X2 cool vid, never seen it before and it actually explains the design features of the 3800 V6 in detail! I noticed in the redesigned cyl. head of the 3800, the exhaust side looks exactly like the 455 Stage 2, the exhaust valve is exposed directly to the port opening, theres no "runner" as in the standard 455 head, or 350
Did they change the bell housing in that engine? Is possible to put one in a rear wheel drive car? I guess that's the base engine they used in the supercharged Riviera in the mid 90s. Ideas?
Yes the bell housing is different on the 3800 front wheel drive engines. It is not easy to make a front wheel drive 3800 convert to rear wheel. You can find some rear wheel drive versions of the 3800 though in the Camaro and firebirds if I remember correctly. I had a lot of fun with my 1997 Buick park avenue ultra with the supercharged 3800...
I believe the 3800 uses the GM small corporate bellhousing. That would be the same one used by the 60 degree V6. The basic engine is the same whether used in FWD or RWD applications with some difference in ancillaries. It will bolt up to the small pattern 700r4 or manual bellhousing. Jim
It's been years since I looked into it but I remember something about the engine mount locations being different on the FWD versions...
It seems like that would be the case but they offered this engine in Camaros in the late 90s so there must be a way to do it.
Yes the RWD versions Woukd be an easier swap into another RWD vehicle... Here is more info: http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/supercharged-3800-swap-148102.html
I don't think there is ANY difference in the block itself, from what I've been able to find out. All 3800's use the small corp bell (S10, 3.1, 3.4 FWD, RWD) so no difference there. I've not seen any indication that mount bosses were changed. However, the intakes are different and the front cover could be different. The accessory drives also are different, and I do not know if crankshaft snout length was changed, it could have been. Jim
I've always wondered if any body can tell me the weight difference between the old 3.8 that was used in the regal and the 3800 I've read that the 3800 was stronger but as heavy as a small block chevy. Also which one have the best heads for performance
There's no way it'd weigh what a SBC does. That's just ridiculous. The differences depend on which series it is. Here's some basic info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V6_engine
