3.8 Buick

I found a Buick 3.8 locally that's a 78-79 2bbl by the casting numbers. I also found an Eaton supercharger off of a newer 3800 engine. Could these be put together to keep the rwd engine mounting vs the transverse fwd?

I also have a gm goodwrench 350 crate engine I could drop in as well.

Plan is to convert my t14 to a sm465 and run my dana 18 with a pto OD. Have 33s on her now and may go 35s but I'm liking the 33s now.

If the goal is a mild 250 to 300 hp, would the Buick handle that and give a weight savings or would the tried and true 350 be the way to go?

 

From what I have learned through my research into Buick 3800's, I don't believe the 3800 manifolds will work on the older 3.8's. The 3800 was a major redesign with changes in on-center bore spacing, deck height, etc... Even within the 3880 series engines parts are not always interchangeable. Parts from the Pre-Series I, Series I and II 3800 seem largely interchangeable but when you get to the Series III engines the intake manifolds are different due to a shorter deck height on those engines.

So if you could find an LN3 3800 (1988-91) and your supercharger parts were off a Series I or II engine (anything before 2005, I think) then you could upgrade it. I have a series I lower intake manifold and have been thinking about finding a supercharger to bolt to it to pep up the LN3 I'm using in my jeep project but we'll see. I think I'll get it running as it is first and see if I really "need" the extra 40 horsepower

There were engine mount bosses on both sides of my LN3 and I had no issues mounting it for rear wheel drive use. Camaro's & Firebird's had these engines in a rear wheel drive configuration (1996-2002 or 2005). If I had it to do over I would use engine mounts for these cars to build mounts off of but I was impatient and built all mine from scratch.

The biggest issue you will find with the transverse mounted engines is that the starter is on the wrong side so you will either need to clearance the bell housing or find one with the starter bosses on both sides (1983-92 Camaro's with the 2.8 or 3.1 V6 had twin pocket bell housings). All the 3800's use 60 degree/GM metric bell housing.

Regarding your power goals, the Series II L67 (supercharged) were rated at 240 hp/280 lb-ft on 8.5:1 compression so you are definitely in the ball park. In the end the small block would probably be more straight forward but FWIW I've personally never been a fan of V8's in small jeeps and those little buick engines get a LOT better fuel mileage than a small block.

 

What were you thinking about doing for fuel? A carb underneath? Hood clearance gonna be an issue? I'd think you could put a smallish turbo on the passenger side and run a crossover pipe from the drivers to the passenger (I think the TTA was setup this way IIRC). This might actually help a few space constraints on a early 5. Also, the parts for turbo anything on those motors are VERY easy to source.

FYI I've been in a 89 Pace Car 3800 TTA, and those can move, and are a full bodied car with mild gears. I think a boosted 3.8 would be a little much to handle in a tractor geared early 81" Jeep.