I'm asking as my friend has a 2.8 in his 85 Berli and I'm yanking the 3.8 out of my 83 Malibu wagon for a L98....

Is it worth the swap? Anyone have the specs on the 3.8?

 

No, it's just about as bad as the 2.8L. The early non turbo 3.8's were doggy piles and rated with very similiar numbers power wise to a 2.8. Not to say you couldent make the 3.8 perform but it's not worth it.

 

Yah before I was just going to keep it in my wagon and beef it up, as they make headers and cams and stuff... but the headers were like $400, the cams were really pricey... so much easier to just do a V8 swap!

 

Had an '82 Malibu wagon 3.8l, I believe it was rated at 110-115 horse, or something like that.

I can't imagine it being worth the hassle. Trade it at a JY for a 3.4l.

 

All I know is my wagon can't even spin the tires

I have a nice 350 4-bolt setup for it... along with a complete 4spd stick setup... just gotta find the damn time!

 

My friend's 99 camaro 3.8 won't spin them either

 

Yah picture that, but in a wagon with a 2bbl carb!

 

The 3.8 that came in the Malibu is more than likely a 229, which is a 305 based V6. It is the older brother to the 4.3. Basically grab the frame mounts and put a 4.3 in its place. A vortec 4.3 makes good HP and torque for its size and gets great fuel mileage.

 

Yah either the 229 or 231... not sure which, as both were offered in my car in that year. I gotta check the VIN.

 

Front mounted distributer = BUICK 231
Rear mounted distributer = Chevy 229

 

Great! Thanks for that info... the auto parts store asked if I had the 229 or the 231, and I had no idea!

So they put Buick motors in some Chevy's?