One of my coworkers has a GN 3.8 engine complete with turbo wiring and computer. It has close to 100K so it will need a rebuild as well as the turbo. If I can get him to sell it does anyone know what a good offer would be. Also do any of you know if I can use this motor set up with a T5. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

i have heard them motors are no good with the t5, thats y they only came in autos

 

save yourself the trouble and just get a good v-8. As previously mentioned, the 3.8 uses the BOP bolt pattern and i dont think you can get a bell housing for the t-5 witht hte BOP pattern. Could be wrong though. Youd need a 200-4R. Also, with a turbo, having a manual isnt recommended. Autos are better because the tuurbo can build good boost. Even thought he 3.8 is a wicked motor, from what i hear, its alot of work to get it all in.

 

id buy the motor from him anyways.. build it, then drop it into a GN later down the road

 

hi, another swapper i see

its not THAT hard of a swap. What year GN motor is it? if its NOT a 86-87 don't waste your time, not worth it

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT put a T-5 behind that motor. MANY reasons why, a lot with having to do with keeping up the boost, and plus most T5's dont like 400+ft lb's of torque

Email with some specific questions, i'll do the best to help you out

Also if you wanted to run a 700r4 or any Chevy style bolt pattern TCI makes an adapter plate, that's what I have right now till i get a built to **** 200-4r

 

JUST FOR THE RECORD you can use a 95-02 camaro V6/T5 bellhousing they used the 3.8 which has a BOP bolt pattern



KEEP IN MIND, I DIDNT SAY TO USE THE T5, I JUST SAID YOU CAN

 

LOL, nice disclaimer there

 

I'll have to disagree that manual tranny's are not good for turbocharged cars. Maybe in some cases they can be harder to control, but they are not junk. I'd say it comes down to what kind of racing you plan to do. My SVO is a 5 speed (W/C T5 no less) and I have no problem getting boost. It has alot to do with how the engine is tuned. I've never worked with a 3.8T so I'm not sure how they are lag wise. Maybe it would take some fine tuning to bring the turbo lag down to a level where a manual setup would work. I'm not sure.

From reading the GN sites, it looks as though the 3.8T buick motor is mostly considered to be a drag queen. Everyone uses an auto with a stall converter. This is a great setup for drag racing. Use the stall to build boost and off you go with a hard launch. The Buick camp does not have a strong manual tranny to use behind this engine. I dont see many people roadracing with these cars.

But what if you want to roadrace? Or do more than just stoplight to toplight race? The key to being fast with a boosted car is to be on boost as much as possible. A manual tranny will give you more choices as far as being in the desired powerband when you get into cornering. Things to think about when putting that motor into a car like a 3rd gen ... now the car can be built to really handle if you so desire.

But hey if you just want to swap in a fast motor and drag it, or do some stoplight to stoplight racing then this would be an aweome setup. The 3.8T motor has alot of potential. It has been around for a long time and people have already built some proven power combos. Alot of those guys with Stage II work are in the 10's or even 9's. And with a strong auto tranny and good stall you will have consistently awesome launches with awesome 60ft times. So dont think just because it has less displacement than a v8, it dosnt have potential. But then again if you like to roadrace or plan to use the car on the track (like I do with my 90 RS) then mating the 3.8T to a manual tranny would be choice.

I am strongly considering this motor for my 90 RS. The L03 will die soon (yay!) and it will need something. However I plan to roadrace the car down at the tracks. For me, the best setup would be the 3.8T and a T56. But that would be going really custom (cross year, cross platform, cross manufacturer) so it will take me a while to decide.

 

crazy, may have tried, few have suceeded in having good results from a stick with a 3.8. This motor is not like an import motor, they stop making power at 5K, unlike import motors that love to rev. When people say a buick turbo 3.8 and a stick isn't a good combo they aren't talking out of their ***, its been tried, hell even GM tried...its just not a good setup..

 

So then why not a 3.8 with a set of 3.23's and a T56 ? that would keep rev's quite low, considering the ratios are 2.66 1.78 1.30 1.00 .74 .50

 

then its pointless to have a T56, you wouldn't be able use 6th gear till like 100mph, or else you'd be at like 1800 with no power, lol

top speed run would be sick though

 

hey just putting a flame sheild over my ***

 

I'm still curious about this now. I know you guys aren't just making stuff up. There must be a reason why. My SVO redlines at 5k right now too. It dosnt seem to have any problems building boost with a 5 speed. I'm @ 10 psi by 2700 RPM. When I shift hard it starts at 2000 RPM so 700 RPM later I'm on boost. What RPM does boost come on in your 3.8T setup? Does that engine have a lag problem? Are people trying the manual with the stock turbo's? Interesting ...

 

Here' the setup in my 85 SVO. Its a 2.3ltr w/ a Garret T3. Redline is 5k RPM. Boost comes on at 2700 RPM.

World Class T5
1st 3.50
2nd 2.14
3rd 1.36
4th 1.00
5th .78

Rea-End Ratio 3.73

What are the specs of the Buick Manuals?