Should I change the size of engine
#13
Senior Member
True Car Nut
- how much work you want to do
- your skill level doing it
- how much downtime you can afford for your car to have for the swap
- how much downtime you can afford later while you sort out the quirks
- how much money you want to throw at it (whatever number you have after careful planning should be tripled, unless all of your donor parts are going to be completely overhauled)
This isn't a simple swap. Are there more complicated ones? Yes, but this isn't like swapping a 327 for a 350 in a square-body pickup. From what I can tell you are one timing cover, a couple of belts, I suggest an alternator, and some odds and ends away from having a pretty good car back running reliably again.
Either way: we'll help where we can and are interested in how this comes out.
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Mattyhewson25 (01-12-2018)
#14
Senior Member
True Car Nut
#15
Junior Member
Thread Starter
So a couple weeks ago one of my friends told me to have the heads checked for any damage. So following his advice I dropped of the motor at a local repair shop to have the heads inspected and got the news that they had damage. However I do now of were I can get my hand on 1995 regal (same body frame and transmission) with only around 25,000 more miles on it and in need of a new head gasket. It is a 3800L. I do have time and a little money with a little nowhow.
#16
Senior Member
True Car Nut
I would be concern with any 3800 needing a head gasket, because they typically don't fail.
If you are going to swap, it may be fun to look at a 96 Regal, those had series 2 engines, good for over 200hp
If you are going to swap, it may be fun to look at a 96 Regal, those had series 2 engines, good for over 200hp
#17
Retired
Agreed, 3800 head gaskets don't fail, unless you over heat them.
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2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
Retired Administrator
2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
#19
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Rebuilding can be hit or miss with these engines, and they very rarely have the same magic they did factory built. Given that it is equally possible there may be a cracked head too.
Best bet is typically finding a used motor in that scenario. The donor could get you one block away from the 3.8 swap I suspect however.
Best bet is typically finding a used motor in that scenario. The donor could get you one block away from the 3.8 swap I suspect however.
#20
Senior Member
True Car Nut
So now you'd have a 3800 that had been really hot, now you need to worry about warped heads and possible scored and rusted cylinder walls (from coolant entering cylinders, maybe contaminated oil (from coolant bleeding past pistons into crankcase, etc. etc.
You'd be better off finding any other 3800 in a junkyard, checking for even compression, and calling it good.
What kind of damage?
I don't like quoting myself, but these questions will really help:
- how much work you want to do
- your skill level doing it
- how much downtime you can afford for your car to have for the swap
- how much downtime you can afford later while you sort out the quirks
- how much money you want to throw at it (whatever number you have after careful planning should be tripled, unless all of your donor parts are going to be completely overhauled)
- your skill level doing it
- how much downtime you can afford for your car to have for the swap
- how much downtime you can afford later while you sort out the quirks
- how much money you want to throw at it (whatever number you have after careful planning should be tripled, unless all of your donor parts are going to be completely overhauled)
Is the current transaxle in good shape? Would sure hate to have not asked then have it fail on you two weeks after completion with a more-powerful and torquier engine on top of it.
Not trying to discourage. It'* just I've seen several of these end up in a junkyard halfway done because there are so many surprise details.
Last edited by CathedralCub; 04-09-2018 at 04:03 PM. Reason: Changed a word for clarity