Not wure where I am going with this one but I was watching a program about fords last night and was wondering.
Why didn't they pur overhead cams in the 3800 series I,II or III motor? Would this have been a good or bad idea in a performance sense? Have they ever done this before?
Like I said this is just a random question refering to fords sohc motors.

arent any type of sohc, or dohc engines overhead cams? Their 3800, pushrod design was just very great in durability. GM does have overhead cam engines though.

yup good ole push rod design. we make all our power down low, the 3.8 is a trans killer and a torque monster. the SOHC and the DOHC make all there power in the upper rmps range, high reving engines.

OHC and OHV engines both have their ups and downs. The Buick 3.8 which evolved in to the 3800 is used as an inexpensive, easy to fix, fuel efficient, clean burning, long lasting engine, that can be used on a variety of GM'* products. With the OHV style valvetrain, the engine makes a lot of power down low, making it great for long lasting daily drivers.

i'm not a fan of OHC engines. it'* just a personal thing for me, but there'* a few reasons -

they tend to lack in lower end torque... that'* more of an issue with the cam itself, but it'* common to OHC designs.

working on them instantly is harder, as you have to move the cams and timing belts out of the way.

they have a timing belt, instead of a chain. sucks when those break...

it makes for some strange-mother gaskets on the valve cover, that usually leak

it makes for taller engines... no need for that. it also makes them wider.

not to mention you need 4 cams on a dohc v-6 if you want to change your cams...

just my few thoughts for now...

It would be cool if the 3800 had a variable cam or a progressive profiled cam

doesn't really need it, imho. you have almost all of your torque available at idle (which is abuse on trannies, btw), and it has ample HP throughout the band (for the size motor it is, anyway). and in SIII getup, it is a ULEV engine... can't argue with that. it'* really an amazing engine all the way around...

[quote="mkaake"].
they have a timing belt, instead of a chain. sucks when those break...


I´ve had several OHC Cars with timing Chains. It´* usally only the 4cylinder engines that has a belt, MB for example has a chain in their 4cyl.

The chain is more reliable and last longer, but when it brakes it´* goodbye engine

Volvos Belt engines for example many of them take no damage what so ever when the belt brakes. Some get twisted Valves but that´* about it.

[quote="Painkiller"]Yeah, my Quad 4 has a timing chain. I agree they are harder to work on, but with a timing chain it makes it a lot better than with a belt for reliability. It doesn't matter if it has a belt or a chain, if it breaks, you have a pretty good chance of bending a valve or maybe even more. But this isn't any different then any other engine. If the timing chain breaks in a 3800, say bye to some of your valves/pistons.

Shawn

I grew up with pushrod and want to stick with pushrod. I don't think DOHC cars could take the abuse I dish out. They are hard to mod also. However, in 5 years or so I will get a STS spec-V because I must MUST stay blown. Unfortunately, the Norhtstar is DOHC.