DemonKnightDK

I've seen a lot of info here on the TTA and GN engines, but what I've been thinking, couldnt I start with a normal non-turbo 3.8 block from an 85+ any thing with that engine, and build a turbo engine ? cause i've been finding the 3.8 engines at junk yards around here for under 400 bucks, and since I'm wanting to go with a turbo six I figured why not make a TTA type car.

question mainly is, what all whould I need?

I know I would have to get the heads from a FWD LeSabre IIRC, (I wanna keep my AC missouri summers are to damn humid) other than that it would just be a normal turbo conversion right?

harness would have to change I'm sure, along with chip, but what about my guages? I'd like to switch to autometer digital gauges (the red ones) could that work or would it be worth it?

I've never done a turbo but in all honesty I think i would like it alot better than a carbed 355 or retrofitting an LT1 intake on my 355 (the orginal plan)

I'd also want a 200-4r and would it be wise to change my rear gears to like a 3.23 or 3.08 for better milage or would the 3.42 in there now be better?

I will be verry thanfull to any one willing to share info and experiances, Thanks.

If you think this would best answered in general engine tech or the V6 board mods feel free to move it.

AJT86

ill try andhelp ya the best i can

first things first- a turbo buick v6 with a 200r4 trans will best be used with 3.42 gears hands down- its been proven time and time again

i beleive the compression ratio is different in the engine im not 100% sure though

the buick 3.8 turbo had a turbo crank in it- it had rolled fillets in the rods and mains. some guys have used the NA cranks into the 10s without problems but its like a tickin time bomb.

you can use any guage you want

the connecting rods are different in the non turbo- turbo rods are 2 dot rods.

you would need to drill and tap a hole in the top of the block in the front for the oil return line. you will need the fitting for the turbo feed line. you will need turbo manifolds and crossover pipe along with waste gate sensor and variouse other turbo only sensors

another thing is what are you thinkin about doing. Hot air or intercooled? hot air motors are only worth like 500$ complete- that would be cheaper to put in. if you want to take an 3.8 and turbo and intercool it- you will spend way more in parts than it would be to buy a turn key motor

i have a bunch of parts laying around stuff- let me know what you wanna do ill be glad to help

oh yeah and the turbo manifolds would have to be from a TTA and they are pricey

DemonKnightDK

I'd like to go intercooled but its not a nessity, I was thinking mainly I just maybe 300 to the wheels somthin fun but still with good milage.

I was thinking maybe a used turbo off ebay. I'd probably be able to acheive the same results using a Eaton M90 off a supercoupe T-bird though.. (but then i couldent use a 3.8Turbo badge ^_^)

Like I said I just want good milage and about 300HP at the wheels.

I have no real working knowledge of forced induction, so cam specs and the like I have no clue on.. I really want to just get my car running again, its been sitting engineless for about a year now cause I never have had the time/money to get the 305 heads reworked and installed on my 350 and then I never did by a V8 spec 700r4.

I found a part list basicly, from an article I read this morning.

Block 3.8L Buick
Heads 86 LeSabre
Headers Custom
Idler pulley (A/C) P#-10055890
Trans 200-R4
Trans Cross member P#-12396766
Support cushions for trans cross member (Lower) x3 P#-547704
Support cushions for trans cross member (upper) x3 P#-547702
Engine mounts x2 P#-2213326
Accelerator control cable (TPI Fbod) P#-14080202
TV Cable P#-25532115
Cruise Control Cable P#-25525358
ECM P#-1227148
TTA engine/ECM harness P#-12069323


then I just need to decide on the turbo, cam and get the various sensors you mentioned, and get it together and I should be good to go. (since my car is already fule injected from the factory would I need to do any thing to the fule system other than new injectors?)

AJT86

yeah for fuel your going to need a pump- walbro 340 is a good choice with a TTA hot wire kit. your also going to need a fuel pressure regulator that references boost. itll be hard to get 300 at the wheels with a hot air.

for 300 at the wheels id suggest mototron 60 pound injectors- they are the biggest you can go without modding the drivers in the ecm.

300 at the wheels is alot too- so your gonna need all the basic GN mods atleast such as dutneck for the intercooler, MAF pipe and cone filter, chip, come 94 octane fuel, and 18psi.

id also recommend a TA49 turbo with a 2800 stall convertor

if your going this deep into the project you might want to just buy a GN motor. look at TurboBuicks.com - TurboCharged Message Board Turbo Buick Grand National, T-Type, Turbo TransAm on the for sale section you can get a bone stock turn key engine for 1200$

DemonKnightDK

only issue with that is I dont have 1200 I was going to buy that parts in stages, tranny this week, engine next payday, ect, ect.

I do have a:

4 bolt main 350 bored .030 over
comp cams 280H cam (intanke adv dur:280 dur@.050:231 valve lift: .480 exhaust is the same. Lober seperation 110)
complete rebuilt kit from jegs new pistons and seals ect.
holley 670 4 barrel vacume secondary eltric choke carb
holley intake
416 casting 305 heads
also have a set of 70's era 350 truck heads

the cam and stock cranck are in along with the timing gear and chain, i've just never gotten the rest of it together cause i lost interest in it as gas prices kept rising, hence my want of the 3.8 now.. would it be any easier to use like a vortech supercharger instead of a turbo? I dont care how I get the power, I just want good low end grunt (which the 3.8 is known for) to be able to run mid-midhigh twelves. and (and this is the big kicker) get 27mpg

how much you think I could get for all the 350 stuff I have? also have the V6 stuff that was in the bird when I got it. (tranny, 2.8 which locked up and started this whole mess lol)

either way, I'll get a 3.8 and go with that, maybe I can find an intercooler on e-bay cheap

oh one more question while i'm hear, I wouldent have to drop the gas tank for any reason would I? (i read about having to do somthing to that for the carb set up to get optimum results)

I tend to ramble about things. so realistcly buying the parts to get 300 from a non-turbo to turbo conversion what kinda price range would you estimate (I can get alof the maching done for free from the local vo-tech school and also any hot tanking needed as well.) do you think a stock 200-4r can handle 300 WHP? (probably never see actual track use cause I dont have track closer than about 5 hours away)

carfixxer

Custom headers, and TTA harness will cost lots and lots of money!
This might be helpful:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...light=LC2+swap