3800 Series II/III Engine Replacement Info.
In the Staging Lanes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 93
After doing a little more digging on this engine I found out that the Series III engines do have a slightly different head. The intake valves are .030 larger, 1.83" instead of the Series II engine's 1.80". Aside from that the long block assembly is the same between the Series II and Series III engine.
Massey
Massey
Has anyone here actually used a series III and knows from personal experience it works?
Thread Starter
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Overdrive Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,354
From: Spanaway, WA
Everything will bolt up just fine to the Series III engine. I have done alot of research on this swap and have confirmed that the intake and exhaust manifolds will bolt up just fine. .030 is not alot in terms of size, it is about the thickness of a dime.
Massey
Massey
Thread Starter
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Overdrive Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,354
From: Spanaway, WA
I left the SC engines out of this thread because of the confusion about the compatability of that engine to the L36 engine. The link I provided to engine builders will tell you the differences in the engines. Do not put the SC on the NA engine and visa versa.
Massey
Massey
also, arent the exhaust manifolds different between 1998 and 1999? the plug wires are different to accomodate this change. they went from a log style to a tubular style if memory serves correct
In the Staging Lanes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 93
With the Flywheel and harmonic balancer, they are designed to work together and should be kept together. The FWD balancer may look the same but it is built to balance the flywheel of the FWD engine. If you can look at the imprints the crank leaves on the flywheel, match them up on the new engine for best results.
I have to ask about the harmonic balancer. I am not really understanding what you are saying. When I go to Autozone and look up a Harmonic balancer I get the same part number for a 1999 FWD Park Avenue as I do for the Camaro. I ask because when I was removing my engine it slipped and fell about 6 inches and caught the harmonic balancer on the edge of a floor jack and busted the lip of the balancer.
I am trying to decide which way to go on this project. Around here the FWD engines are typically running about $300 less than the Camaro-Firebird engines but I will have to buy a bunch of gaskets to swap everything and may have to buy the Harmonic balancer so I may not save any money to speak of.
Joe
Thread Starter
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Overdrive Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,354
From: Spanaway, WA
@ Micro: There is no difference I know of about the 98-99 manifolds. The wires are different I believe because of the intake change.
@ Joe. My research has shown 2 harmonic balancers for the Series II/III engine. One is Camaro/Firebird only and the other is All applications. The Camaro/Firebird only balancer is smaller and has no "cover" over the middle. The other one has a cover over the face with 3 little holes for the puller.
Massey
@ Joe. My research has shown 2 harmonic balancers for the Series II/III engine. One is Camaro/Firebird only and the other is All applications. The Camaro/Firebird only balancer is smaller and has no "cover" over the middle. The other one has a cover over the face with 3 little holes for the puller.
Massey
