Alright, so I have read threads with people asking about adding a supercharger to their stock 3.8 and then others slamming a 2 ton weight over their heads because of how non-profitable it would be. I am in a slightly different situation.

I was going down the highway in my 1995 Park Avenue Ultra and something happened subtly- slight rpm blip then everything back to normal. Then I looked at the gauges and noticed the oil pressure was unusually low (not quite into the red zone, and I had just replaced the oil pan gasket/oil/oil filter). So I pulled off the highway and after I came to a stop (or as I was almost stopped, I don't remember exactly), the motor started knocking. I don't know what exactly this could be, but I realize that my motor is junk or needs a rebuild.

Here is my question: would it be possible to get a NA series 1, put the supercharger on it, then put it in my originally supercharged car, and how much else needs to be swapped between the engines to keep it reliable and to even make the SC fit? (Also what is most likely the problem with the engine.)

NOTE: I can't afford much more than $400 and finding a good S1 SC motor in a junkyard is unrealistic, but I can get a NA S1.

Hey, I have a '95 Park Avenue Ultra as well! Mine had a motor knock and I recently replaced the motor (lifter went out and took cam with it). Anyway, I would NOT recommend putting a supercharger on an NA engine and running it.

The NA and */c blocks are the same, but the valve-train is different. The */c engines have built up pistons as well.

Not to mention the compression ratio, */c is at 8.5:1 and NA is like 9.5:1.

i got my SC engine for $550, complete engine w/ supercharger. Good luck my friend.

The main reason it is greatly discouraged is the bottom end. The supercharged engines are built up to handled the increased compression. If you drop in a NA bottom end, with your supercharger setup bolted on, it honestly would probably not last very long.

Maybe see what it would cost for a rebuild?

I was trying to find pictures of what happened when someone did this with a Series 1, but came up short. It shredded the bearings pretty bad within only a few thousand miles.

Series 2 handles it a little better, but we find ourselves in a different boat :(

I hate to say it, but $400 may put you in bare minimum beater car territory, if you put $400 in to an NA motor, you may not see it again.

I don't mean to beat you over the head with it, just share why everyone says what they say.

If I had $400 to spend to make the problem go away, the car would be parked until a proper engine can go in to it. $400 would go to a cheapo beater, or try and find a SC engine. I think $400 going to a NA motor would be money you would have to spend again in short order.

Travis,
heres the link to the History of 3.8 You will find it interesting as im sure anyone else would just as i did myself.
This also shows how different are the regular NA or SC engines are and why people recommending not to add SC on the NA motor.
Buick V6 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks, I guess I will just have to wait to find a good deal. By the way, how many miles were on that engine?

btw what state are you from Travis?

I got the engine from a '95 Riviera with 140,000 miles on it. Stock oil pressure and compression.

Visit car-part.com and see what'* available in your area. You can find what a lotta junkyards have.

I still hear about how people have done the top swap before and are still running those engines today. Matter of fact, Danthurs has a friend that had a turbo installed on his L36 with no other internal upgrades, and is also still running to this date.

Travis, are you sure your 95 is a Series 1? Last I knew, most platforms got the new Series 2 L36 that came out in 95, while a few platforms got the Series 1 */C'd engine. The L67 Series 2 */C'd engine did not come out into regular production until 1996.

This might be a reason why the 2 ton weight is dropped. When top swapping with cars 1997 and newer, its possible to re-tune the PCM so the engine isn't running like a wild horse at factory settings. 1995 and 1996, it becomes very difficult to tune the engines. Last I knew, HPTuners was the only one that could touch the 97 and up Bonneville'*. While EFILive can't.

Michigan- Grand Rapids area, I have 2 LKQ'* and one Weller by me that I go to for U Wrench It stuff

First of all, I realize most 95s have the series 2, but the supercharged versions still have the series 1 (possibly because they did not yet have the supercharged series 2 ready for production by that time. Also, what all is involved with the top swap? Any wiring changes or programming/tuning needed?