87 Blue Beast
1/2 ton status
anyone know what all is involved in swapping a 3.8 for a sbc? already got a motor and tranny. as far as the motor mounts, tranny crossmember, ect. what all needs modified?
CK5
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86 cutlace supreme v6 to v8
- Thread starter 87 Blue Beast
- Start date
You'll want the motor mounts out of a Monte Carlo, malibu, etc., or I believe the Grand Prix's as they were SBC's if V8. (after the 301 died of course)
It's been awhile since I messed with these cars, even though I still have one, just not close by. Anyways, I think you'll need the V8 engine crossmember as well. Different mounting location on one side whether V6 or V8, the V8 one sits further back. I can't recall if the frames were different or not on some of these vehicles, for some reason I tend to think some of the early ones didn't have the "V8 frame extension" for the crossmember, but I think by '86 they were all the same.
Really need to crawl under a V8 one and check.
Accessories also might give you some hassle, depending which side the battery, starter, etc. is on the 3.8.
It's been awhile since I messed with these cars, even though I still have one, just not close by. Anyways, I think you'll need the V8 engine crossmember as well. Different mounting location on one side whether V6 or V8, the V8 one sits further back. I can't recall if the frames were different or not on some of these vehicles, for some reason I tend to think some of the early ones didn't have the "V8 frame extension" for the crossmember, but I think by '86 they were all the same.
Really need to crawl under a V8 one and check.
Accessories also might give you some hassle, depending which side the battery, starter, etc. is on the 3.8.
JEBSR
1/2 ton status
I did a 3.8 to 455 in an 86 regal last year. A little different, but also the same in many aspects. I got a V8 trans cross member, bolted the frame mount to the engine mount and set everything in place. Once the trans was lined up with the cross member I knew the engine was where it needed to be (front to back). Then I insured the car was level side to side (on stands), put a level indicator on the intake, centered the engine in the frame rails and insured in was level. Once certain everything was square and in position, I tacked the mounts to the frame in three places, pulled the engine and trans back out, drilled the frame mount holes and bolted them in place. Once that is done, put everything back and run your fuel lines (may have to run them across the cross member to the other side of the frame due to fuel pump being on opposite side of the engine on some models), trans lines, etc.
