Hey I'm a newbie here. Came up in the Oldsmobile Community myself but several years ago bought a 06 Buick Lucerne CX. Yeah it's the midget cousin to the big V8 Buick, but I've got a Need for Speed and the need for dependability. Seriously considering something of a old school sloppy swap. Wanting to find a small block Buick V8 (IDK even big block if it could fit) and depending on fitment adapt either to 4T65HD or 4T80E. Truth is I've been thinking of this for a while, and if that is absolutely impossible considering LS swap. Except for LS4 I know of course obviously everything else was rear wheel drive but the Riviera was a front-runner just like the Toro and Eldorado was it not? I just figured that since much like a Chevy small block, LS Oldsmobile, and Pontiac, they're all lightweight deep skirt blocks, even if there have not been components as yet made for such a swap that it would likely be physically possible. Unlike perhaps big stuff like a Chevy big block or Cadillac 472/500... Anyway I was just trying to see if anybody attempted such a swap even if not on a Lucerne if they've tried to do it on a LeSabre or a Park Avenue, since they're pretty much about the same size all around . Anyway assuming it were possible couldn't remember if the 4T65HD transmission has compatible bolt pattern, I know the 4T80E does not but that's what adapter plates are designed for. Just trying to figure out if it's remotely possible even with fabricating, or if I am just daydreaming and just need to get my hands on a Roadmaster to put REAL Buick V8 in... Myself I've always been a brand purist, my 83 Cutlass came with the V6 but put a 455 Rocket under the hood of it... Since I've had this car, it has had a blacked-out grille (plastidip) and a Grrrrr front plate oh, so kind of want some teeth under the hood to match its persona. Any help and reasonable feedback certainly appreciated. Don't be mean, but if I am sounding crazy tell me reasonably.
Anything is possible if you have the time, MONEY, and skillset. But what you're wanting to do is an awful tall order for all but the most skilled, and even then.... Also, Riviera's were not FWD until the 80's. Though they outwardly appeared somewhat similar to the old FWD big block Toronados, they were RWD. ETA: Treed by bad boatail.
In any case yes I know that's from that song, but mostly interested in figuring out if it's possible to do small block Buick V-8 such as the 300 or the 350. Figure with modest power it would still blow the doors off of most any front driven car or even rear driven car on the streets due to weight distribution and power to weight ratio. Although I guess I could do carburetor I have strongly leaning towards figuring out a way to adapt modern fuel injection to it, such as grafting 350 Chevy multi-port system on in its place just putting in the appropriate equipment sensors Etc. Or even adapting LS fuel injection to same motor or one of those turn key set up such as Holley DFI. Obviously certainly if I went LS a lot of that stuff already there and adaptable to existing Electronics and after doing some reading I know that there are few other options on front-wheel drive transmissions just not sure how viable those are for that sort of setup.
Pretty interesting idea. Anything can be done, as said before, with enough skill, time, and money. But in the end, consider whether it's worth putting that effort into a front wheel drive platform. Personally, I would never bother. I always thought a late model LeSabre would be fun to turbocharge, but in the end it would just break a lot of fragile FWD transmissions and not hook up well, not handle well, not really do anything well. You could turbo the 3800 and make a lot of horsepower... has been done many times over and would be a lot easier and more reliable than swapping to an old motor. There are a lot of parts for those motors: heads, cams, etc. Tune it with HP tuners. There was a Grand National I saw on another forum converted to the 3800 II / III (hybrid of parts) that went 11.38 the first time out with a turbo setup.
Get a Skyhawk. Build a solid bottom end, low compression 350 Buick with aggressive ported TA Perf aluminum heads, and then put a Procharger in it and scream like a little girl. It will be "more doable", and give you all the "cowbell" you need to cure them "gofast" blues. (and most of the lyrics are right here for your new song)
Okay thank you with that in mind, I'm trying to figure out if the HD version of 4t65, if other than the heavy-duty components if they interchange directly without any headaches. I didn't realize that Series 2 and Series 3 stuff would interchange very well. Even though Series 2 is the one with the supercharger available I know that those were plagued with problems at least from the factory, although aftermarket is certainly solved a lot of those, dilemma is finding components still in good shape that have not been chewed up and spit out. Even if I end up getting something like a Roadmaster definitely want to make this thing a bit more boss, some teeth under the hood to live up to the plate at the front. I live in Kentucky so emissions is not a serious consideration for me, hell I think the cat gutted on here a long time ago...
With a Buick 350? I don't think so. 3800 has the GM V6 bellhousing pattern, and the Buick has the old BOP pattern.
Definitely were cool in their time, but not really that fast. When the 3800 guys want to go really fast they almost always ditch the supercharger and go turbo.
Series II and III were basically the same motor. III has slightly better heads and stronger rods. Better (aluminum) intake than the II's plastic piece of junk.
In that instance what about adapter plate? I know on the olds Community a lot of guys use the 700 R4 mated to 350 or 455 rocket with adapter plate
