Help identifying engine V6 3.8

Discussion in 'Wet behind the ears??' started by Lacy, Aug 29, 2020.

  1. Lacy

    Lacy New Member

    Hello, so I won a storage unit auction and inside of the unit there was an engine. I got an arrow down to the 1980s era Buick V6 3.8 L out of Grand national. I have all of the numbers that are stamped all over it, I just don’t know which ones to differentiate between what and look up exactly what it is, and see if maybe it’s one of those rare ones! :) So thank you for your time and I hope do you hear from someone soon thank you!!



    the numbers are
    M/21
    B-1261377
    1254083 (big) 4
    25512236
    There is a T on top
    Also a C
    CFM
    K-23
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2020
  2. Nailhead in a 1967

    Nailhead in a 1967 Kell-Mnown Wember

    Casting.jpg

    According to Pat Ganahl's V-6 Performance book, the 1254083 block is a 77-79 block and only 77-79 heads will work on that block. 1980 and up heads are different.
     
    Lacy likes this.
  3. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    Thats probably a std 3.8L v6 motor of the years that Nailhead said.

    BUT...it's got an 4 bbl intake from the 4.1L Buick v6(80-84). The n/a 3.8L motors came with a 2 bbl intake. And you've also got a manual transmission flywheel which NO turbocharged 3.8L ever had. It also looks to have an aftermarket timing cover on it, so it *might* either be rebuilt or have had timing chain replaced. Manual transmission flywheels aren't too common.

    The carbureted turbocharged 3.8L motors from 1983 and earlier had a different intake setup on it.

    There may be some info on the www.gnttype.org website. There is a lot of photos of different blocks, heads, cranks, etc over there. You just need to go through all the pulldowns and look through everything. Mostly deals with the turbo motors, but the turbo'd motors blocks and heads were the same as the n/a motors. Only differences were the pistons, cranks, and cams on the turbo motors.

    Pull the heads off and get a pic of the pistons after you clean the top of them and pull the oil pan and a rod cap off and get a good clear pic of the crankshaft rod journal and I'll tell you if you've got a turbo crank in it(stronger than a n/a 3.8L crank).

    What's the number on the Quadrajet?
     

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