i have a 3.8 out of a 1976 buick century. anyone know what it would fit in? also would a t5 work with it?

 

i think some of the "G body" 1978-88 GM midsize RWD cars had the 3.8 as the standard engine.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Define "fit".

The engine mounts won't fit 3rd gen mounts - something will have to be fabricated (turbo TA mounts may work, but good luck finding any). The bellhousing won't fit 3rd gen transmissions (will with an adapter). Most likely the exhaust manifolds will hit something, and headers would have to be custom fabricated. Likewise fuel lines. You'll have to find something to fit for radiator hoses. A 3rd gen carbureted V6 throttle cable will probably reach, but you'll probably have to fabricate or modify mounting to the carb and engine.

While you aren't talking about a turbo application (yet, anyway), this has some info you can use: https://www.thirdgen.org/buick-3.8L-...ne-swap-f-body

What engine do you have now? Why are you considering this swap?

 

Around here we have those great big green dumpsters that you wheel around... I don't think it will even fit in that... let alone, with a T-5 in there at the same time.

Prolly have to haul it to yer local buzzard nest yerself.

 

Hmmm thanks for the info. I don't have a car yet but I am really trying to find a camaro or fire chicken on a budget. I have that 3.8 sittin in my garage and I figured I could find a body w/o eng/trans cheap. I'd like to have a stick one but I know they are weak and don't hold up long with small blocks

 

Yeah they'll fit in one of those too; but the garbage men get mad when you leave those at the curb... stick with the green dumpsters

 

I put a 3.8 in a '76 Vega. They used to be plentiful without engines. Might be a little harder to find one now, though.

"Because I have it" is absolutely the worst reason for trying to swap an engine into something it didn't come in. You'd be money ahead paying someone to haul it away and buying a car that runs.

 

I've had two 2nd gen Firebirds that had a Buick 3.8 in them from the factory. Its a drop in so maybe you ought to go that route.

 

I think the '81 Camaro could have the Buick 3.8L in California. I'd try to find a 200-4R for it before buying a car based on a free engine. Your version might not take the power of anything more than a stock '86 GN turbo, but it should give great economy even at that power level, if geared & tuned well. since the '88 TTA had one, you could do a third gen, and be a couple of hundred pounds lighter than a second gen, with better aerodynamics.

 

The problems with cramming the engine in a third gen are numerous (I'm working out the details now, myself) and its by no means a "drop in."

There are guys who have done it, but not with a 76 3.8 Buick. That engine is odd fire, and really not much in common to the 87 GN engine, which itself was modified with front wheel drive heads to fit the firebird without cutting the heater box.

 

That 3.8 should fit just fine with room to spare in a 3 yard dumpster.

Seriously, that thing is such an under powered turd, I can't possibly imagine going through the efforts it would take to put it into anything.


Ugh, I should read these things more closely. Sofa already delivered the same punchline.

 

The block is fine, and I'd gladly take it if it were close enough to me. There's plenty that can be done with them.

 

If you want to put that in one of these cars, it's easier if you take the seats out first, before you put it down at the curb.

Make sure the car is REAL messed up though, no sense in throwing away anything good, just to have something to put that motor in.

But don't say I didn't warn you about the garbage men getting POed at having to pick up something as big as one of these cars, and put it in their truck.