medz

ok, i have a 89 cutlass ciera with a 2.8. i am thinking about geting the 3.8 supercharge III engine, now i am not sure if i would have to change my tranny. and if i did i am worried about my half shafts. not sure if i could get half shafts the right size to fit to my car. if anyone has some advice on this and help me out that would be great. thanks.

joe_padavano

While I don't have first-hand info, I suspect you'll want the trans that came with the 3800. That motor will bolt to your trans, but your trans probably won't live long behind it. If you're lucky, you may be able to use your existing axles, but if not you'll need to weld your outers to the new inners. This is not uncommon.

GoodOldsGuy

Try to find an engine and trans combo from any supercharged 3800 late model full sized front wheel drive car. (like Bonneville, Olds 98 Touring Sedan etc.) They should bolt in pretty easily with only minor mods. The wiring must be taken from these cars for the electronics (engine/trans) to make the install easier. Good luck with your project.

Regards,
Fred

Redog

You are def going to need the tranny. The motor you're looking at will require the 4t65 transmission. Not only is it strong enough to hold up, but I know the 4t40/4t45 trannies won't bolt right up, so I doubt the tranny to have will. Plus the axles are thicker and you'll need bigger hubs to mount the front spindles on.

Don't forget the PCM and the BCM. You cannot run this motor without that.

You may be better off swapping in a 3400 motor instead. The 3400 motor is a great motor to modify and if modded enough it will be a faster motor than the 3800 s/c, at least the gen I motor which only has 225 hp. My Alero with the3400 has that, if not more. It takes more than 225 hp to run a 3300 lb car down the 1/4 mile in 14.5 seconds

The 3400 motor should bolt right in place. I'm not to sure if it will bolt in place of an 89, 2.8 motor, but the 2.8 is also a 60* V6 motor. I don't know how much has changed from 89 to 2000+

I know the Fireo guys don't have much problem putting a 3400 in place of the 2.8.

I've seen 3400 Aleros in person, and on Aleromod, running 12.80's in the 1/4 mile with a s/c and all stock internals. There are also a few Grand Am guys running in the low 13's with just bolt ons, ported heads and a cam.

I plan on doing a cam swap in my Alero in a few years. However that will happen when I get a new (or remanfactured) long block direct from GM with a wanranty. The 3400's are used in many different cars and minivans so they are out there. You can even pick one up on eBay for about $500, complete.

Don't be down, wheater you go 3400, or 3800 s/c, it can be done, but I think you'll be happier with the 3400. Modding a 3400 and swapping it, will probably cost the same as a stock 3800 s/c, but IMHO the 3400 is a better choice

Guys on here can help you out more www.60degreev6.com

joe_padavano

Are you talking about the twin cam 3400? I didn't realize they were 210 hp. It's a cool motor and they are also showing up in the local yards, but if emissions compliance is required the mods might be an issue. The nice thing about the 3800 SC is that it's legal and has up to 260 HP stock and quite a bit more torque than the 3400. As for fitment, the 3400 may be a 60 degree motor, but with the DOHC heads it's probably wider than the 90 degree 3800. In addition, the 90 degree V6 was available in the A-body Ciera and clones, so you know it fits. The DOHC motor was only offered in the larger W-body cars.

Redog

Actually I wasnng about the 3.4 twin cam motor, but that would be a good choice too.

I was talking about the 3400 SFI motor that's in the 99 to 04 Alero, as well as many other cars and Minivans

This is an old pic of my motor. All the red wire loom is gone and the valve cover is power coated black wrinkle

joe_padavano

But... 160 hp vs. 260 hp?

dan2286

The series 3 uses drive by wire. There is stuff available to make it work with a cable throttle, but it might be cheaper going with a series 2. I would definately not go with the 3.4(dohc or pushrod). The 3.8 sc makes alot more power than both of them without any mods. Plus the 3.8 is one of gm's most reliable engines they have. I used to have a 95 Monte with the dohc 3.4 and I hated it. It extremely hard and expensive to work on and it had problems that no mechanic could figure out. Im glad it was totalled!! One good thing abou was it had good power. Even the 3.4 push rod engines are not as easy to work on as the 3.8. The good thing about running the supercharged 3.8 is that you can change the supercharger pulley and gain a good amount of power, there is also alot of perf. parts available for that engine for a decent price, even turbos. You will definately want the trans that came with the engine because it is an hd trans with a stronger diff and half shafts.