Buying a 3800!!

[GP1138]

I found a 3800 series I, about 80,000 or so miles on it, in really decent shape for $200 at a junkyard! I'm going for it. My 2.8 is starting to piss me off, and I don't think it's going to last much longer.

 

I've been told the car with the engine in it was driven into the yard, and that the engine ran well, so it won't need a rebuild. It's been sitting there for some time, so most likely the first thing done to it before driving will be an oil change.

 

If anybody can aid me (yes, I searched. Most of what I found was in reference to the Series II) in finding web sites/forum threads devoted to the Series I swap, I'd be eternally greatful. In addition, any Ohio person interested in assisting me in my first engine swap is entirely welcome!

 

I CAN'T WAIT!

[L67wanaB]

http://www.L67swap.com

[kfahn]

i wonder how different this will be, seing as it is not an l67, or even a series 2 3800?

[99RegalGS]

Good find.

 

Hope you get pictures once it's done.

[L67wanaB]

i wonder how different this will be, seing as it is not an l67, or even a series 2 3800?

 

It's a 3800. There are very few differences in the swap between different series, be it I, II, or III.

 

Wiring is basically what you're looking at. The parts list is still the same.

[GP1138]

God, there will be pics all throughout the project. I'm going out to the yard on Monday to take pics of the engine itself.

 

I'm mostly worried about the engine mounts, and the wiring harness. Mostly the harness because I'm not sure what car this came out of, and I'm not sure what harness I need, or how to rewire, etc. :?

 

Can anyone tell me what I need to do with this serial number?: 6662HAA0692653

 

That's off of the plastic cover on the front. I heard I could use it to ID the engine, so I'll try that on GM.com or something.

[L67wanaB]

I can't help with the serial number at all.

 

You will need the mounts, down pipe, engine wiring harness, inner axels, pcm, and AC lines from the donor car or any W-body equipped with a 3800.

 

Brian Teel from L67swap.com offers harness wiring services and there are wiring schematics on the site if you want to do it yourself.

[Ribbie]

I can't help with the serial number at all.

 

You will need the mounts, down pipe, engine wiring harness, inner axels, pcm, and AC lines from the donor car or any W-body equipped with a 3800.

 

Brian Teel from L67swap.com offers harness wiring services and there are wiring schematics on the site if you want to do it yourself.

 

Yes, Brian Teel is a good person to talk to for your harness needs.

 

Good luck, just take your time and double check everything and it should go smoothly.

[Steve LS]

Is it out of a Gen I Regal ? I hope so. You'll need the whole drivetrain; frame and all, out of the bottom of the car. Other wise that thing will nickle and dime you right to death before you have everything to make it fit and work in your car. I dont think anything is the same under the hood between the two powerplants. All the plumbing is different.

[L67wanaB]

Is it out of a Gen I Regal ? I hope so. You'll need the whole drivetrain; frame and all, out of the bottom of the car. Other wise that thing will nickle and dime you right to death before you have everything to make it fit and work in your car. I dont think anything is the same under the hood between the two powerplants. All the plumbing is different.

 

I don't know where you people are getting this need for the frame, sub-frame, or engine craddle for this swap. You don't need it.

 

It's a 3800, it pretty much bolts up to any w-body without modification.

 

There isn't a need to alter the frame, swap engine craddles, NADA... ZIP... ZILCH!

 

You just need the damn mounts .... period!

[Steve LS]

Sorry I know it can be done anyway you want to go about it. I should have said "how I'd do it". Exact donor cars are always the best and also cheapest.

 

If he goes to a yard and buys the engine striped like the yard people will do it. Chopped wiring harness, crushed sensors from putting a chain anyoldwhere. Sold alternator, cant find the brackets, starters gone, butcherd air condition pieces. "just splice into the harness" Using an older tranny high milage tranny. I dont know, are they lighter springs in the 2.8 cars than the 3800 ? What about the possibility of getting a donor complete drivetrain from a GS. Many up grades there. Now you need the driveshafts so your tearing the front end apart some anyhow. I could go on.

 

So anyhow my question - is the above better than unbolting the struts, steering column, unbolt the harness and other engine related utilities from the firewall/inner fenders( which you will need to do anyhow, grab the ECM, cut the exhaust somewhere, unbolt the engine frame and lifting the retired carcus from the intact drivetrain ? Take it home clean it up make sure everything is ready to go and repeat process on current car.

 

Your right this is heavy work for someone that doesnt have the equipment to move a whole drivetrain but this is a common way to do it. It saves all the head scratching and trips back to get stuff that was missing or destroyed.

 

I removed the whole 3.8 drivetrain from a 87 Delta 88, 275 dollar parts car this way it was fast and very clean. Now if I wanted to put that in a W body I'd need to go find a 3800 W body, remove engine mounts, halfshafts any and all W body related plumbing and wireing, split 2 engines from the trannys and begin with the jigsaw puzzle and hundreds of bolts and suprises.

[L67wanaB]

Sorry I know it can be done anyway you want to go about it. I should have said "how I'd do it". Exact donor cars are always the best and also cheapest.

 

If he goes to a yard and buys the engine striped like the yard people will do it. Chopped wiring harness, crushed sensors from putting a chain anyoldwhere. Sold alternator, cant find the brackets, starters gone, butcherd air condition pieces. "just splice into the harness" Using an older tranny high milage tranny. I dont know, are they lighter springs in the 2.8 cars than the 3800 ? What about the possibility of getting a donor complete drivetrain from a GS. Many up grades there. Now you need the driveshafts so your tearing the front end apart some anyhow. I could go on.

 

So anyhow my question - is the above better than unbolting the struts, steering column, unbolt the harness and other engine related utilities from the firewall/inner fenders( which you will need to do anyhow, grab the ECM, cut the exhaust somewhere, unbolt the engine frame and lifting the retired carcus from the intact drivetrain ? Take it home clean it up make sure everything is ready to go and repeat process on current car.

 

Your right this is heavy work for someone that doesnt have the equipment to move a whole drivetrain but this is a common way to do it. It saves all the head scratching and trips back to get stuff that was missing or destroyed.

 

I removed the whole 3.8 drivetrain from a 87 Delta 88, 275 dollar parts car this way it was fast and very clean. Now if I wanted to put that in a W body I'd need to go find a 3800 W body, remove engine mounts, halfshafts any and all W body related plumbing and wireing, split 2 engines from the trannys and begin with the jigsaw puzzle and hundreds of bolts and suprises.

 

I misunderstood then. I thought your intent was to say that the frame around the engine was needed for the swap.

[GP1138]

Actually, this has all the accessories on it. Not sure about the wiring harness, etc. I think it was from a regal, but not sure. I will be getting a Regal computer I think. I hope this isn't going to be a nickel and dime type thing, I'll be saving some money, but I'm not made of it.