On another forum there is a topic about the long history of the 3.8 and as usual a few 3.8 haters had to chime in throwing insults. The subject of lower end failure in L67 has popped up. I have never heard of this, has anyone heard of any Series II failures besides the stupid plastic intake ?

I have never heard of a "low end failure" on an L67. The only problem I really hear about these engines are from people running insane amounts of boost or having a bunch of knock, that chunk pistons. But in stock form, a properly maintained L67 will last over 200,000 miles. Sometimes the bearings on the supercharger go bad, but again, a properly maintained */C will out last the engine.

The GM 3.8 is an engine that has been engineered and improved upon for decades. They just don't 'break,' unless you really don't take care of it.

The only weakness is in the transmissions ... only if you modify the engine though.

The only real failure that you hear about in the low end of the 3800 is from coolant getting into the oil. (whether it be from bad intake gaskets, or the cracked intake plenum.)

I think that'* just hater talk. Unless they were refering to the cylinder heads. GM changed the castings to the cylinder heads one year and they were prone to cracking. But I don't think this all that big of an issue since I have never seen it pop up here.

Some 97 GP'* had nasty Cyl heads from what i remember seeing.

Just wait till they talk about L67'* on Fire...

I think one performance weakness is the upper RPM power.

Only reason for the 3800 to have lower end problems is if they try to rev it past 6800 rpm.
Most 3800 haters have ricers with Japanese engines that have to rev past 6800 rpm to make serious power.

Also you have to keep in mind there will be errors in maching, and manufacturing the engine.. and various engine parts. Nothing is perfect in this world.


-justin

I think that if there was a real problem we would have heard about it here for shure !

Our engines in good working order can take insane amounts of boost (witness upwards to 30lbs in some applications) however the minute you get any knock that isnt countered by the PCM our pistons will shatter The weakness in these cars, as always, is the trans.

heh, yep, so true.


-justin