turbokinetic
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2008
At the request of a member here, I'm posting my turbo FWD 3.8 SFI engine build. This is in a Century, not an Regal so I put it in the Hybrids section! It will be broken up into 7 or 8 posts due to a limitation of this forum.
If the pictures do not show, remember they are hosted on my computer. If the computer is offline or the DSL link is down, the pictures will show an X. If this happens let me know but probably just try again later and the will be back up.
My goals for this project:
-Stock-appearing exterior.
-Street drivable with ALL accessories working.
-Reliable and dependable.
-475 to 500 HP.
-Build car using salvage parts, new stock replacement parts, and things I fabricate. (Only buy what I can't build or slavage.)
-Learn alot!
Bear in mind, most of the fab work (other than the engine build) was done at a farm in a barn with dirt floor and no electricity other than my other car's power inverter, or a very noise Tecumseh generator.
Thanks,
David
Here is the whole writeup:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2948544
Here are some selected posts of the build, in chronological order oldest first. I've been posting this on a-body.net mainly:
.........
Been a while - I have been busy at work and life has been in the way of posting here! Will read up on the threads after I post this.
Anyway I needed an engine block and found a complete (down to the ECM, sensors, accessories, and wiring harness) 3.8 SFI engine for $100. Only problem was a thrown timing chain and bent valves. This is a factory roller-cam engine and has a very stout block that weighs many pounds more than my 3.0 block.
The only logical choice was to rebuild this engine and retire the 3.0 draw-through turbo engine for some other project.
I carefully unhooked everything at the salvage yard, kept all the parts and hardware and had the yard crew pull the engine and put it in my truck. This was a deal indeed!!
The 87 3.8SFI, stock puts out 165 HP, no turbo, plain-jain stock. The 1979 3.8 turbo (what I was building originally) put out 180 HP stock. This engine is almost as strong with no turbo than the older one was, with boost!
So I have been planning an all-out off the deep end 3.8 SFI Turbo from Hell. My goal is to lay down at least one dynamometer pull at or above 500 HP. If I can get the transmission to hold it. Everyone who "knows" Buick engines says this is an "easy" goal and I should shoot for more. But the transmission will be the limiting factor.
The 1987 3.8 SFI FWD engine is equivalent to the Grand National engine "109" casting engine block (the strong ones, in other words) plus it already has the roller camshaft lifter guide mount points in the block.
Just did some work it, getting the heads and manifold ported and the timing gear system worked out.
There is a high performance turbo camshaft for this engine since it is a direct decendant of the mighty Grand National 3.8. The only problem is, the GN was rear wheel drive and had a gear-driven oilpump and ignition timer device. The camshaft for it is the same as the old carburetor 3.8. It has a mechanical fuel pump lobe, and an oilpump / distributor drive gear.
My engine is a Front Wheel Drive engine from 1987. This had a factory installed roller lifter camshaft. The block is equipped for the retaining hardware for the roller lifters. The cam has no provisions of a mechanical fuel pump and has no distributor / oilpump drive gear. Therefore the camshaft is shorter. To use the readily-available RWD Grand National high performance camshaft in my FWD engine, I had to have the front end of the cam machined to match the engine's original camshaft.
This turned out excellent! Instead of the gear-driven ignition timer device on the RWD engine, my engine has a separate cam position sensor and crank trigger. Instead of a gear driven oilpump, it has a gerotor-type oilpump that is direct-drive off the lower crankshaft sprocket. It turns at crankshaft speed and is a much better systen than the old gear pump. The front of the engine is more compact and the oil filter bypass issue is reduced. But the aftermarket Grand National camshaft had to be modified!
Engine as-received:
Engine during rebuild. Pictures are annotated:
If the pictures do not show, remember they are hosted on my computer. If the computer is offline or the DSL link is down, the pictures will show an X. If this happens let me know but probably just try again later and the will be back up.
My goals for this project:
-Stock-appearing exterior.
-Street drivable with ALL accessories working.
-Reliable and dependable.
-475 to 500 HP.
-Build car using salvage parts, new stock replacement parts, and things I fabricate. (Only buy what I can't build or slavage.)
-Learn alot!
Bear in mind, most of the fab work (other than the engine build) was done at a farm in a barn with dirt floor and no electricity other than my other car's power inverter, or a very noise Tecumseh generator.
Thanks,
David
Here is the whole writeup:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2948544
Here are some selected posts of the build, in chronological order oldest first. I've been posting this on a-body.net mainly:
.........
Been a while - I have been busy at work and life has been in the way of posting here! Will read up on the threads after I post this.
Anyway I needed an engine block and found a complete (down to the ECM, sensors, accessories, and wiring harness) 3.8 SFI engine for $100. Only problem was a thrown timing chain and bent valves. This is a factory roller-cam engine and has a very stout block that weighs many pounds more than my 3.0 block.
The only logical choice was to rebuild this engine and retire the 3.0 draw-through turbo engine for some other project.
I carefully unhooked everything at the salvage yard, kept all the parts and hardware and had the yard crew pull the engine and put it in my truck. This was a deal indeed!!
The 87 3.8SFI, stock puts out 165 HP, no turbo, plain-jain stock. The 1979 3.8 turbo (what I was building originally) put out 180 HP stock. This engine is almost as strong with no turbo than the older one was, with boost!
So I have been planning an all-out off the deep end 3.8 SFI Turbo from Hell. My goal is to lay down at least one dynamometer pull at or above 500 HP. If I can get the transmission to hold it. Everyone who "knows" Buick engines says this is an "easy" goal and I should shoot for more. But the transmission will be the limiting factor.
The 1987 3.8 SFI FWD engine is equivalent to the Grand National engine "109" casting engine block (the strong ones, in other words) plus it already has the roller camshaft lifter guide mount points in the block.
Just did some work it, getting the heads and manifold ported and the timing gear system worked out.
There is a high performance turbo camshaft for this engine since it is a direct decendant of the mighty Grand National 3.8. The only problem is, the GN was rear wheel drive and had a gear-driven oilpump and ignition timer device. The camshaft for it is the same as the old carburetor 3.8. It has a mechanical fuel pump lobe, and an oilpump / distributor drive gear.
My engine is a Front Wheel Drive engine from 1987. This had a factory installed roller lifter camshaft. The block is equipped for the retaining hardware for the roller lifters. The cam has no provisions of a mechanical fuel pump and has no distributor / oilpump drive gear. Therefore the camshaft is shorter. To use the readily-available RWD Grand National high performance camshaft in my FWD engine, I had to have the front end of the cam machined to match the engine's original camshaft.
This turned out excellent! Instead of the gear-driven ignition timer device on the RWD engine, my engine has a separate cam position sensor and crank trigger. Instead of a gear driven oilpump, it has a gerotor-type oilpump that is direct-drive off the lower crankshaft sprocket. It turns at crankshaft speed and is a much better systen than the old gear pump. The front of the engine is more compact and the oil filter bypass issue is reduced. But the aftermarket Grand National camshaft had to be modified!
Engine as-received:
Engine during rebuild. Pictures are annotated: