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3.8 series II replacment

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  #1  
Old 06-08-2010, 06:27 PM
typappy's Avatar
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Default 3.8 series II replacment

My son has a 96 RS with a 3.8 series II. Will any 3.8 replace it or do I need to look for a certain VIN code? What makes a series II a series II?
 
  #2  
Old 06-08-2010, 09:06 PM
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this has probly been copied a zillion times. i believe you will want a 95 up 3800

Series II

Introduced in 1995, the Series II is quite a different engine. Although the stroke for the 3.8 L engine remained at 3.4 in (86 mm), and the bore remained at 3.8 in (97 mm), the engine architecture was vastly changed. The deck height is shorter than the Series I, reducing weight and total engine package size. This required that the piston connecting rods be shortened 1 in (25 mm), and the crankshaft was also redesigned. A new intake manifold improved breathing while a redesigned cylinder head featured larger valves and a higher compression ratio. The result was 205 hp (153 kW) and 230 lb·ft (312 N·m), better fuel economy, and 26 lb (12 kg) lighter overall weight (to 392 lb (178 kg)). The 3800 weighs only 22 lb (10.0 kg) more than the High Feature V6, despite being an all cast iron design.
The new intake manifold greatly improved airflow. To meet emissions standards, an EGR tube was placed in the intake manifold to reduce combustion temperatures. This increases fuel mileage by a substantial margin.
The 3800 Series II was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 1995 through 1997.
GM recalled 1.5 million vehicles with this engine on April 14, 2009 due to risk of fire from engine oil leaking under the valve cover gaskets onto hot exhaust manifolds. The fire could spread to the nearby plastic spark plug wire retainers on the valve cover and then to the rest of the engine compartment. GM fitted the affected vehicles with redesigned spark plug wire retainers.[3] These engines are also noted for having problems with the plastic upper intake manifold cracking, in turn causing coolant leakage into the intake passages. This can cause engine lock up failure, as well as overheating once coolant levels are too low. Aftermarket intake manifolds are availible with brass inserts, that prevent them from cracking.[
 

Last edited by craby; 06-08-2010 at 09:09 PM.
  #3  
Old 06-08-2010, 09:49 PM
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http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...D&ProdID=96139

Check out this link. It is an ad for replacement motor but it gives detail of what other vehicles the motor fits in to give you some idea of donor cars if you are looking for a used engine from a bone yard.
 
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