Ace2717 Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Hey everyone, I've got a 91 Lumina with a bad motor (3100) and I've found a donor vehicle (92 Regal) with a 3800. I know you couldn't get the 3800 in that year. So I'm wondering if its even possible to swap that in? If I pulled the cradle and everything off the regal, would it bolt back up in the Lumina? The Regal is a complete car, but it was a GM test car so it can't be titled. I figure ill probably have to do some wiring, I just wasn't sure how identical the two cars are mechanically. And help or insight would be greatly appreciated, Thanks! Edward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go4DaMo Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 GM Test Car? what...has it never hit the street? and Luminas had 3.1s...never a 3.8 in that body style Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace2717 Posted June 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 No the regal has about 90k on it, it was a test mule so they ran it with all the monitoring equipment hooked to it. And I know the Lumina never came with a 3800. That's why I was wondering if it was even possible to swap it in without major modifications. I figured if the cradle from the regal would bolt up in the Lumina that would be a great start. If not then I will have to find an engine somewhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go4DaMo Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 I'm sorry...I'm so enthralled with this Regals history : O I'm sure you'll need to swap countless parts. hope you're not in the rust belt... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pshojo Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 i would think this could be easy swap. I would think most of it is just a bolt in situation. The thing that took me the longest was the electrical, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace2717 Posted June 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2013 My friend and his father-in-law work for the Warren Tech Center where they do prototyping and vehicle testing. His father-in-law somehow ended up with it after they were done using it. If we end up buying it to do the swap ill get more info. He said the body is in really rough shape (we live in Michigan so rust can be bad) but I'm hoping that the cradle is in good shape. And yeah I figured the electrical will be some work. Luckily we will have the complete engine harnesses for both vehicles so if we need to cannibalize the 3100 harness for connectors or whatnot we can. I also need to find out if the radiator, air cleaner etc. From the Lumina will work with the 3800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go4DaMo Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 If your Lumina has a 3100 in it, it's already been engine-swapped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 real answer: drop the engine/trans/engine harness as a unit on the cradle. bolt it up under the lumina and plug the engine harness into the firewall(c100 connector). turn key and go. things that will need changed: heater hoses flexible fuel lines from rail to hard line exhaust downpipe to cat radiator hoses possibly throttle cable passenger side cv axle it's extremely straightforward, gen1 w bodies are so plug and play stuff is simple. the only reason i suggest cradle is because it's pretty easy to just drop the whole deal and leave the rack/struts hang on the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 You could also pull the brake master and dunk the thing in through the top Also probably need to swap power steering lines over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 true. if you really want to wiggle you can leave the m/c in place. i was able to get the dohc out by about 1/8" with trans attached out the top. true, power steering pressure line is engine specific. the return would probably work but not totally sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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