Balzonya

My wife's parents have a 96 Buick Park Avenue Ultra with the 3.8 series II L67 Supercharged (I believe, but i know its supercharged)

I'm looking to put this engine in a Toyota. Buick has a special place in my heart and the engine is free and working good.

Now this is a front wheel drive car and i'm looking to put it in my 1989 4Runner. I have the the 3.Slow and an auto tranny. I'd like to also pull this tranny out cause its starting to slip.

Now...

First- Can this engine be used in a rear wheel drive application?

Second- Is there a good manual tranny I should use that bolts to the 3800? (Would like a Toyota trans but I'm open for anything.)

Third- Can my 4Runner even be converted to a manual or would this all be easier in a different, already manual, Truck or 4Runner?

i dunno guys, just throw some ideas out cause I'd really like to use this engine and I've found a few 3800 swaps but none with the supercharger and i can't remember if it was a FWD engine. I know this is expensive but i'm not looking for criticism just help and ideas.

thanks




EDIT: I guess I should of done more research cause I quickly came up with a problem. I guess the intake is on the wrong side. Looks like i'd need a L67 out of a RWD car like camaro or firebird, which defeats the purpose of swapping in a free motor. Damn, woulda been nice.


hmmm....

a7mgte

I can't say about the Buick stuff, but I converted my (86') runner into a manual. Super duper easy to do, as all the brackets and holes are already in place. Just remember to get the brake pedal from a manual also if you do it. The autos have a bigger pedal, which puts it too close to the clutch if it isn't swapped out. It may not touch, but it's close enough to be annoying at times.

Balzonya

Thanks! Good to hear that is been done and wasn't a pain in the ass!
I'm make a mental note on the brake pedal. I'd of never thought about it until i tried to test drive.

PS, Love your 4Runner man! I'm on the fence about selling my 89 4Runner and picking up a cheap truck off craigslist and doing a total over hall. (3.8 engine, SAS, gears, suspension, locker and so on) or keeping my 4Runner, dropping in the 3800 motor (if its posable) solid axle swap, manual convertion, remove bodylift and new leafs in the back. Cause its already got the lockers but everything on my 4Runner is getting pretty old so that scares me.

Balzonya

darn....

a7mgte

The engine will work fine in a rear wheel application...it doesnt know any different, as long as it fits in the hole, your good. GM was pretty good about fairly standard bellhousing patterns as far as I know, I wouldnt think the bolt pattern would be any different than the non supercharged version of the 3.8. I wouldnt think that sourcing a manual would be too tough...and if a GM tranny can bolt up, then so can an adapter for a toyota transmission if you wanna go that route. Find a buick forum for specifics though. The intake being one the wrong side isn't much of a problem, just move your battery over to the driver side...it'll prove a non-issue in the scope of things once you dive in.

In having done the 7MGE, 7MGTE, and now the 1UZFE swaps into my 4Runner, I've learned the engine itself is by far the least expensive part of a motor swap. (Stay away from the 7M platform FWIW) A free motor is good, but things like bellhousing adapters, drive shafts, and such add up extrodinarily fast. A list of parts your gonna need before you start, the difficulty of the wiring, instrumentation, custom mounts, exhaust work, etc. will settle the choice to go ahead with the swap or not.

a7mgte

Suddenly it occurred to me what you meant by the intake being on the wrong side...of the FWD donor vehicle. So when the engine is turned and put in the truck, the intake will face the firewall...duh.

Balzonya

Thanks for the help a7mgte. I talked with a bunch of guys from work and they said I could build a custom intake but I just don't think there would be room and I just don't think it would work. Plus I think think I lost my "free" engine. So i'll just keep coming up with this dumb/crazy engine swaps and hope I can find the perfect truck before I get married. thanks for the help again!

Nashvegas Yota

I am working on a L67 swap on my 92 PU. I have a thread in this forum. It is not an easy swap but it can be done. Any info you need just ask and I will try to help you out.

Nashvegas Yota

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f163...ontiac-213881/

Pig McNasty

Hey I have a carbed 3.8L out of a grand national in my 84 yota. Love it tonnes of power. It's a long box but when I tried to install a shackle lift I found my drive shaft was too short, when I am flexed out. What drive shaft should I use?

e.pritch

I have a 3.8 w/carb in my 85 out of a buick reagal. I dont have any issues with the stock drive shafts while driving and flexing. Lets see some pics!

sircrashalot

3800 swap FTW!!

Here's mine, minus the supercharger...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/1099040-3800-87-xcab.html