Hey Guys, Please bare with me, I have some questions...

[BloodyKisses]

Hey guys, I have a bunch of questions, maybe you all can help me out. i have an 87 Formula 350 and badly want to swap in a Turbo 3.8.

I have done a search on this site and found some very valuable info, but still have some questions. First off, were there any differences year to year in the GN powerplants that would effect a swap? Are Buick T-Types different from GN's powerplant wise? I am trying to figure out what would make a good donor car and if any particular powerplants are better for a swap and if some are more powerful than others.

I know about the differences between the TTA's and the GN 3.8's and was stoked to hear that basically deleting the A/c would allow the engine to fit in the bay. My A/C doesn't work now, so I don't mind that at all.

What I would be looking to do is to find an entire drivetrain from a car, basically a complete motor, tranny, rear end etc.

Not counting the motor/tranny, what does the average swap cost? i will be doing all the labor, so I am basically talking about all the other misc. things that need to be done, like a custom down pipe, drive shaft etc?

If someone can give me a list of basically what is needed for a swap, it would be a tremendous help.

Can any of you guys shed some light on these things for me? Especially preferred powerplants, differences between GN's and T-Types, differences by year and the parts needed for a swap.

Thanks for all your help in advance, hope this is the right forom for these questions.

 

[ONLYA6]

Check out www.gnttype.org and read, read, read!


Jacob

 

[FlyinGN]

generally the 86 and 87 TR and GN drivelines are identical..

 

[JToups386]

Actually, there's nothing general about it. The 86 & 87 are identical, other than the fact that GM decided to claim an additional 10 HP out of the 87, although we all know that their numbers were way under rated, as to avoid shaming the Corvettes on paper.
It doesn't matter what trim it comes out of, if it's a 3.8 liter Turbo motor from an 86 or 87 Regal-anything, then it's what you want!

 

[Intercooler]

Not real up on the 86's but didn't they have just a tad bit compression or maybe chip that lost them those 10 ponies?

 

[JToups386]

Maybe...
I'd have to look at one of the Poston books, or the likes. I just was always amused with the ratings on these cars, and the fact that they caused such internal turmoil within the ranks of GM. The Chevy/Corvette Engineers were infuriated that the little grandma's 6 cylinder sedan was able to smoke GM's premier showcase car!
I honestly don't know if you could even remotely feel the difference between the two. I've had an 86, and two 87's, but the real difference in my 86 was the fact that it came with a single-track (peg leg) rear end, which absolutely sucked! I had one of the rare ones that someone had actually optioned that way. (insane)
However, I will say that I was always able to run alot of boost with my 86 on pump gas, which may support your lower compression ratio theory.
As for getting one to transplant, the difference would be null, and therefore I suggest him grabbing whatever can be found at the right price.

 

[Ryan87GN]

I think there may be some truth to this lower compression with 86's theory. My brother could run 18-19lbs. of boost on 93 octane w/ no knock (on the stock turbo) in his Wh1.

HTH,
Ryan

 

[kenmosher]

Identical compression and internals. Different oil cooler lines (87s were braided and 86 was rubber), slight differences here and there, but nothing major in compression, deck height, cams, rods, cranks, headgaskets, valves, ...

I've got an 86 and an 87 motor in the basement and everything specs out the same.