Hey all I just got a 1988 Buick Custom Wagon with a 3.8L V6 231. It seems that this engine is the same that comes in Turbo GN's, and several other Buicks/GM cars. Is this engine pretty much identical to the Turbo GN engine? Is it easy to swap a turbo from a GN to my wagon? Are engine internals swapable and will headers/intakes/pulleys/accessories made for GN's or whatever car that has the 3.8L V6 fit on my wagon?
Have a 3.8L V6 231 Buick wagon
- Thread starter jaxle
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what car does that come from? I'm a comlete newb when it comes to Buicks haha. I'm most knowledgeable about Honda's and other imports.
I plan on using my civic for autox and the wagon for a drag racing sleeper
and for transporting mt bikes and snowboards.
I plan on using my civic for autox and the wagon for a drag racing sleeper
and for transporting mt bikes and snowboards.Probably would be expensive tho, I was kind of hoping I could take a turbo off a junked GN or something like that and put it on the wagon.
Any suggestions for cheaper mods? A mandrel bent exhaust would definately help it breathe. I hear Buick headers are real restrictive, what are my options there?
Any suggestions for cheaper mods? A mandrel bent exhaust would definately help it breathe. I hear Buick headers are real restrictive, what are my options there?
If you have an 88 FWD wagon, its the 3800, NOT a TR 3.8. The ONLY thing they share is displacement.
You have a 3800 Series 1, about 165HP, nice little engine. Runs forever if taken care of, my grandmas 1989 Lesabre had 192,000 on it with only valve cover gaskets and a timing chain and the trans let out. Motor still running strong.
Don't bother with the effort of any kind of turbo system. If you cannot afford the money to buy a TR, you cannot afford to install a turbo, have the headers made, and reprogram the ECM and fueling to work with a turbo.
Put a K&N in it and drive it till it drops, saving your money for a TR.
JMO!
If you have the money and bought it because you really like Century Wagons
then you will want a supercharger, wiring, and intake setup off a supercharged 3800. Never done it, but you will want to see if a series 2 setup bolts to a series 1 block.
You have a 3800 Series 1, about 165HP, nice little engine. Runs forever if taken care of, my grandmas 1989 Lesabre had 192,000 on it with only valve cover gaskets and a timing chain and the trans let out. Motor still running strong.
Don't bother with the effort of any kind of turbo system. If you cannot afford the money to buy a TR, you cannot afford to install a turbo, have the headers made, and reprogram the ECM and fueling to work with a turbo.
Put a K&N in it and drive it till it drops, saving your money for a TR.
JMO!
If you have the money and bought it because you really like Century Wagons
then you will want a supercharger, wiring, and intake setup off a supercharged 3800. Never done it, but you will want to see if a series 2 setup bolts to a series 1 block.yea im buying it for 350$ from my dad for the cargo room (transporting bikes, snowboards, etc.) and i just figured if i can get sum cheap power out of it (like for civics you can put together a junkyard turbo for 500-1000) i might as well. would have been tons of fun at the track too haha.
so is there any aftermarket support for this engine? it has 72,000 so its got a lot of life left atleast
The napa catalog lists my car as having a 3.8L V6 231 C.I.D. so this is the 3800?
so is there any aftermarket support for this engine? it has 72,000 so its got a lot of life left atleast
The napa catalog lists my car as having a 3.8L V6 231 C.I.D. so this is the 3800?
Vendor Defendor
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if you want to go the S/C route, and whatever else about the FWD 3800 motor, you probably should check out the 3800 section of this site:
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8
i am sure someone over there can tell you whats going on. i know there is a guy somewhere on here, i dont know his name off the top of my head, but he has a LC2 powered FWD Buick wagon.... maybe you can find him and ask him what he did to get it to work.
any about the stock headers, they are just fine stock, you dont need to change those until your running tens. they do have a faulty weld though, that tends to crack on the driverside header, but it can be fixed by anyone who knows how to weld.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8
i am sure someone over there can tell you whats going on. i know there is a guy somewhere on here, i dont know his name off the top of my head, but he has a LC2 powered FWD Buick wagon.... maybe you can find him and ask him what he did to get it to work.
any about the stock headers, they are just fine stock, you dont need to change those until your running tens. they do have a faulty weld though, that tends to crack on the driverside header, but it can be fixed by anyone who knows how to weld.
Pronto
No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot.
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http://www.thrashercharged.com/
http://www.c-ya-racing.com/
Here's a start. You might be able to find some parts for the n/a 3800s.
http://www.c-ya-racing.com/
Here's a start. You might be able to find some parts for the n/a 3800s.
Thanks for the info guys. Thrasher unfortunately does not develop anything for the 3800 series I which apparently i have 
whats the torque rating on this engine?
edit: LC2 is the 3800 series I? SC or NA? L36 and L67 are NA and SC accordingly correct?
whats the torque rating on this engine?
edit: LC2 is the 3800 series I? SC or NA? L36 and L67 are NA and SC accordingly correct?
Vendor Defendor
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the LC2 is the 3.8L (231ci) turbo motor that is found in 86/87 turbo buicks, more info on the LC2:
http://gnttype.org/maint/turbox.html
and a lot of questions that you may have can probably be answered there also, at http://www.gnttype.org/
good luck
Basically it seems that there is pretty much no resources for the 3800 series I engines, I've read everywhere including gnttype.org. Thanks a lot for all the replies though guys. I'm thinking I'll have to fab my own mandrel bent exhaust and CAI system and leave it at that until I can swap in a Series II or something else.
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