I have a 3.8 grandnational engine that I'm swapping into my third gen. Does anyone know how much a stock internal grand national engine can handle before "spilling its guts?" The engine was rebuilt and i don't know what they've done to it so i wanna be safe and not push it too hard.

I try not to take everything I read in a magazine at face value, but in Gm High Tech I heard of guys boosting those things up around 700hp. I also heard those guys get pretty good at changin head gaskets.

I know that in the GTA Turbo they used the G/N engine, but had to put Pontiac heads on them for clearance issues with the A/C.

It wound up that the Pontiac heads were better and netted more H.P. than the G/N.

How much they will hold?
The better question is how long will they take that strain?

Different heads (to fit) & a different turbo, in the TTAs.

what happened to the G.N. the eng. came from ? i know they are not 3rd gen. cars , but if the real deal worth trying to save . i have only seen/rode in one . all i can say is OOOHH.MMMYY.GGGOODD . i could not believe the performance from it . thanks , good luck .

If anyone has a Buick 3.8 Turbo engine, they need to study this site:

http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com



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Roger199013I'm also thinking on installing a 1987 3.8 Grand National engine into my '86 IROC that currently has a 305 TPI. Is this a difficult thing to do? I don't want to make a lot of "heavy" modifications. Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

i knew someone that had that engine in his regal. he had it running at around 12 psi. and hes changing head gaskets constantly

He must have had MANY other issues! 12psi is stock.

I'm running 18psi on 93 pump gas, 24psi on 110 race gas! Must be able to tune the car so it does not have ANY knock!

Hey 1989 IROC-Z5.7L, do you have that engine in your IROC or another vehicle?

1987 Buick Regal/WE4.

There are several people on the TurboBuicks.com site that can help with any questions on the Buick 3.8 turbo swap.

http://www.turbobuicks.com/forums/bu...o-hybrid-cars/

maybe it was alittle higher. 14 perhaps. im not too sure

you can find most of what you need to know on this site.( http://www.thirdgen.org/buick-3.8L-t...ne-swap-f-body) read up alot of stuff before even considering the swap. not too hard , the only problem is finding parts but cottons performance has you covered there for the most part.

I don't know HP numbers but I have seen track times. It depends on the year of your setup as well.

84-85 Is usually low 13's and High 12's on stock stuff before breakage while 86-87 GNs can go deep into the 12's on the stock long block (maybe some head studs)

I MUST do this swap when I get back from this wasteland. I think I will change the heads as mentioned above to keep clear of my much beloved AC.

The heads are not specifically Pontiac. They are garden variety 3800 VIN C heads from a late 80's or early 90's Bonneville or LeSabre. The vin code is what matters as later 3800 engines use an "on center" arrangement which changes the cam, intake and other stuff. The first 3800 heads go right on.

I am not aware of any HP difference, good or bad, from changing the heads. I am aware that the unofficial official result is that the Trans Am is faster than the GN with both in Stock form with the 87 spec sfi turbo engine and 2004r trans.

Keep us all posted on your progress.