Engine swap question (3.8 T for caddy 6.0)

[burningtheorang]

i might be having to replace the engine in my 84 caddillac fleetwood (hearse). it currently has a 6.0 in it. i have a friend with a wrecked 86 grand nat, and i was wondering if the engine and/or tranny would be able to be put in in place of my current 6.0 setup.

(no, he's NOT looking to sell any parts off his car. he offered it to me because he's put a lot of work into my car. if it won't fit, we're going to try to find him a new body)

 

[Jester90RS]

I wouldn't. Besides the 500 caddy, and the later northstars, caddys motors are pretty much crap.

 

[gnXfan]

Originally posted by Jester90RS
I wouldn't. Besides the 500 caddy, and the later northstars, caddys motors are pretty much crap.

Probably why he asked if he can replace his caddy motor.....

 

[Brian Mc]

It should fit with parts from a 80's lesabre, but it's a B chassis and the cad is a D chassis, I'm not sure if the front crossmembers are the same. The engine will bolt up to the trans that is in the car but the torque converter will be wrong for the V6. I'm sure you culd make a complete powertrain swap work but some things will need to be modified i.e. welded, so unless you know a welder or have one I wouldn't jump into it.

 

[forcefed3.8's]

I sent you e-mail with a picture of a Fleetwood with a 3.8T. As long as you have all of the pieces from the GN, it will be a breeze. You might have to drill the engine cradle for the mounts though. The 84 Caddy I had only had holes for the 4100 mounts, although they did come with a 4.1 Buick, so the holes might be right.

 

[turbofish38]

Your Caddy is on the D-body chassis which is the same as the C and B-bodies. The only difference is the wheelbase. Cadillac did offer the 4.1 V-6 in its 81-84 D-body so all the holes are there in the crossmember and you shouldn't have to do any surgery to make it fit. I'am a big fan of hearse and ambulances and the only thing I would be worried about is trying to haul all that weight around with the turbo. My last hearse weighed in at 7000 pounds and the 370 HP 455 had its work cut out. I even owned a 69 Cadillac ambulance that tipped the scales at 9200 pounds. At least it had 550 lb.ft. of torque to pull it around. About the only advantage the turbo has would be it's low end torque. Good luck with your project.

 

[burningtheorang]

i think i'm gonna go for it. i'll post some results when i get it done. though that might be a while (time and money. i just never have both at the same time).

what are the offical hp @ rpm and torque @ rpm numbers for the intercooled and non-intercooled 3.8s?
i have questions about how well i'm going to be able to mount the intercooler, so i amy go without for a while.
will this affect the engine (other than the obvious performance, as in ECU, air/fuel ratios, sensors)
any sugestions for mufflers? i'm going to have to custom fab from the cat back. i'm looking for cost effectiveness as much as anything, i'm not going for max performance.

anybody else wanna put in their two cents, go ahead.
i'm going for a powerful highway car that will turn all kinda heads, not a dragster.

 

[nickb]

If your going for cost effectiveness and not as much power, tell your buddy to find another body for that motor where it will be put to good use. Throw some other motor under the hood of that caddy. my .02

 

[Quickturbosix]

Hmmm a 3.8 pulling 7000 pounds.

I'am thinking a rebuild with a few mods to the caddy motor might be the way to go.

Not saying the turbo motor wouldnt look cool in there.