Performance, Brainstorming & Tuning Talk about modifications, or anything else associated with performance enhancements. Have a new idea for performance/reliability? Post it here. No idea is stupid! (please use Detailing and Appearance for cosmetic ideas)

GN aluminum Heads

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-19-2004, 11:28 PM
  #1  
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
 
sc3800fiero's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sc3800fiero is on a distinguished road
Default GN aluminum Heads

Just curious has anyone made custom headers and ran a set of aluminum Buick GN heads on their series1? i know the 89 turbo T/A had the GN motor with the 3800 fwd heads. Only problem I really see is the GN has square exhaust ports but with the right flanges you could run them. Friend of mine had a GN and we got to talking he said he knew a guy that used the series1 heads on his GN. just wondering if anyone here has or thought about using Gn heads?
sc3800fiero is offline  
Old 10-20-2004, 02:14 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
 
projectheavytouring's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Nanaimo BC
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
projectheavytouring is on a distinguished road
Default

GN heads will NOT fit on the 3800'* .. the 3.8 FWD (pre 3800) has a set of heads that are between the GN and Turbo T/A... but the GN / Turbo T/A / FWD 3.8 heads won't get anywhere near close to fitting on a 3800

Sorry :(
projectheavytouring is offline  
Old 10-20-2004, 03:25 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
 
DrJay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DrJay is on a distinguished road
Default

yeah I had the same dream one night...crushed
DrJay is offline  
Old 10-20-2004, 01:32 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
 
BonneMeMN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 15,928
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
BonneMeMN is on a distinguished road
Default

Solution? Swap in the turbo 3.8
BonneMeMN is offline  
Old 10-20-2004, 02:33 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
Steve LS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Steve LS is on a distinguished road
Default

Im not experienced in working on any of these engines as all my cars run fine and have not been modified but I've done alot of reading over the years because I too wondered about interchangability. Problem that takes so long to learn is that all these Buick V6 engines had so many changes done over the decades. FWD engine was not like RWD engine. The GN did not have aluminum heads. There are Stage II aluminum heads available but are aftermarket. Early FWD & RWD Buick was off center crank. With the 3800 LN3-C in 1988 came the on center crank and a different valve and port arrangment. For the RWD "Stage" engines they were available in both on center and off center blocks. RWD block will not bolt up to FWD tranny unless its the old 79-85 Riv,Toro, Eldo tranny in which the engine was mounted "normal" not transverse and none of these post 85 FWD cars have long enough nose to mount engine in such a way.
Steve LS is offline  
Old 10-20-2004, 07:35 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
 
projectheavytouring's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Nanaimo BC
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
projectheavytouring is on a distinguished road
Default

actually the FWD 3.8 blocks CAN be put into the RWD car.. same way the */c 3800'* are swapped into V6 F bodies... I'm not exactly sure HOW they do it ... but there is a bellhousing for the 200R4 that accepts the fwd 3.8/3800 block ... probably needs custom made engine mounts... but it can be done and has been done.

it'* kinda funny this was "brought" up as DrJay and I have a small on off discussion going about the orphaned Vin 3 3.8 probably having more potenial then the L67


the actual "BUICK" V6 died in 1989 with the turbo T/A the rest are all Corporate GM 3800 V6'*

it'* kinda funny though that the best heads of the bunch ... are on the orphaned LG3-3 HO
projectheavytouring is offline  
Old 10-21-2004, 08:16 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
Steve LS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Steve LS is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by projectheavytouring
actually the FWD 3.8 blocks CAN be put into the RWD car.. same way the */c 3800'* are swapped into V6 F bodies... I'm not exactly sure HOW they do it ... but there is a bellhousing for the 200R4 that accepts the fwd 3.8/3800 block ... probably needs custom made engine mounts... but it can be done and has been done.

I said the RWD engine would not bolt up to the post 1985 FWD tranny

"it'* kinda funny this was "brought" up as DrJay and I have a small on off discussion going about the orphaned Vin 3 3.8 probably having more potenial then the L67 "

The LG3 does not have more potential than the L67. Its no where near technically equal and has a much weaker lower end.

" the actual "BUICK" V6 died in 1989 with the turbo T/A the rest are all Corporate GM 3800 V6'*"

The 90* FWD 3.0, 3.8. 3300 and 3800 V6'* were BUICK V6'*. It was peged the "corporate engine" because all of BOP used it but it was still a product of Buick engineering. Much the same as the Olds 403, 350 and 307 out lived the other BOP V8'*. It became a corporate engine but it was still the Olds V8. The Buick V6 did not become anything else until GM Powertrain was created in which all divisions remaining engine resources were brought under one department. At which time all engines became GM powertrain. I believe this was in 95 or 96 or even 97. So SBC isnt even really small block Chevy in reality. The 90* Buick V6 engines will always be Buick engines in my eyes. They created and developed it and have not recieved the credit they deserve for doing so.

it'* kinda funny though that the best heads of the bunch ... are on the orphaned LG3-3 HO
Says who ?

Dont get me wrong here, the LN7 and LG2 & 3 are my favorite B U I C K V6'*, but thats because they are the root of the FWD tree. However I fully realize the engine came a long long way since 1985. Lets not start alot of folk lore here.

Maybe I stand corrected, I still think the FWD crank will not take what the RWD turbo crank will. I believe the turbo block is heavier too. Anyhow cool thred here http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/056615.html
Steve LS is offline  
Old 10-26-2004, 09:45 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
 
matt95ssei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada, ON
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
matt95ssei is on a distinguished road
Default

The GN engine is so beautiful. That is truely my dream car of all time. I love the way the heads look on that thing, so perfect !!!
matt95ssei is offline  
Old 11-15-2004, 08:40 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
Steve LS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Steve LS is on a distinguished road
Default

I just edited my last post. Found this Fiero link a few weeks back and just getting to putting it up. I figure its worthwhile to bring this topic back from the ageing.

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/056615.html
Steve LS is offline  
Old 11-16-2004, 06:26 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
 
jachin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: springfield il
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
jachin is on a distinguished road
Default

U could put GN valves in the head of a bonneville, however u have verrrrrrrry little room to do it, i think its within .01 inch or something like that. A former member has done it before
jachin is offline  


Quick Reply: GN aluminum Heads



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:18 PM.