What 3800 Series Is This?

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What 3800 Series Is This? by rehoward

Started on	: 10-15-2023 02:45 AM
Replies	: 7 (204 views)
Last post by	: MarkS on 10-26-2023 11:17 AM

rehoward
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Report this Post10-15-2023 02:45 AM

I found this 3800 but the owner knows nothing about it. I assume it is a 3800 V6 but in my searches
at wrecking yards, I haven't seen one quite like this one. What is striking is the aluminum doghouse-style
intake and finned valve covers. Is this just an older series of 3800? See pics.

Randy

[This message has been edited by rehoward (edited 10-15-2023).]

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jelly2m8
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Report this Post10-15-2023 04:41 AM

Series I, not a terrible motor but no gain to swap that in, it's the first iteration of the fabled Series 2 and although reliable, well known for ignition issues. I would pass on it and go for a series II or Series III and have a Rock solid reliable engine.

EDIT:

that's not a 3800 if memory serves me correct, it's a 3.0L or a 3.3 L i think the Buick 3.0L made less HP than the Fiero's 2.8L

[This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 10-15-2023).]

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rehoward
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Report this Post10-15-2023 05:03 AM

Well, it's a nice looking motor anyway. I thought it was an early one. What I am really looking for is an
SC motor as they are reported to have all the goodies, steel crank, sintered steel rods, hypoeutectic pistons.
Maybe other stuff I am not aware of. My plans are to drop an SC motor into the car and run the SC until I
can get a turbocharger put together. Then replace the SC with the turbo.

Is there a particular year or model of a factory supercharged engine I should be looking for?

Thanks for the help.

Randy

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Raydar
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Report this Post10-17-2023 11:42 AM

Everything that I've ever heard suggested '98 or later. I'm sure that someone will jump in who knows the engine better than I do, however.
There are lots of variations on the Series II or Series III theme.

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Darth Fiero
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Report this Post10-25-2023 08:47 PM

Click Here to visit Darth Fiero's HomePage

quote

Originally posted by rehoward:

That is NOT even considered a "3800" engine.

That is a 3.8L FWD V6 that predates the "3800" series of engines. Most likely a 1986-87 FWD 3.8L that won't have a roller cam or balance shaft (like 1988-newer 3800 engines received).

Since they don't have a balance shaft, they tend to run rough (read up on 90 deg V6 engines). I think these SFI 3.8L V6 FWD engines were only rated at 150hp max.

-Ryan

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More is more. Less is not enough.

Custom GM OBD1 & OBD2 Tuning | Engine Conversions & more | www.gmtuners.com

[This message has been edited by Darth Fiero (edited 10-25-2023).]

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Darth Fiero
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Report this Post10-25-2023 09:01 PM

quote

Originally posted by rehoward:

What I am really looking for is an SC motor as they are reported to have all the goodies, steel crank, sintered steel rods, hypoeutectic pistons.
Maybe other stuff I am not aware of. My plans are to drop an SC motor into the car and run the SC until I
can get a turbocharger put together. Then replace the SC with the turbo.

Is there a particular year or model of a factory supercharged engine I should be looking for?

Thanks for the help.

Randy

No 3800 SC engine ever came with a steel crank - they all received cast iron cranks.

3800 Series 1 and 2 Supercharged engines had cast connecting rods. 3800 Series 3 engines (I think) had powdered metal connecting rods.

3800 Series 1 engines have very little performance aftermarket support. Their design is based on the old 3.8L V6 which has a 1" taller deck height (making the engine taller and wider) than the Series 2 and 3 3800's.

3800 Series 2 and 3 engines are essentially the same concerning hard parts except for the aforementioned connecting rods. The only reason the 3800 Series 3 SC engine made 20 more HP than the Series 2 as due to the improved Gen5 blower.

If you are planning on doing a turbo build, you can use any Series 2 or 3 Supercharged engine. The stock internals will endure 7-13 psi of boost reliably, perhaps higher boost levels if you are running E85 or race gas. The biggest issue with these engines is the stock pistons; more precisely the placement of the top compression ring land (too close to the top of the piston - which exposes it to more heat) and a very tight factory ring gap (which was done for emissions). You need to be careful with stock pistons and ring gap specs if you plan on running a lot of boost with a turbo.

Check out my website for more info about my Turbo 3800 builds, and feel free to email or PM me if you have any questions (as I don't have time to visit this forum very often).

-Ryan

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More is more. Less is not enough.

Custom GM OBD1 & OBD2 Tuning | Engine Conversions & more | www.gmtuners.com

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Darth Fiero
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Report this Post10-25-2023 09:04 PM

quote

Originally posted by jelly2m8:

that's not a 3800 if memory serves me correct, it's a 3.0L or a 3.3 L i think the Buick 3.0L made less HP than the Fiero's 2.8L

GM/Buick 3.0 and 3.3L engines were all batch fire (MPFI), not Sequential. The "Sequential Fuel Injection V6" intake manifold emblem is unique to the FWD 3.8L V6's.

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MarkS
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Report this Post10-26-2023 11:17 AM

Does look like an 86 / 87 3.8. More like the GN 3.8 than a 3800. The 1989 turbo T/A used those heads. The 3.8's were definitely a Jekyll and Hyde motor depending if it was N/A or the T-Type turbo. I wanted to see what I could do with the N/A version with common hot rodding techniques but never finished it.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/107335.html

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1965 Tempest 400 CID
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2017 BMW X3 3.0 T
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