Is it possible?

 

Umm. Im pretty sure the 231 buick after a certain year is transverse only, which means it won't bolt up to a t5. If its coming out of a park ave or something with a series1 its a dog anyway. but the block out of a 3.8l firebird from the fourth gen should go in. but whats the point when you got all that room under the hood. 350 is nice. 502 is better. 632 is retarded.

 

I'm talking about the Turbo Grand National engine.

 

you can bolt anything to anything if you buy an adapter plate.

They do it all the time and make them for everything.


but you better have a WC T5 if your gonna go turbo.
a reg T5 will die, just cause they get an easy 500-700hp out of a 3.8 turbo with simple mods.

If you were gonna go through the adapter plate stuff id just go auto n get a built switch pitch. [no 200r4 or 700s, blaaaa] Its an old design they still use in Buick world. basically it lets you at a flip of a switch, do 3500RPM launches and shift at 1500 like normal on the fly.

you get a wild stall speed for racing or normal stall speed for street drivin.
where any other tranny you get only 1 stall speed to chose from. Ones good for racing suck on the street n vise versa.

 

he meant a t56 not a t5 t56= 6 speed dbl overdrive 4thgen trans,and im sure they make all the neasacary parts to mate the gn motor and t56 together,but it will prolly be a pricey conversion

 

Yea I got some messed up reading skills.

My brain sees what it wants at time.


Every time in my grandpa's caddy id get fooled as the light on the dash says the car is leaving. Id fall for it ever time. Car is leveling, not leaving.

 

now are we talking carb or f/i gn 3.8?

I got a budy with an 86 gn that's a dog about everything upgaded in it BUT the ignition and why he selects up on the turbo and computher too high it just falls on its face

 

exactly... sorry I just remember hearing about you getting mad at me for calling you gumpy. I didn't mean it my brain just took it as such.


hey can you use a gumby avatar? I can find one for you.


wow I'm fricken with nothign to do at work. this sucks

 

There have been a few attempts to put manual transmissions behind the GN motors, and while it can be done it will just slow the car down. Even GM tried it (not production). Stick with the auto. Post this on any of the GN forums and you'll get the same answer.

 

I wanna know how itd be slower...? every production car Ive seen was faster as a manual unless it was a built auto..

 

Boost loss between gears, mostly... sure, if you powershift all the time it might be irrelevant, and with other changes (turbo sizing, gear spacing, etc) it might could be overcome, but as many mods as GN guys do, if a manual trans was an advantage you'd see them.

 

Alright, good points.. I dont think a T-5 will stand up to more than 5 power shifts with a GN powerplant.. Maybe a T-56..

 

If you were determined to run a factory T56, I'd use the 93 style, though even closer (aftermarket) gears would be of great benefit...I just don't see the need for a double overdrive with a motor that doesn't like or need a lot of gear to begin with. For durability, gearing, etc I've yet to see a trans better suited to the GN motors than the one they came with, the TH2004R.

 

BTW, a transverse mounted 3.8 will bolt right up to a 2.8 T5. Have done it on several cars/trucks. I have a buddy that we put a 2002 3.8 SC from a GTP into a 1985 S10 with a 5 spd.

I also believe that the T56 was put behind some of the 3.8 RWD engines in the 4th gen line and that they use the FWD bellhousing pattern.

 

Only the LT/LS motors got 6 speeds in 4th gens. The V6s got 5 speeds.

 

YES! it can and has been done. back when i was looking into this exact swap for my 2.8 i did some research and discovered that somone does make an adapter plate that will mate the T56 bellhousing to a BOP bolt pattern. i found it on TurboBuicks.com - TurboCharged Message Board Turbo Buick Grand National, T-Type, Turbo TransAm but i deleted all my refference material when i realised i coult buy a TTA for less then what i could build one for. (no kidding)

a rebuilt motor with a few buildup parts plus a Tremeck t56 and some suspension work to my v6 so it could handle it + odds and ends was going to run me 9K. a medium mialage TTA goes for 10K was not worth it for me. but if you can get a better deal, or are willing to make some sacrafices on the build level i say go for it. 1/4 in 13.3 has got to be fun.