Want a TTA motor....BAD!
06-01-2002, 01:05 AM
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Want a TTA motor....BAD!
hey guys i wanna put a TTA motor in my car where can i get one and what do i need??? i have 92 3.1 v6 in my bird now. I rode in one of those TTAs and they are bada**! i want that engine no matter what it takes
06-01-2002, 01:43 AM
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just a GN motor and computer, get rid of the A/C, and figure out some headers / have some made if the GN ones don't fit
don't forget the 2004R tranny, the custom motor mounts, finding a way to run the intercooler, custom driveshaft (i think), stronger rear end
oh yeah and unless you can get deals on all this stuff, a very healthy pocketbook
don't forget the 2004R tranny, the custom motor mounts, finding a way to run the intercooler, custom driveshaft (i think), stronger rear end
oh yeah and unless you can get deals on all this stuff, a very healthy pocketbook
06-01-2002, 04:07 PM
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Car: 2018 Camaro SS
Engine: LT1 w/Paxton 1500SL
ok, if u don't want the AC just get a GN engine, there is a guy near me selling a GN engine without the turbo injectors and intercooler for $1500, you can get the missing things used for cheap.
The GN headers will fit, but you'll need a custom downpipe.
You'll also need a TTA wiring harness, which will run you 300-500 bucks..the GN one COULD be made to work but it'd be a MAJOR PITA
The GN mounts SHOULD work, the engine will sit up a bit higher but i'm not sure of any clearance problems..the person that used the GN mounts on his GTA runs a 3'' cowl hood, so i'm not sure if the stock hood would work or not.
You could go iwth a 200-4r but you'll have to do a few things to put it in the fbody
1)get a TTA crossmember so you can use the stock torque arm
-OR-
get Steve Spohns package for like 375-400
2) You'll have to get a custom driveshaft or a TTA driveshaft
I'm personally running a built 700-r4..when that goes its TH400 time
The GN headers will fit, but you'll need a custom downpipe.
You'll also need a TTA wiring harness, which will run you 300-500 bucks..the GN one COULD be made to work but it'd be a MAJOR PITA
The GN mounts SHOULD work, the engine will sit up a bit higher but i'm not sure of any clearance problems..the person that used the GN mounts on his GTA runs a 3'' cowl hood, so i'm not sure if the stock hood would work or not.
You could go iwth a 200-4r but you'll have to do a few things to put it in the fbody
1)get a TTA crossmember so you can use the stock torque arm
-OR-
get Steve Spohns package for like 375-400
2) You'll have to get a custom driveshaft or a TTA driveshaft
I'm personally running a built 700-r4..when that goes its TH400 time
06-01-2002, 05:29 PM
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Forget using a new crossmember, Im pretty sure that you can use TH-350 adapter for a 2004r. Your next big problem will be motor mounts. You CANNOT find TTA mount brakets at all. Ive been trying for a while. Im about to be putting my TTA engine in my '92 Camaro in a week or so. I plan on, with some help, fabricating new brakets for an F-body crossmeber to work with GN motor mounts on a Buick 3.8. using existing holes. Killing 2 birds with one stone. Using these brakets will also be must easier to change the buick style motor mounts as apposed to the Pontiac style. I hope to be a "hero" to all those wishing to swap a Grand National engine into an F-body.
06-02-2002, 07:04 PM
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Straight of the FAQ section. Good luck
Q: Can I swap a Buick 3.8L Turbocharged engine into my F-body?
A: Steve Kaminski Turbo High Performance (Dept. CC, 2 Derby Dr., Sewell NJ 08080, 609/881-3235) does engine conversions of Buick V-6s into third generation F-cars. Some engine components used in the limited production 20th-anniversary turbo Trans Am (TA) are different than those used in the original (and far more common) Buick Grand National (GN). These revisions were needed to fit the turbo Buick into the third generation F-cars narrower engine bay.
The TA turbo engine's cylinder heads are from the '86 Buick FWD Le Sabre (PN 25536701, casting no. 22536702). This head design uses individual stud mounted rockers in place of the original Buick V-6's shaft mounted rocker arms, so virtually every vauletrain part from the pushrods on up won't interchange. However, becuase this head and similarly designed siblings were common in FWD applications, GM still stocks most parts, and they are not that hard to find in the salvage yard. The TA short-blocks use different pistons to compensate for the Le Sabre heads' smaller combustion chamber volume; standard GM pistons would bump the compression from about 8.0:1 to 9.0:1--acceptabe on premium pump gas at stock boost levels.
Turbo TA's require different exhaust manifolds (PN 25536214, right hand, discontinued; 25536215, left hand) than GN engines. With one side discontinued, custom headers are needed.
Original GN heads fit the F-car engine bay by deleting the A/C system-but custom headers are still needed. Retain proper serpentine belt operation with a Chevy V-8/90-degree V-6 belt idler pully (PN 10055890) that bolts in place of the GM R-4 radial A/C compressor. Replace the A/C evaporator, heater core, and evaporatior covers with the non-A/C heater core, heater core box, and related accessories (part numbers vary by year).
Although the GN TH200-R4 interfaces with the existing TH700-R4 shifter and shifter cable, installation of the Buick trans in an F-car requires the unique turbo TA trans support crossmember (PN 12396766) with cushions (547704, lowe; 547702 upper; three each required). The existing V-8 rear suspension torque arm interfaces with the standard F-cars trans mount (PN 17989705) and the turbo V-6 trans support crossmember via special brackets (PN 12396758 , outer; 12396756, inner). The trans support crossmember and torque arm are no longer availabe from GM.
Alternativly, mate the Chevy V-8 TH700-R4 trans case to the Buick/Olds/Pontiac engine block using TCI Automotive (Dept. CC, 1 Equion Blvd., Ashland, MS 38603, 601/224-8972) adapter plate (TCI PN 230001)--the existing trans crossmember and torque arm brackets bolt up with no additional mods. The Buick computer can control the 700 trans, but the Chevy computer won't run the Buick engine. The 700 is stronger than the TH200-R4 and Kaminski claims the turbo engines run quicker with the Chevy trans.
Kaminski offers stronger, thicker engine mounting barckets in place of the now discontinued GM items. The rubber/metal engine mounts that bolt up to the frame are still available from GM (PN 2213326, two required). The accelerator control cable is the same as used on the Chevy TPI V-8 F-cars (PN 14080202), but the TV cable (PN 25532115) and the cruise-control servo cable (PN 25525358) are specific to the turbo Buick-all cables are still available.
The existing V-8 radiator works. GN radiators had an internal engine oil cooler, but the TA used a cooler similar to the Camaro/Firebird V-8 sandwhich style cooler. On the Buick, the cooler and a special adapter were sandwhiched between the Buick oil filter and the oil pump cover. Key parts for a Buick system are not available-go with a universal aftermarket cooler.
You can still get the ECM module (its the same as the turbo GN, PN 1227148), turbo TA Engine/ECM harness (PN 12069323), and EPROM calibrator (part numbers vary-see your dealer)
Q: Can I swap a Buick 3.8L Turbocharged engine into my F-body?
A: Steve Kaminski Turbo High Performance (Dept. CC, 2 Derby Dr., Sewell NJ 08080, 609/881-3235) does engine conversions of Buick V-6s into third generation F-cars. Some engine components used in the limited production 20th-anniversary turbo Trans Am (TA) are different than those used in the original (and far more common) Buick Grand National (GN). These revisions were needed to fit the turbo Buick into the third generation F-cars narrower engine bay.
The TA turbo engine's cylinder heads are from the '86 Buick FWD Le Sabre (PN 25536701, casting no. 22536702). This head design uses individual stud mounted rockers in place of the original Buick V-6's shaft mounted rocker arms, so virtually every vauletrain part from the pushrods on up won't interchange. However, becuase this head and similarly designed siblings were common in FWD applications, GM still stocks most parts, and they are not that hard to find in the salvage yard. The TA short-blocks use different pistons to compensate for the Le Sabre heads' smaller combustion chamber volume; standard GM pistons would bump the compression from about 8.0:1 to 9.0:1--acceptabe on premium pump gas at stock boost levels.
Turbo TA's require different exhaust manifolds (PN 25536214, right hand, discontinued; 25536215, left hand) than GN engines. With one side discontinued, custom headers are needed.
Original GN heads fit the F-car engine bay by deleting the A/C system-but custom headers are still needed. Retain proper serpentine belt operation with a Chevy V-8/90-degree V-6 belt idler pully (PN 10055890) that bolts in place of the GM R-4 radial A/C compressor. Replace the A/C evaporator, heater core, and evaporatior covers with the non-A/C heater core, heater core box, and related accessories (part numbers vary by year).
Although the GN TH200-R4 interfaces with the existing TH700-R4 shifter and shifter cable, installation of the Buick trans in an F-car requires the unique turbo TA trans support crossmember (PN 12396766) with cushions (547704, lowe; 547702 upper; three each required). The existing V-8 rear suspension torque arm interfaces with the standard F-cars trans mount (PN 17989705) and the turbo V-6 trans support crossmember via special brackets (PN 12396758 , outer; 12396756, inner). The trans support crossmember and torque arm are no longer availabe from GM.
Alternativly, mate the Chevy V-8 TH700-R4 trans case to the Buick/Olds/Pontiac engine block using TCI Automotive (Dept. CC, 1 Equion Blvd., Ashland, MS 38603, 601/224-8972) adapter plate (TCI PN 230001)--the existing trans crossmember and torque arm brackets bolt up with no additional mods. The Buick computer can control the 700 trans, but the Chevy computer won't run the Buick engine. The 700 is stronger than the TH200-R4 and Kaminski claims the turbo engines run quicker with the Chevy trans.
Kaminski offers stronger, thicker engine mounting barckets in place of the now discontinued GM items. The rubber/metal engine mounts that bolt up to the frame are still available from GM (PN 2213326, two required). The accelerator control cable is the same as used on the Chevy TPI V-8 F-cars (PN 14080202), but the TV cable (PN 25532115) and the cruise-control servo cable (PN 25525358) are specific to the turbo Buick-all cables are still available.
The existing V-8 radiator works. GN radiators had an internal engine oil cooler, but the TA used a cooler similar to the Camaro/Firebird V-8 sandwhich style cooler. On the Buick, the cooler and a special adapter were sandwhiched between the Buick oil filter and the oil pump cover. Key parts for a Buick system are not available-go with a universal aftermarket cooler.
You can still get the ECM module (its the same as the turbo GN, PN 1227148), turbo TA Engine/ECM harness (PN 12069323), and EPROM calibrator (part numbers vary-see your dealer)
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