I'm thinking about replacing my v6 engine in my 86 'bird, and I'd like to do something other than a 305 or 350. Does anyone know if I could make a Grand National motor and trans fit? Or maybe a Bonneville SSEi engine. I don't know much about cars, so please excuse me if these are dumb questions. This is my first car, and I'm using it as a tool to learn.

 

FYI the 20th Anniversary Trans Am came with a 3.8 Turbo motor that was basically a Grand National motor except the heads and a few other minor things were different.

I just posted some info on this thread a few weeks ago about this.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...grand+national

If this is your first car, first swap, and you don't know a lot about cars then I personally don't reccomend a swap as in depth as this. An excellent choice for your car would be a 3.4 swap (the V6 motor that came in 93-95 firebirds/camaros), and your looking at a lot less work. But, thats just my
And also

 

A friend of mine is helpin me out with this. His dad restores muscle cars as a hobby, so he's been around cars his whole life pretty much. A friend of his dad actually passed away, and he had a Grand National motor in his garage, so I'm thinkin of pickin that one up.

Thanks for all the info F'bird kid.

 

your better off getting a TTA engine unless your plan on swapping pistons. you cant use the GN heads or exhaust manifolds- you can use FWD buick heads i beleive from certain years that will work. but the TTA pistons and GN pistons are different so your compression ration will change.

also the exhaust manifolds and crossover will cost you around 600$ used from a TTA.

a FWD supercharged engine wont work at all.

 

Not true on the heads, probably true on the manifolds(not positive one way or the other). The only reason you would have to use FWD heads is to keep AC. You can use the GN heads if you don't have AC. A few on this board and on turbobuick.com have done it, so its very possible.

 

yea to clear the stock AC box you need TA heads or FWD heads. i dont beleive they will even clear the heater box if you have a non-AC box

and why do you say your not sure on the manifolds? i just told you you need TTA manifolds and have done the swap befor????

if you want info go to John's Performance - Your Turbo Trans Am and Grand National Specialists and contact him- hes done plenty of 3rd gen and buick work

also if you do leave the GN heads i beleive its next to impossible to change the spark plugs. i used a TTA motor when i did mine just because it was less headaches in the end.

 

I wasn't trying to say you were wrong on the manifolds, I was simply saying that you were probably right, but I personally don't know if you do or not. You also said that he couldn't use GN heads which wasn't correct. I haven't done the swap, and I'm sure you have tons more knowledge on it then I do. That being said this is a young guy probably on a pretty tight budget and it sounds like he's got a perfectly good motor lined up and I just wanted to help him out by letting him know that heads he had would work, and if he doesn't have to swap heads then he doesn't have to swap pistons. No disrespect meant or intended.

 

Lot of myths floating around in here, some info from someone who has done it.... twice.
Here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...light=LC2+swap

 

i did my swap with the A/C heater box attatched thats why i used the correct heads and headers.

the kid has yet to say if he wants his a/c or not

 

He is in Canada doesnt really need A/C.
And since his friend has the GN engine much much cheaper to go that route.
And later if he gets a little money, GN1 or aftermarket aluminum heads are a possibility.
Spark plugs arent hard to change with the Buick heads.

 

WOW!!! I can't believe I've never run across that article before. I've read pretty much every post that I've ever seen on this board about the Buick 3.8 swap (or so I thought) for the last couple years, but I had never seen that one before. Thanks a ton man that is by far the most informative article I've ever read on the swap.