medz

i have a 89 cutlass ciera, and i really love the car but want more from it. i am trying to gather info on engine swaps or things i can do for more get up and go out of my 2.8L 6 cyl. if you anything info or ideas anything i would love to hear it. thanks

Redog

Well that 60* engine has a lot of potental, trust me I know.

Check out www.60degreeV6.com and look at the store WOTtech.com The guy that runs both of these is Ben, and he knows how to make these motors run.

He's responsible for a lot of 13 second "N" bodies

Olds64

If you really want to build it you are going to be limited with the number of performance parts. However, if you just want it to run well then I suggest taking off the throttle body and desluding the intake manifold and throttle body. You should also put new plugs and wires on it. I am not sure it if it is distributorless ignition or not. If it has a distributor replace the cap and rotor.

joe_padavano

The first question is, are you subject to emissions testing where you live? If so, any mods or engine swaps will need to be compliant with the local laws.

Having said that, the Buick 90 degree V6 was offered in the Ciera body in some years. The supercharged 3800 version of that motor should be able to be installed with some work. You will need to swap the computer and wiring harness, but this would actually be an emissions legal swap if you installed all the emissions equipment from the original car.

Olds64

That would be an awsome swap. The Supercharged Buicks in the late 80s and early 90s were pretty cool.

medz

ok, are there any other engines what would be an easy swap? cause i would like to get a different rear end, and make it rear wheel drive. and i don't know where to go to get any info about these things.

joe_padavano

Uh, "easy swap" and "make it rear wheel drive" are mutually exclusive. Race car builder F.J. Smith used to convert these cars to RWD for use in NHRA Super Stock drag racing classes, but these were not intended to be street driven. The process is not cheap and requires a custom frame, a new floor pan, and a new interior. All of this would be custom fabricated, of course. These cars are unibody and there is no existing RWD frame that can be easily adapted. Anything is possible with lots of time and dollars, but when you're done, you'll have spent $10,000 to build a car that will be worth $2,500.

Redog

Easy swap is pulling out one motor and swapping it with the same motor, that might not be what you want to do.

What tranny? Is it FWD. A good tranny is the Getrag 282

you could probably swap in a 3400 or 3500 in place, should bolt right up

Olds64

Just because the car is front wheel drive does not mean it can't be cool! Look at the Toronados. You could also build the car with heavy duty suspension and run road racing courses with it. That car would be alot better for that hobby than any of the late 60s or early 70s "classic" Oldsmobiles.

citcapp

The supercharged V6 would be a great swap. My wifes car is a 2000 Buick Regal plain white 4dr with the supercharged V6. What a sleeper, have supprised a lot of rice rockets who thought they had hot cars. Remember the Buick Grand Nationals beat just about everything in their class as a matter of fact they still do

Olds64

The Buick GN was the most awsome car from the 80s. Better than any Corvette, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Cobra, etc. Sadly, they are even cooler than the high performance Oldsmobiles of the 80s. I would gladly give my first born child for a ride in one.

Redog

They selling the GN because at 1/2 the price they could beat a Corvette.

This made the Chevy guys cry

Olds64

Not only did it make them cry, it also made them suck their thumbs and scream while jumping up and down and then going to their back and kicking their legs in the air.

Redog

This is when I buy my truck, it's going to be GMC, if I buy a GM

medz

ok i am planing of getting a 3800 but will the auto trans i have on my 2.8 work with the 3.8 or would the new motor be to much for my trans. and if so what trans would be good for that motor.

GoodOldsGuy

Like Joe stated...take the whole package, engine,trans and ECM and all wiring harnesses and transfer to your Ciera. This swap has been done before and the car is a true rocket....with some torque steer.

Regards,

Fred

medz

what about half shafts, if i got a new trans how would the half shafts work out. i don't know if i would get new shafts that would work with my car. any input on this would be great cause i don't know where to go for this.