Picked up the transplant engine today
 

The "new" engine is out of '98 Olds Intrigue. Look like there are going to be quite a few parts I'll have to switch around, but it'll be worth it.

yes that is a W body i believe, but good luck with the swap

Our other car is a 98 intrigue,I love the handling and steering response compaired the Bonneville,Im not sure what the difference is in the intigue's Pcm but man she pulls 8) .

since the engine was just sitting on a stand, I decided it would be a great time to do some gasket inspection. Turns out the lower was absolute junk! You wouldn't believe how much of it was broken or even missing. All this at only 64,000 miles! I'd hate to see what my bonnie one looks like :roll:

The Intregue's 3800 II only has 195hp vs. 205hp in the Bonny, 88, and Park Av. I don't know why but its true.

well, it's the same engine, so maybe it's all in the pcm? more agressive programming in the bonnevilles?

Its might be a difference in another area, the gears or tranny possibly, but she definately Pulls hard

something a gm dealer would know? Maybe I'll give them a call and see what they come up with.

I'm pretty sure it's because of a more restrictive intake and exhaust.
Since it's a W body it should have a U bend and a not so friendly downpipe. And the intake/airbox is cramped for space?

Ohh yeah, do not throw out the plug on the 95 upper intake manifold where the map sensor should be. The 98 comes w/ a map sensor but your 95 dosen't.
I know it was probably on here not too long ago, but why do you need a new engine?

""
195 vs 205
it's an exaust thing. good call on the map cap...

yeah id say its definetely exhaust, thats why GPs are rated at 200 and Bonnevilles are rated at 205...a friend of mine has a 98 Intrigue and it also seems to rev up a heck of alot faster than mine, of course shes not pushin 150 grand on the odometer either.

The engine is actually going in my '96 (mom's car is the '95). I'm replacing the engine for a few reasons:

Had the upper gasket leak. Fixed.
Didn't fix the lower gasket...coolant still in oil.
Meantime, tensioner goes out.
One day, start car, oil filter gasket blows out. Change oil...no oil pressure (pump?)
Car has clocked 144,000 miles.

To me, it was just more worth it to replace than rebuild.

Some Intrigues got the 200 or 205 hp motor, but the standard 3800 in the Intrigue, GP SE, and Regal only had 195 due to the TB being smaller, and PCM tuning.

Throttlebody being smaller and pcm tuning???? where did you get your information from?

From what the GP guys have said, the 3800 used in the GP SE, Intrigue, and Regal LS (?), all had a different/smaller TB, and a different PCM.
Basically hear-say.
Truth - :?:

I'm 100% sure that the throttlebody is not smaller and i'd be suprised to see much diffrent tuning on the pcm.