I currently have a 3.8 buick engine new in crate, but it has no turbo,does anyone know how much hp and torque it has without a turbo? also what problems will i have in installing it into a 1986-1987 trans am,both had 305 carbed. I also have a 455 long block, but i think installing it will rip up my suspension and will probably kill me driving. My question is, what do i need to do to install this 3.8 in, and also where can i find a a used turbo for it i.e regal or gnx or something. thanks

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1985 firebird SE EFI
V6 with more horses then a V8 until 89
Stock red and a killer.
2000 nissan sentra se, jet black and fast as hell.(my daily car)
Soon to have either 86 or 86 Trans am for fun.

 

I think I read somwhere on this site that the buick 3.8's heads wont let the engine fit properly in our cars thus you would need to change them in order to gain clearance. As fot hte used turbo, think about how many fourthgen F-Body enthusiast with the 3.8L in them would love to have a turbo in their V6 cars and how so few of them have been lucky enough to find a wrecked gnx or turbo T/A´s. I think in the finding use turbo department, you definitely have your work cut out. Anyway, If you succeed, I would love to hear about your turbo T/A and see pics . Good luck!!!!!

 

It will fit with the GN heads and pistons. You just wont have A/C but you will go faster.

Oh where did you get the crate at??? I would really like some info! Thanks!

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1992 Camaro RS 3.1L
T5 Manual 5 speed
Cold/RAM air intake
Z-28 Exhaust
8.5mm MSD Ignition wires
TB Coolant bypass

Soon to be a 3.8L turbo RS

AIM screen name - Stopsign696

Kills:

95 (****) Probe GT,94 Mustang GT,91 CRX (dont ask me why he raced me),2nd Gen Z28 (350) haha to you V8 guys!,1992 RS 305 TBI (good race),First Gen Integra, Old Escort LX
More to come

 

My friend rents a garage in an apartment complex where i live, and the guy who owns it bought a 3.8 buick brand new in a crate, but never used it and said he'd take 300$ for it. low and behold when i do get another trans am or camaro i can have the 3.8 motor and its new. But does anyone know how much power that thing puts out without a turbo,and torque also? cuz if its gonna be tiny its not worth my trouble at all. He also has a 455 hes gonna build up for my car, so thats why i say i have the choice but im not looking to kill my original suspension because of the 455 like i know it will. thanks

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1985 firebird SE EFI
V6 with more horses then a V8 until 89
Stock red and a killer.
2000 nissan sentra se, jet black and fast as hell.(my daily car)
Soon to have either 86 or 86 Trans am for fun.

 

What year motor is it? Was it made for the turbo application? I believe it has between 180-200 HP, not sure. Is it a long block or short block (with cylinder heads or not)?

Monkie, the TTA was suppose to be faster than the GN and GNX due to the amount of boost it ran. GN's had 13.5 lbs, GNX's had 15 LBS and the TTA had 16.5 lbs of boost. With the same motor and different boost ratings and lighter weight, the TTA is the faster one of the group.

Pete

 

The motor is from 1987 and i think it was meant for the turbo, but im not 100 % sure, cuz it still locked in that crate. It has everything but carb and manifold i think. anyways any other info would be appreciate, thank u

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1985 firebird SE EFI
V6 with more horses then a V8 until 89
Stock red and a killer.
2000 nissan sentra se, jet black and fast as hell.(my daily car)
Soon to have either 86 or 86 Trans am for fun.

 

Why do you think a 455 will kill your suspension? I run stock 6 cylinder all the way around on my car and don't have any problems at all. It doesn't corner the greatest, but it wasn't built to corner.

Miles

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88 427 Camaro
12.18 @ 113mph 1.75 60ft

www.koolmeister.com

 

because of the extra added weight to my front end. the cars wont be the ws6 kind, and u know as well as i do, stock suspensions from over 13 years just wont cut it. if im wrong please tell me

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1985 firebird SE EFI
V6 with more horses then a V8 until 89
Stock red and a killer.
2000 nissan sentra se, jet black and fast as hell.(my daily car)
Soon to have either 86 or 86 Trans am for fun.

 

actually..v8 springs need to be used in front for the 250+ pounds in the front added with a v8 or ur car will be a little lower in front..in back it doesnt make any difference

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89 Firebird
2.8 V6 w/ t5 tranny (383 tpi t56 w/ ati 12/01)
Flowmaster 80 series, 3" Intermediate, SS Tips, Random Tech Cat, Msd Coil, MSD 6a, Accel 8.8 wires, Cold Air Intake w/ K&N, Lakewood LCA's, Brushed aluminum Hood pins ETC...
-------------------------
My Site:
www.geocities.com/firebird89white

" I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT run at all ".

 

I have 13 yr old suspension all around (except for new rear shocks) including v6 springs. With the cast iron headed big block with an aluminum intake, it sits about 1-1½ inches lower in front. It makes for great weight transfer at the drag strip, but doesn't corner for ****. Oh yea, there is also no sway bar on the front either.

Miles

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88 427 Camaro
12.18 @ 113mph 1.75 60ft

www.koolmeister.com

 

One question, what are you gonna do about headers, unless you plan on running stock 455 exhaust manifolds(which isnt that bad an idea)? There are no headers for a BOP that would fit a 3rd gen F-body. And Chevy big block headers aren't the same. First of all are you willing to have these custom made? That would run you well over $600. As for the springs, you definitely need new v8 springs all around, and a big brake upgrade to stop that kind of power. You know that the puny brakes on our cars give up when they overheat so cross drilled brakes wouldn't hurt. You need a new tranny(th350 or 400) or a rebuild kit for your 700 if you have/ want automatic trans. A new torque conv. is a must.

Definitely need a good brace and sway bar to keep that chassis nice and tight. Need a new radiator because third gen radiators are limited in flow and the fact that firebirds have no grill opening doesnt help cooling either an engin oil cooler isnt a bad idea. You will need a higher flowing fuel pump, thicker fuel lines, of course you need a carb, manifold, starter, alterntor.

If you want to keep your a/c you need to relocate your compressor. I would get a new 3 inch exhaust for the poncho 455 motor with glass packs to make it scream POWER!!!! Remember that a 455 is a 7. something liter engine so your gas mileage would be less than half of what it is now.

You would need to fabricate new engine mounts and would need to get a new oilpan so your motor can clear the ground.

How do I know this? I found a 74 455 motor and a 78 400 for $350 each. Naturally I went nuts, but I decided to check with speed shops and ask around before I dished out any cash. I found out all you read above(cause I have an 85 Firebird SE)and that I would be spending a few grand I dont have on my daily driver. But if youre up for it, do it. I'll be your car's #1 fan if you do, if all you want is alot of torque and hp without sacrificing that much fuel, go for a crate engine like the GM 350HO or an aftermarket 355 or 383 engine. BOOM lots of power for less. Or just get a used L98 from third gen camaro or vette or even a used LT1 an a BW t56.

If you haven't driven a v8, youll be satisfied with a stock 350 tpi from a thirdgen. Trust me.

 

my friend is a mopar and chevy expert(25 years) in the business and he has installed 455's in my kind of car already. ive been doing alot of thinking and im looking for a 85and up trans am shell to put this engine in.i have extra 700r4s,and also 3.8 trannies around that are all new. decided which engine to put in what, and what shell is the problem. only thing im paying for is parts thats it. id put the 3.8 in, but i have no turbo for it, and to put that in a trans am with no turbo is a waste dont u think? i would notplan on having air conditioning at all, brake up grade i agree but making working air vents on the side for the brakes helps also. if anyone has a no rust trans am body for sale or trade for somehting, please let mek now in the ny area, thank u. any other thoughts or comments is appreciated also

 

I would not waste anytime on anything with less then 8 cylinders,I just the sound of a v8 ,go for the 455.

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86 iroc,canary yellow,fully loaded

 

Which 455? I'm assuming you mean Buick, but there are Pontiac and Olds 455s also. There are a lot more aftermarket goodies for Pontiac and then Olds. If it is a Buick, the biggest problem they had were the heads. They didn't get the nickname "nail head" for nothing.

I'm not sure if Edelbrock makes an aftermarket head for the Buicks like they do for the Pontiacs and Olds.

BTW, you are aware that BOP engines have a different bolt pattern than a Chevy. You either need to find a 200-R4 (a good choice), a TH400 from a BOP or find an adapter.

Motor mounts for the Buick 455s may be difficult too. The Buick is the least common of all engines used in a swap (other than in other Buicks), mainly because of they have the least amount of aftermarket parts available. Lots of torque though; that was always one of their strong points.

[This message has been edited by Glenn91L98GTA (edited January 19, 2001).]

 

Yes im talking about the buick engine. let me ask u guys this, if i put the 3.8 in, and i put flowmasters or a borla exhaust on it, and some nitros oxide, that should give it the sound and the boost im looking for? anyone know any problems putting nitrous in a 3rd gen? thanks.

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1985 firebird SE EFI
V6 with more horses then a V8 until 89
Stock red and a killer.
2000 nissan sentra se, jet black and fast as hell.(my daily car)
Soon to have either 86 or 86 Trans am for fun.

 

Not to burst your balloon, but do you have emission testing where you live? If so, you better check to make sure your proposed engine swap is legal. Many places only allow an engine newer than the existing engine and it has to be a type offered in your vehicle.

It wouldn't be the first time that someone had great plans for a swap, only to find out their emissions testing nixed the idea.

 

i got friends all over, im in ny and im told i dont have to worry so i wont. wouldnt be the first time somone goes around emissions no?

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1985 firebird SE EFI
V6 with more horses then a V8 until 89
Stock red and a killer.
2000 nissan sentra se, jet black and fast as hell.(my daily car)
Soon to have either 86 or 86 Trans am for fun.

 

If you don't have emissions testing where you live then this is a non-issue. Where I live, some regions are subject to testing with the threat of the entire province requiring testing.

Currently, our rules permit any swap provided your engine "blows the numbers". But some places like California, your swap would be illegal except possibly a 3.8 in a Firebird as the TTA did have a 3.8.

I am not sure if California has a method of allowing you to get it "umpired" and whether that is only for a different engine but still one that was offered in the car. (ie V6 to V8).

But in your case, since you say that you are not subject to testing, this is not an issue. Just pray that your state does not decide to go "Green" in the future. When we went to emission testing in 1991, we had a lot of cars that were in because they had removed their emission equipment and were unable to pass. Needless to say, the value of those cars dropped dramatically overnight as they required a lot of work to get them to pass.

 

I would sell all of that Buick stuff to someone who owns a Buick. A 350 would be cheaper and less trouble, unless you happen to own a machine shop and auto parts warehouse.

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Nor Cal Mike
Red 84 Z28 HO, stock L82 350, L69 carb, intake, and air cleaner.
5 Spd, 3:73 Posi, 1 5/8" SLP headers, 3"cat connected to
stock L69 exhaust, KYB's, homemade SFC's,STB and wonderbar
Some are faster but mine's fast enough.

 

I posted this in the parts for sale. It would be everything you could need and show ready. I gaurantee with a 3:27 gear this setup will put your car in the mid 11's. The GN engine will work but you have to fab a downpipe and you loose the AC. E-mail direct with any question even if its only about the swap:

89 3.8 SFI Turbo Trans AM Drivetrain COMPLETE. This is motor and trans with EVERY concievable part needed to convert any third gen, including all acc, ac, trans cooler lines etc. Motor and Trans have 16k miles with many High perf mods: TE-44 turbo, 40# inj, ATR SS 3" downpipe and billet wastegate, ATR 3" SS exhaust system with cutout, ATR polished MAF pipe, Custom CAS FM intercooler. Billet Alum pulleys, vac block, fp reg, chrome valve cover, altenator, acc brkts, cooler lines, turbo heat shield, turbo inlet pipe, etc. Motor is detailed with new seals and ready to go. You will Need NOTHING other than fluids and time to put this in and get it running. Will put any 3rd gen solidliy in the mid 11's. $5k firm plus shipping, over $4k in perf parts.
Chris
lyonsdc@nls.net

 

putting a big block buick in a third gen isnt that hard a buick 455 is small in size for a big block and is 75 lbs lighter then a 396 shorty headers are availble from www.taperformance.com $350.00 motor mounts $100.00 must use gs mounts a different style wiper motor have to use one that points sideways not down a little hammering is required they say you can save the ac and make it work i just didnt see how but thats just me. you can use a 700r4 with an adapter plate a t-5 can be done i think but why? the 455 can put out 500lbs of torque 70 model i didn't even try it. If the motor is in good shape not blowing alot of oil you wouldnt have to spend that much to make a simple mid 12 second car intake cam headers. heads depend on the year and if its a stage 1 motor. all of this said if i could do it all over again it would be a 383 but thats just me