (non-turbo) v6 in my garage that i really need to get rid of.
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