Hey folks, I just picked up a 3.8L Buick reagal Turbo charged engine. This will go in my 28 Es*** Super Six. Never dealt with this enginbe before, any do'es or don'ts you would like to share. Perhaps I should forget the turbo charger and change the intake for a regular 4bbl carb. This engine is an early eighties V-6. Your comments PLEASE. dan dlmarx@bellsouth.net
probably better keep the turbo, the compression ratio is probably lower than one that is naturally aspirated.
they were all 8:1 compression in the early-mid 80s. But you might want to leave the turbo on it so it has some power, an es*** is a good sized car
The early 80's ones are nice for the 'shock factor' looks of them, but not high on the horsepower list. The 86 and 87 were the real goers, and the desireable ones to have for speed. Keep it if you want something different, and people to talk about, but use a different engine for traditional looks, and a V-8 for better performance.
Study here: http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/before-black-non-sfi-tech/ My dad had one and replaced it with a V8. If I was going to use it carbed I would convert it to a blow-through set up with an intercooler.
If it's early enough in the 80s that it's carbureted, good luck. If it's 84/85 then it's fuel injected but not intercooled. If it's 86/87 then it's FI and intercooled. The only version of computer control that's supported by the aftermarket is 86/87. Most 84/85 guys convert to the later style computer which also forces an ignition swap too. Carbureted setups are rarely seen other than survivors and are definitely problematic. I have an 85 motor waiting for the right daily driver rolling chasiss, it's still gonna take around $1500 to put it in something and the motor I have is complete with looms and ECM. Expectation is stock 350 power with much better mileage. Good luck
I agree, any turbo V6 before 84 would be more for a conversation piece than performance. They did not perform until Buick went to EFI in 84 then raised the bar in 86 with the intercooler. Use to have a strong Buick club in my area. Had lots of good times toe to toe with the Mustang crowd. Very impressive cars!
keep the 3.8 turbo charged grand national motor tons of horsepower...you would be crazy not to use it in your ride...and all the grand national motors are EFI with a 7th injector switch...if its the true grand national or turbo charged sports coupe motor
I was sitting behind a turbocharged GN with cheater-slicks at a traffic-light on 16-mile at Van**** in the early '90s.....he was 1/8 mile away before I got across the intersection!.....and all I heard was a whhhhhhiiiirrrrrssssshhhhh.
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