I'm happy with my Delco coil. That and the strut brace top my list of excellent mods.

It sounds like I DO have the magnavox ignition.. It is a Vin C engine, the coils are mounted right close to the rad, and next to the alternator.

What might have happened, is it was made in spring of 1990 (the LeSabre), and sold as a 91. Perhaps very early.

I know its DEFINITLY a 3800. Its got the balance shaft, and even says 3800 on top of it, lol.

Also, the way the plug wires are mounted? There is one bank, for the front cylinders, and there is another bank, on the other side of the coils, for the rear cylinders. Left, and right banks. Plus, its all squarey looking, lol. Has one connector in front of it, with a screw to hold it in place.

So, perhaps a 97'* olds, bonne, lesabre, with a series 2 3800 would work eh? Even better than a 92-96 or what?

Thanks a bunch!

Any '92 and up 3800 delco ICM and coil will work fine. If you want a hotter coil, look for a */C Series II, but it'* really not necessary. All of the other coils are the same part #. Heck, the coils can be from a lumina 3.1. I should know, that'* what mine are from.

"Well, that ain't good."

Pulled an ICM/coil pack today at the wrecking yard. Donor vehicle was a '94 GM with a 3800 engine. (my car is a '91 SSE) The ICM plate studs matched the bracket in my car. Hooked it all up (connector and plug wires), hooked up the battery, and gave it a crank. The engine fired up and ran smoothly; although lacking some throttle response. After a minute, the fans started cycling and the engine sputtered. Then it all died. Nothing. nada. No electricals when keyed on. Battery voltage and connections fine. Even threw back on the old ICM for kicks ~still nothing.

What could the donor ICM have shorted out? I hope I only have to check the fuses and links, and not replace the ECM. Any thoughts and/or words?

Won't have time to work on it for a few days.

when you turn the key, does anything happen? if not, i would suggest checking the alternator. my dads bonneville did this one time. car just died as if someone had shut off the key. opened up the hood because he smelled something burning. sure enough, there was the alternator, just smoldering away. he put a new alt on in the parking lot<of carls jr i might ad> and started the car right up after the new alt was in. no jump, no need.

When you swapped ICM/coils, did you mess with the ground cable going from the battery to just under the ICM/coil assembly? I know that on mine, I had to loosen that before I could get one of the nuts off. If you did the same and didn't tighten it, maybe that'* the problem...

I agree that it does almost sound like an alternator death. Odd that it would happen right after you change out the coils though. You could just try disconnecting the alternator to test that theory - I think...

yeah. 1991 will have the Magnavox unit, as my build date of February '91 agrees.

disconnected everything and started anew from square one. After swapping everything out and reinstalling / reconnecting, it fired back to life. Still a minor stumble off idle with the donor ICM/coil pack, but not through the rpm range as with the old magnavox pack and ICM.

If I could just solve the dang alarm problem, I'd be as good as new.