Ok I have 2 things to do, Get me engine totally rebuilt for $700.00 or get a 3.8 out of a 1987 Chevy Malibu RWD for free.
Which should I do? And if I get the 3.8, What do I have to change?

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/t...apboogie.shtml

 

The 3.8 will nto work without changing mounts.


Get a 3.4, or have that badboy rebuilt...

 

And the heads would need to be changed; the 3.8 engine won't fit between the f-body strut towers. I agree w/Stuart & KJ.

 

Didn't I hear somewhere he could use the original 3.8 heads if he ditches the A/C?

 

No, too wide.. GM used special heads to put the 3.8 under the '89 turbo trans am. I think they're heads off of another GM motor, though.. it's in the thirdgen.org FAQ (off the tech area), I think in the Motor section.

 

Yeah, I think they were heads off a LeSaber.

 

So no go on the 3.8? And I should just get it rebuilt

 

What we're saying is that it CAN be done, but a 2.8 rebuild or 3.4 swap would be easier.

 

You'd need to get FWD heads from a 3.8 for it. It's more work to get this going then a V8 swap, I say go 3.4

 

flyin89 knows some people that used GN engine in their 3rd gens and kept the GN heads. They just had to ditch the AC.

 

exactly, you have to ditch the AC to use the GN heads, BUT THEY WILL FIT, i've seen it plenty of times

 

and yes the TTA heads are FWD LeSabre heads, much different than the GN heads, flow better from the factory but the GN heads have more meat on them, so if you were to fully port both sets the GN heads would flow a bit better..

 

This might be a Chevrolet 3.8 liter V-6 he is talking about. Not all 3.8s are Buick based. My mom used to have an '80 Malibu with a 3.8. It was a chevrolet, and had the distributor in the back. I think it is basically the same width as the small block Chevy V-8. The bell housing is the V-8 bellhousing,though, so you would have to swap the trans with the motor. I think it would work,though. You would need the motor mounts, accessory brackets, trans, and just about everything else from the donor car. If I remember, though, the 3.8 in my mom's Malibu wasn't very powerful, but it probably had 3.08 gears, and was breathing through a single exhaust and a 2bbl carb. It might be interesting to try and see what you can do with it.