I'm headed towards a swap of my 350 in my 78 to a 3.8L turbo from a post-87 Grand National. Has anyone on here gone through this before? Would love any insights prior to starting.

If you know anyone who has who might not be here (say, because they swapped it into something other than an El), PLEASE send over an email address so that I can contact them.

Hey Fran

Here is a link to my Northern California Turbo Buicks board. They are the BEST with any questions about these cars or engine questions. I'm sure someone can help as a few have also put these engines in other cars.

I LOVE my Buick Grand National and can't say enough about those great Mustang and Import killer turbo motors!

NCalGN@topica.com

Dave

Try www.turbobuicks.com . They have a hybrid section for Turbo V6's in other cars. Member Steve Wood has a Turbo V6 El Camino.

Also check www.gnttype.org . :)


Swap the entire drivetrain, along with all the wiring/ECM.

My question is why would you want to? Your V8 is easier to do, & more reliable & alot cheaper.

Turbo V6 - if you have to ask, you won't understand. :)


12's with some bolts on and a stock long block. :lol:

Check it out. Another GN Turbo V6 swap coming soon.

http://www.cardomain.com/id/grandcamino

I agree with tommy. not only is it cheaper to build but if you got the right setup with the V8 you can run 87 octane. with a turbo you stuck with the overly priced 92 or higher octane, thanks to that turbo.

Here in st.louis I have seen many buick grandnationals with V8 rather than turbo V6. I asked some of the owners why? and they replied that the car is faster and more reliable with the V8.

I'll gladly pay 20¢ more a gallon for boost.

I don't quite understand why somebody will overbuild a motor, just so they can run 87. Spend $ to save ¢.


I don't doubt that some V8 guys think they are faster and more reliable. There are many "old school" types that are baffled by computers and sensors. They can't figure then out, so yes they go slow and break down. Any car out of tune will do that. (Look how many people here pull the emissions off before they understand how, why and what it is.)

If you can figure out tuning Turbo V6 (which isn't so hard), you'll understand how cool it is running 12's and faster with only 231 inches of V6.

i have nothing against gn v6 swaps i was thinking about doing it on my el co..but why get a tpi motor and turbo charge that...if you shop around its proboably just a lil bit more expensive than a v6

i have a c4 vette back ground and i know that alot of people that have turbo charged tuned port set ups that they use as daily drivers...one guy i know even has a twin turbo set up..and its still an everday driver..wild huh. But i guess a gn motor would be the more economical way to go.

I know this forum is about our beautiful El Camino's but just had to jump in here and say...

You will NEVER find a V8 in my Buick Grand National!!!!

And I have found few V8 cars that can run with a Turbo Buick. Though mine is mostly stock my friends tuned '87 runs 11.51 at 113. Not bad for a V6 and a car with a big trunk! Oh ya and it gets over 22 mpg's.

I have NEVER heard of any car guys say pull out the turbo V6 and replace it with a V8 because of economical savings! I'm sorry but that is the most lame statement I have ever heard on how to ruin a great investment as well as one of the best performance cars ever built!

Expense...bring in a BMW to a dealer for a simple tune-up now that is $$$!

Turbo Buick Grand National....Best car I have ever owned Period!

My GN!.....Got Boost!

Dave

http://elcaminocentral.com/users/70elco/PICT0028a.jpg

yeah i dont think i would swap out to a v8 if i had a GN .....They are unique in their own right...getting hard to find in good condition though

I have a buddy that has a gn and he pulled out the turbo v6, and stored it away and put a big 502 in its place, and he loves his new 502 and his car works awesome. i ask him why he took out the v6, he said the turbo parts were too hard to find and just cost to much keep in good running condition. and he said he just loves the rumble of the big block.

Find another car to put a 502 into!

And good luck passing a smog test with that other motor! One visual look at that thing and they will close the hood and walk away. Unless the car is for race only and not to be driven on the street. To me its like asking me to put a ford engine into my Chevy El Camino, it just won't happen. I don't know how much he spent for that motor but 502 crate's cost big bucks. Big blocks big bucks! Not to even talk about gas mpg's!

I ask him why he took out the v6, he said the turbo parts were too hard to find and just cost to much keep in good running condition.

There is a HUGE Buick network out there for anything you want for a turbo V6. EASY TO FIND PARTS! Buick motor heads are very special people and know and respect these cars to the fullest!

I have to totally disagree with you about cost factor to keep one in good running condition. Look at my GN pic (above) that I bought new, does that look like a car with over 250K miles on it??? Oh ya, my motor has NEVER BEEN APART! Not reliable....please spare me! Don't tell me its hard to find good running GN's. All is more than welcome to come to one of my Nor Cal Buick meetings for a eye full!

and he said he just loves the rumble of the big block

You have never heard the spool-up or felt the pull of a Buick turbo!

So to you Fran who started this tread....Thinking about putting a Buick Turbo V6 in your El Camino for a swap? It will be the best motor you ever had in the car!

Dave

i have seen an 84 vette that had a gn motor in it..turns some heads because it sounds so different...it hauls though

I never said that i agreed with him putting the 502 in. all i said is that it sounds awesome and hauls ass. but if it was my car i would of left the v6 turbo in because there starting to get hard to find. and we don't have any smog checks on anything older than 91 .

I love the small block Chevy in my Elky, and while I wouldn't go looking for one, if I got a hold of a turbo V6 motor I wouldn't hesitate to swap it in. I love the big block Chevy also and have owned several vehicles powered by them, but I don't think they belong in 5th Gen El Caminos especially when you can get 400hp+ easily from a small block. "Back in my days" if you wanted more than 400 reliable horsepower you had to go with a big block.

Another board to find info on GN's. http://www.t6p.com/ If i were going to do it i would buy a 86/87 motor, more parts available. Intercooled motors easyer to make power. http://images.fotopic.net/?id=3865523&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1