Hi guys, haven't posted in awhile, but I still have my '96 Olds 88, now at 188,000 running strong.

I need your help with a non-GM question. I have a '95 Isuzu Rodeo, and I'm dreaming of dropping a N/A Series 2 3800 in it. Isuzu used to put the GM 3.1 in early Rodeos, so if one uses a tranny from that vintage you can bolt up the FWD 3800 to it.

The problem is that the engine sits really close to the firewall, so I'd have to do somethign with the intake. What I'm wondering is I could take the 3800 intake off of a Camaro or Firebird and swap it on mine so that the TB is at the front of the engine.

Would that be something really difficult to do?

Thanks

I am not sure if it would be a direct bolt on application. Do you already have a L36? if not, get one from an F-body and that should make your swap more possible.

But wouldn't bell housing pattern be different on a FWD 3800 versus a RWD 3800?
The key is that a FWD 3800 will bolt up to the tranny Isuzu used behind the GM 3.1

I'm wondering if I can swap over the F body'* intake manifold and injectors on to a FWD 3800 motor...

No. the RWD and FWD 3800 are the same bellhousing pattern, as it is the same block.

So you could theoretically ake a FWD 3800 and replace a RWD 3800 motor in a Camaro, if you could make custom mounts and all?

It will make it much easier to grab one from an F-body. Nearly everything on the exterior of a FWD 3800 is different.

Now...lets see here. It is a good idea to stay N/A with this simply because of the supercharger'* configuration on these cars. No idea why they never did a supercharged engine on the f bodies, that would have been insanely cool.

But now that I think of it...this could get interesting. The 3800 is gonna be alot bigger in there because its a 90* V6, not a 60 like the 3.1. Seems to me like it might be easier to go with the 3.4.

But first things first.

Is it a manual or automatic? 2WD or 4WD

I don't think the bellhousing is the same, and I'm pretty sure you'd have to make your own custom mounts. Not insanely hard, but you'd better know how to weld.

So far, I'm thinking camaro/firebird 3400 maybe 3800, but with transmission..and no idea how compatible it'll be if it is 4WD

woah woah. hold up.

Maybe. Maybe not.

I THINK, i could be wrong...that the heads are different on a RWD S2 3800. The block is the same, but pretty much everything else is different IIRC.

I don't know them all that well, but I'm sure you'd be better off starting with a RWD 3800. You'll have to change less mounts, no manifold swap, and no oil pan swap.

I'm looking for some good RWD 3800 pics

You can take the upper and lower intake manifolds from the rwd and put it on the fwd L36. Turbo guys do it and I have done it to my buddies Regal.
The bolt pattern is the same.

The accessories, oil pan, along with the intake and exhaust manifolds are different.

If you swap the intake manifolds, can you use the FWD injectors or do you have to swap those over from the RWD too?


If the bellhousing is the same for the FWD and RWD 3800 then yes, it would be much simpler to just get an F body 3800 and use that.
It will fit because someone took a FWD supercharged 3800 and put it in an Amigo, which is the same chasis as the Rodeo.
http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...&Number=611201 is the link if you want to see it step by step.

He took a motor out of a '02 GTP But he had to do a TON of custom work on the intake to make it clear the firewall.+

looks like a custom IC and a lightning SC. you may want to see if he can have the person make you the IC plate if you plan on going that route, as it seems to be the best (although expensive) route