Yet another 3800 Thread

[jwth2005]

Hey all I have a few questions to ask... Before i go any further i want to make sure that i get straight up honest ANSWERS and not idiotic nonsense opinions. Now I sold my alero a few months back because basically the car it self was abused before it got to me and was a POS.

Ok So heres the deal. I have access to a 3800 Motor AND Auto Transmission. I will admit i do miss the alero. So since i have access to this motor and transmission I would like to do something with it. The first thing that came to my mind was Alero/Grand Am. Even though i sold my old alero I do believe i can probablly get it back if i needed a donor car(i do know of its current whereabouts).

Yes i do know i will need the harness and PCM. I have access to both.(all of which came from a 1998 Grand Prix). My only concern is the transmission mating up to the halfshafts of the front wheels. I was wondering if they would have to be shortened or custom fabricated. I Have no problem doing this swap as i am mechanically inclined. I am currently working on my ASE certification. So please anyone with information on this swap PLEASE inform me. I would really like to do this and probably will.
Thanks in advance!

Jeremy

[mike k]

Hi Jeremy. I myself being mechanically inclined have done research and I am PRETTY SURE THE 3800 WILL FIT IN AN ALERO. Hell even a Northstar would. I do believe that your axles(halfshafts) will need to be modified or specially made. Maybe even the hubs too.

[mike k]

Sorry. I meant the hubs may need to be out of the Gran Prix.

[BlackJack]

Contact John of APOC (springsfastestalero). He has a direct connection with someone that will make the shafts you need. You will need to provide donor cores from both the Alero and the Grand Prix. If I remember correctly, the price was very reasonable. Good luck.

[jwth2005]

Great info guys i really appreciate it! If anyone has anymore feel free to post!

[Redog]

Get the shafts and your all set :thumb:

[jwth2005]

Thanks guys! ANyone know how much the 3800 motor and trany weigh compared to the 3400 motor and tranny??

[BlackJack]

no, but I guess since you will have them both for the swap, you could have them weighed.

You can count on them being a little heavier though. I know the 4t65 has a slightly larger footprint than the 4t45, and beefier internals.

[jwth2005]

Just for the record is there anyone else on here that has done this swap?

[Redog]

I don't think so, but I've seen a 3800 s/c motor in a GA and a guy in Quebec put one in a 99 Cavailer and it ran low 13's at 102 MPH

[jwth2005]

Awesome! Id love to bet the first on this board to do it!

[sorrowfulkiller]

sorry to raise this thread from the dead... but does a 3800 have the same engine mounts and such as an alero?

[olds2race]

Negative, there will have to be some fab work done on the cradle to get that in.

[Vinalero]

I have a video of a 100-250 km/h of that 3800SC Cavy, but i don't know how to post it. If someone can host it, i'll share it.

[sorrowfulkiller]

I have a video of a 100-250 km/h of that 3800SC Cavy, but i don't know how to post it. If someone can host it, i'll share it.

I've already seen it, and from what I've heard on the grand am forums... it would cost upwards of $10k to drop a 3800 in... so F*** that!

[jlenko]

I'm currently doing the swap into my 00 Cavalier convertible... with the drivetrain from a 00 Buick Park Ave Ultra (the supercharged version, L67). I'm using the hubs and shortened axles from the Buick... along with 99 Grand Am aluminum control arms and knuckles... the larger W-body/C-body hubs bolt up to the N-body knuckles just fine... allowing use of the larger hub. You could do the same on your Alero...

So far, I'm at $2500 in parts... doing all the work myself. I'll let you know the final cost ;)